Really scared after tank move.

[KellyCrabbieLove]

After finding Zeus dead I have been very worried about everyone else. They were all over the tank last night doing the initial exploration of the new.tank set up. I even caught some pics of awesome behavior. Noone was dropped in any way or hurt by the move. That I can guarantee. Everyone seemed so excited. When I got up this morning and checked on them several were down to destress. When I went to check on one of my favorites and my new buddy Hades I found a leg right by them. I think it belongs to Hades because it is larger but not huge. George is a teeny-small and Hades is a small large. Hades was climbing all over the place including the pillars. I am terrified that someone is suffering from PPS/stress in general. Yesterday George didn't really want to come out. She is super social and wants to climb me usually. She has been missing a leg since I got her. As is Hephaestus whom I just adopted 2 days ago. I have never had legs fall off. Even with the pps deaths I had previously except for one that lost a leg and a BP suddenly and then died.

I am so scared. I finally got everybody into their permanent home. I don't see George but Hades is still right there with the leg. He might have hurt himself last night, I don't know. I want to check to see if it is him but if it is stress I don't want to make it worse.

Any idea? Calming and soothing words? I am pretty freaked out right now.

[KellyCrabbieLove]

There was one that took forever to move after the change and then moved 2 in and stayed there. After 12 hours I checked because I was in there to do what YYWW suggested to fix my suction cups. The other option I had was a bust because I couldn't find my vaseline.

Anyways...I couldn't see well and when I picked up the shell there was a crab body...something told me he wasn't sead. I went and got my light since my tank light is moved when I access the tank. He molted. Surface molted. I have.been a crabber since June 20th and had yet to have.any definite molters. Right into iso with his exo, heater, towel Co e ring it, hide, both kinds of water and a huge assortment of crab food including crushed oyster, mineral supplements, ground popcorn with bee pollen, lots of protein amongst the options. I will check on him later. He hadn't left the hide when I checked him before we left. I have a Dr's appointment. He hasn't touched his exo yet. How do they eat it without the ability to use a BP to break it up?

Still worried.about the leg I found...but only time will tell if anything is going on.

[CallaLily]

Sounds like you've got it under control. I don't think there'll be an issue with eating his exo even with the Bp dropped. Only thing I'd like to add is try not to disturb him unless absolutely necessary. I know it's hard to resist peeking at him but it really won't do him any good. Any idea why the surface molt?

[KellyCrabbieLove]

He was relatively new. My guess is me moving him...I dug them up too move them because I had seen them all in the !last few days at !east once except for the one that passed.

[CallaLily]

Ah, that explains it. Let us know how he does.

[KellyCrabbieLove]

Will do. I mist him twice a day. Last night's misting I saw him still sitting in the hide. This morning's misting he was still there but wiggling around. I have not peeked in aside from the times I mist since told to leave him be and that is quick and Ieave him alone. It is really hard to do that. Lol

[KellyCrabbieLove]

Oh, and I think I didn't explain it well. He has his BP. My question is how they break up the exo to eat it when their BP are soft?

[hermitharbor]

They wait until they harden to eat their exo. You're right, they wouldn't really be able to do it when it's soft, so that's why they wait Hopefully he hardens up soon and gets chowing down!

[CallaLily]

Oh, and I think I didn't explain it well. He has his BP. My question is how they break up the exo to eat it when their BP are soft?

Oh! Oops. Well glad to hear he didn't lose a limb like I thought.

[KellyCrabbieLove]

Me too!

[KellyCrabbieLove]

So far he is still alive.... Barely. He ate some of his exo but left behind 2 walking legs and both pinchers. He isn't moving. This morning I sprayed the tank for humidity and his shell was laying sideways, almost upside down. Figuring he was gone I picked up the shell and sniffed him. No dead smell. Dipped him in the water to make sure he was good and hydrated. Nothing. Blew gently on him. Nothing. Very gently tapped on the shell. Nothing. No matter what I do there is no response from him. I fear the worst....he stopped getting darker too. His bp is lavender. I don't know what else to do for him.

[crabbienewb]

you can offer something high energy for him, honey, would be the easiest offering. But banana, coconut, bee pollen, to help him out, as well as some calcium. Personally I would put some honey, coconut, and calcium powder in and crush up the extra exo he has and cover him with a hut and give him a few more days in the dark.

[KellyCrabbieLove]

I will do that right away! Thank you!

[KellyCrabbieLove]

Well, I check him when I spritz the cage. I try not to do it too often so about twice a day. It is humid in there, I just wanna keep it extra humid for him. Tonight when I looked in before uncovering all the way and lifting the lid he was actually out of his shell. Not naked, just out. I took a pic. He grew back the leg he was missing when I first got him. I have a lot of crabs with a missing walking leg. he now has all of them. I haven't been able to look at his other side and he won't come out when I hold him yet so I can't get a good look to check for deformities. He appears to look and move normally though. I gave him fresh food with all the calcium and protein plus some stuff with honey and bee pollen which should be irresistible to him. This is the first sign he has really shown that he actually has a will to live. I feel relieved. Not out of the woods yet but I don't feel like I am just waiting for the bad smell.

Before - the day my mom decided to rescue him. He is missing a walking leg on his left side. Plus he is in a terrible painted shell!


Now - no missing leg but haven't seen him walk nor his right side.

[crabbienewb]

This is great news!
Since you said you've not had a confirmed molter before, I just wanted to say, the amount of exo he left is normal. I always find bits turning up and the bp is the most often, and leg tips or whole leg exo.

Also i didn't even think to ask if when he wasn't moving, if he was tucked into the shell or sitting out, but if he was tucked in that's also totally normal when they are still hardening up.

I think for the most part you are out of the woods, since he's walking around and everything. Mine get skittish when they come up from molts usually, so if he's being more shy it's a pretty common thing.

Congrats on your first molt! He got very pink