New crabbies in ISO

[summerluvin]

Help! I got 2 new crabbies 3 weeks ago. I put them in the ISO tank and have not seen them since. The ISO used to be the main tank, so all conditions are good. The food and water have not been touched--no crab-prints in the sand. There is no smell, no nothing. I KNOW I'm not supposed to dig for them, but I'm getting tempted. Any thoughts?

[DaisyCrab]

I would just leave them, they're most likely destressing. Or maybe even molting. But don't dig them up, it's tough I know!

[alli'smommy]

New crabs need to be in ISO for a minimum of a month and most will bury and not be seen during the whole time! It really stinks when you get new ones and never see them!! Don't disturb them though until they come up on their own!!

[krackersmom2]

My new guys have been buried for almost a week now. Most likely they are just destressing.

[Chuck_Norris]

Look at it like this: they're buried in their "safe spot"... they likely haven't felt safe in a while (since their capture) and now that they do, you wouldn't want to violate that by "finding" their safe spot and digging them up.

[rcar77]

One of mine just came up a few days ago. I bought him on 1/16 with two other. I know he went all that time without eating and he is doing great I see him all the time now. The other two are still down but I am not worried they will make their presents when they are ready. Just give them time.

[krackersmom2]

Speaking of digging around....I accidentally uncovered Hercules the other day As soon as I realized it was him, I stopped....I saw his BP and he clicked it together a couple of times as if to say, "I'm cool..." he has definitely molted or is getting ready to shed the exo. His previously dark maroon BP was light purple. My guess is that he has already molted and is regaining his strength. I he was buried in a completely different area or I never would have dug there. My crabbies like to mess up the rock pile and I thought he was a rock under the sand. He's not very far under. I was wondering if he would change colors after this molt. I do feel better that he is fianlly doing his thing.

[Hildegarde]

Some of my smalls have been down from between 10 to 16 weeks. As everyone else said, leave them be.

And don't wait for a smell. None of my crabs that died ever smelled. As a matter of fact I just lost large teeny and it sat in the ISO for a week, waiting for my husband to get around to burying it. And it never smelled at all.

[WizKidsMom]

I just got two new guys yesterday and placed them in our ISO. They checked out the extra shells - changed back and forth from new back to old - and checked out their new home scampering around. Today they have buried themselves. They did pig out on salt water and the plain water but did not eat anything. It might take a while for them to get use to fresh food as the pet shop had the commercial stuff

[summerluvin]

Thanks everyone. I'm still waiting for everyone to come up. Now everyone in the main tank is snoozing, too. I'm looking at a box full of substrate. I'm lonely for my silly crabbies.