is he molting?

callisto · Post by **callisto** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 10:39 am

this is a pic of Raf. just found him like this afternoon. found pieces of the outer shell by the water dish. i think he might be molting. i haven't bothered him don't want to kill my little guy. just want to do what is best for him.1) How long have you had your crabs and how long have you been caring for this particular crab in distress?i've had them for about 4months now. just noticed it today.2) What size is your tank and what kind of lid do you have? tank is a 20 gallon long. with a aquarium hood.3) What are you using for heat? Please be specific and include fixture type, watt or mat size and where the heat source is mounted.zoo med heater.8w4) What kind of substrate do you use in your tank and at what depth? Is it dry or damp and sand castle consistency? i'm using coconut fiber it is about8 inches deep. damp5) Do you dechlorinate your fresh water and if so, with what product? Do you offer aquarium salt water in addition to fresh water? Again, what product?i buy bottled water. yes i have hermit crab salt that i but in their bath water in the tank.6) What do you normally feed your crabs?yes change food every other day.7) Do you bathe, mist or handle your crabs at all?bathe once a week. not alot of handling.

What are the temperature and humidity readings? Please be specific and include high low fluctuations if you're aware of them.temp is75F. humidity is 80

Post by **JediMasterThrash** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 1:34 pm

I'm not sure I can quite make out what's in the picture.If he is molting, best to leave him be if there's no danger from other crabs. You can cut the top and bottom off a plastic bottle and place it around him to protect him.I would not do regularly baths for the crabs. It disrupts their natural shell water. And they should not be dug up and removed. If they are close to molt, they will bury, and may not have enough strength to re-bury if removed.

callisto · Post by **callisto** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 1:39 pm

ok. want me to take a better pic? I can take it with out touching him. I just want this one to survive. Ive had other large pp try to molt and the baby sitter didn't know and moved him. i have not bothered Raf since i have found him. I want my little guy to get bette.

callisto · Post by **callisto** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 1:56 pm

thank you for answering so quickly. Here is a diff pic of Raf. photo of RAf

Geranium · Post by **Geranium** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 2:38 pm

Is that his body next to the shell? Does it have claws and legs? I zoomed in trying to figure out body parts and really can't tell. Have you looked in the seashell to see if he's in it? Is he in the tank alone or with other crabs?Peg

callisto · Post by **callisto** » Fri Jul 12, 2013 12:28 am

Was just his body. He had little gel nubs. Found him this am dead. His abdomen had been squished. Looks like when I took the last pic my husband and set the water dish on him by accident.

finalfantasyxii · Post by **finalfantasyxii** » Fri Jul 12, 2013 3:39 am

I'm so sorry for your loss.

callisto · Post by **callisto** » Fri Jul 12, 2013 3:46 am

thank you. i feel so bad for the poor little guy. that is 3 that has died. Don't know what else to do. I have 3 little pp's left and 2 large. the three little ones have never molted. Hoping if they do I don't lose them either.

finalfantasyxii · Post by **finalfantasyxii** » Fri Jul 12, 2013 4:11 am

Sometimes no matter what you do they still don't make it. They go through so much before they get to us. PPS has taken many. Know that you did your best.

callisto · Post by **callisto** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 7:03 am

yea!!!!! I've had one large crab has a sucessful molt!! so proud of my baby that survived that stressful time.!!!

Geranium · Post by **Geranium** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 11:50 am

Congrats! It's always so stressful for me wondering how they're doing.

callisto · Post by **callisto** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 7:44 am

couldn't believe how pink he was. so cute.