Molted, but other crab ate the old exoskeleton

Where to post and/or get advice about your molting hermit crab(s). Includes pre-molting, molting, and post-molting issues.
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StormChaser
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Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 5:50 pm

Molted, but other crab ate the old exoskeleton

Post by StormChaser » Mon Aug 19, 2013 1:48 pm

Ok so I have two hermit crabs, one I've had for a year and the other for two/three months. Rodrigo and Pinchy Gonzales ( :P ) respectively. So Roddie went and found a dark place and molted (I thought he was dead. I've read all sorts of stuff on the internet about molting hermit crabs and then I go and think he's dead. ) but before I realized he wasn't dead, Gonzales ate the exoskeleton. I know that the exoskeleton is very important nutritionally for the newly molted crab but he now doesn't have access to it except for a few legs and the large claw and I'm not sure if those are edible. I've taken them out of the cage for now, to keep them away from Gonzie, and under the direction of veteran hermit crab owners I'll separate Rodrigo so he can recuperate. So I'd like to know if there's something else I can give him that would help him even without the old exo. Also I did pick him up before I realized he was alive and I'm really hoping that I didn't disturb him enough to injure/kill him. But my question is: What should/can I give him in replacement for the exo? And any other advice you have?

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finalfantasyxii
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Molted, but other crab ate the old exoskeleton

Post by finalfantasyxii » Mon Aug 19, 2013 2:21 pm

You can feed shrimp with tail on. I buy them frozen. I believe the tail is made of the same stuff as the hermie exo, chitin.
Y'all can call me Sara
Certifiably Crab Crazy
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JediMasterThrash
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Molted, but other crab ate the old exoskeleton

Post by JediMasterThrash » Mon Aug 19, 2013 2:44 pm

They will eat the legs up to the tips, and BP out to the outer hard shell. So if there's still full legs left that's still a good meal. But I would supplement it with some dried shrimp.
JMT.

Stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking crab-herder since '92.


StormChaser
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 5:50 pm

Molted, but other crab ate the old exoskeleton

Post by StormChaser » Mon Aug 19, 2013 3:14 pm

Thanks guys!

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