Isolation/Molting conundrum. - Page 2

Kaelink · 03-24-2008, 04:15 PM

Rex hasn't moved for a couple of days and, when I pick him up, I couldn't feel him moving in his shell like usual. (Still can't).
He was hanging out of his shell, not moving. I thought he was dead.

I was going to bury him in the garden today, so I picked him up. Much to my surprise, half of a crab fell out of the shell, still fully colored. I looked in the shell to find a very pink purple claw.

Hopefully he's still alive. :x I feel so horrible, moving him/touching him while he had been molting. I didn't know, since he was moving around and obviously pooing. Argh. Guess I'll have to leave him be and just wait it out for a few more weeks.

Hildegarde · 03-24-2008, 05:54 PM

Maybe I'm missing something. Why are you isolating your crabs so often? All of mine have moulted in the tank they're in and I've never had a problem and no bad moults.

Kaelink · 03-24-2008, 06:05 PM

He's somehow managed to create an area where substrate that was once about 3" is now about an inch.
Being so close to the surface, I didn't want the other two bothering him, so I moved them to the isolation tank.

Kaelink · 03-27-2008, 11:46 PM

As a final update, Rex is doing fine, finishing off his shed exoskeleton, walking around, pale as heck.

Donna M · 03-28-2008, 12:22 AM

I'm no expert (I've only had crabs for about a year) but Rex could be preparing for a molt. I understand that they get lethargic. Did he eat like a piglet just before he buried himself?

But I hope you realize that some crabs just like to stay buried.......molting or not. As you read more on this site, you'll see posts from many crab owners who hardly ever see some of their crabs! Two of my three crabs are like that, and I hate it. Also one of them is molting now, and has been buried since some time in February! It's almost April and he's still down. I know he's alive because I can see his legs and antennae moving through the side and bottom of the tank. I think he's busy munching on his exoskeleton, then I'm hoping he'll surface.

Stop worrying. If he's hungry or thirsty, he'll sneak over to the dishes at night while you sleep. Then he'll bury himself again. In the morning, you'll never even know he's been sleepwalking! LOL

Take care,
Donna M.

03-24-2008, 04:15 PM	#11 (permalink)
Kaelink "Never Molted" Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Murray, KY Posts: 30	Re: Isolation/Molting conundrum. Rex hasn't moved for a couple of days and, when I pick him up, I couldn't feel him moving in his shell like usual. (Still can't). He was hanging out of his shell, not moving. I thought he was dead. I was going to bury him in the garden today, so I picked him up. Much to my surprise, half of a crab fell out of the shell, still fully colored. I looked in the shell to find a very pink purple claw. Hopefully he's still alive. :x I feel so horrible, moving him/touching him while he had been molting. I didn't know, since he was moving around and obviously pooing. Argh. Guess I'll have to leave him be and just wait it out for a few more weeks.

03-24-2008, 05:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
Hildegarde "Preparing For Third Molt" Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gainesville, Florida Posts: 791	Re: Isolation/Molting conundrum. Maybe I'm missing something. Why are you isolating your crabs so often? All of mine have moulted in the tank they're in and I've never had a problem and no bad moults. __________________ The Kids: Big Momma, Bwana, BiBi, Honey, Aggie, Stretch, Sparky, Houdini, Tang, Zeke & Izzie; The Big Guys: Kaiser, Mo-de-law', Belle & SuzyQ; and our 15 new Little Ones; all PPs and our baby Es: Killer, Ol' Yeller, Scooter, Mr. Greenjeans, Orange and our tiny Smidgen.

03-24-2008, 06:05 PM	#13 (permalink)
Kaelink "Never Molted" Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Murray, KY Posts: 30	Re: Isolation/Molting conundrum. He's somehow managed to create an area where substrate that was once about 3" is now about an inch. Being so close to the surface, I didn't want the other two bothering him, so I moved them to the isolation tank.

03-27-2008, 11:46 PM	#14 (permalink)
Kaelink "Never Molted" Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Murray, KY Posts: 30	Re: Isolation/Molting conundrum. As a final update, Rex is doing fine, finishing off his shed exoskeleton, walking around, pale as heck.

03-28-2008, 12:22 AM	#15 (permalink)
Donna M "First Molt In Progress" Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 158	Re: Isolation/Molting conundrum. I'm no expert (I've only had crabs for about a year) but Rex could be preparing for a molt. I understand that they get lethargic. Did he eat like a piglet just before he buried himself? But I hope you realize that some crabs just like to stay buried.......molting or not. As you read more on this site, you'll see posts from many crab owners who hardly ever see some of their crabs! Two of my three crabs are like that, and I hate it. Also one of them is molting now, and has been buried since some time in February! It's almost April and he's still down. I know he's alive because I can see his legs and antennae moving through the side and bottom of the tank. I think he's busy munching on his exoskeleton, then I'm hoping he'll surface. Stop worrying. If he's hungry or thirsty, he'll sneak over to the dishes at night while you sleep. Then he'll bury himself again. In the morning, you'll never even know he's been sleepwalking! LOL Take care, Donna M.

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