Record keeping

[hprmom]

If you keep track of when/how long your crabs molt, shell changes, growth, or anything else about your crabs, what is your record keeping method? If you have a template or chart of some kind, would you describe it or share?

Four out of five of mine all went down for overlapping molts (all successfully back up!) in a 7-week period, and as soon as the fourth one came up #5 went down (still waiting on him). So far all I've done is mark on my calendar the day I last saw each crab before it went down, and the first day I noticed each back up.

[Giner13]

If you keep track of when/how long your crabs molt, shell changes, growth, or anything else about your crabs, what is your record keeping method? If you have a template or chart of some kind, would you describe it or share?

Four out of five of mine all went down for overlapping molts (all successfully back up!) in a 7-week period, and as soon as the fourth one came up #5 went down (still waiting on him). So far all I've done is mark on my calendar the day I last saw each crab before it went down, and the first day I noticed each back up.

That's what I did my first molter. I'll mark when I see my other crab last if he decides to go down soon.

[CallaLily]

I keep a notebook, each crab has their own page. It includes a picture (I used to keep it current but I haven't had a printer for some time so they're all out of date now), name, date they came into my care and from where, what shell they are wearing, size, gender, and anything about them that stands out - also any deaths. How long they were with their previous owner and anything else they may have noted. All molts that I've tracked are written here too and any illnesses or problems. I try to update this every so often.

For more frequent checks I just have a lose sheet of paper to keep the notebook from getting too scribbley. On it is a list of my crabs - name, gender, shell, and any notes about digging. I've become a bit lazier with it but I do monthly head counts and take note of who's up and who's not. Then when a crab resurfaces I at least have an idea on what month they dug under, though sometimes I have it down to the day. If they've molted, I add it into the crab book. Sometimes I only have the date they resurfaced recorded if I've fallen behind. And there have been quite a few times I have on keeping track.

All of this is in a folder with a few print outs of the size chart, safe/unsafe list (also probably out of date now lol), recipes, Kili's guide, extra basic care sheets, etc.

[nerdycrabs]

I'm super basic, I just like to know when they went down, when they came back up, and how long they were molting for. It's a simple chart I keep in my planner, but you can see the little note I made for Bilbo's new leg. I was so excited!

I would just make a chart with whatever you want to track and make it as thorough as you need. I'm just looking for molting patterns so I can have a better idea of who is due for one and what is "normal" for them.

[pandaincognito]

I made a thread, called the crab journal ^^ its easier to look through posts than it is a notebook. I like to doodle, so my notes are always hard to read xD

[CallaLily]

its easier to look through posts than it is a notebook.

This makes me feel old. I think for me, a good old fashioned notebook will always be much easier.

[hprmom]

its easier to look through posts than it is a notebook.

This makes me feel old. I think for me, a good old fashioned notebook will always be much easier.

That makes me feel old, too, lol! Although I'm using my computer based calendar and might make my "old fashioned" chart on an "old fashioned" spreadsheet, because I have a tendency to lose paper, even in a notebook.

Some good organizational tips here, thanks everyone! I think I'm mainly interested in molting patterns so I know when to look for everybody, though I'm kind of loosely keeping an eye on shell changes because it's how I tell the little guys apart (doesn't help that the "twins" are both in green turbos now).

[marandashermies]

I use and excel spreadsheet for my straws. Don't track my pps though! Here is some of it..



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