What could this be?

[odelayheehoo]

I went up to my tank the other day and saw that my largest crab, who is almost a jumbo, has made a window on the glass where I noticed he molted. His body was a light lavender color, so I covered the area on the glass with dark paper, and now I checked on it today and saw this?

It’s a white looking thing, almost like a crabby abdomen, and I can see the shell farther in the back as well. The picture doesn’t pick up what I see as good, but this thing is very weird. I am starting to freak out a bit, help!

[wodesorel]

He does look unshelled. Give him a little time to see what he does, but if he stays naked I would suggest carefully digging down to get him out and reshell.

[odelayheehoo]

He does look unshelled. Give him a little time to see what he does, but if he stays naked I would suggest carefully digging down to get him out and reshell.

Thank you so much for the straight answer, this is what I feared. I will give him until later this afternoon, but if the window or he still hasn’t changed then I will carefully dig down in that area.

I have never had to dig for any reason before, but I know that you can slowly excavate the area with a spoon.

[Oliviet#1]

I’ve heard some crabs come out of their shell to molt. I might be wrong though

[wodesorel]

I’ve heard some crabs come out of their shell to molt. I might be wrong though

They really shouldn't under any circumstances. I give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe they need to shift around a bit to be comfortable. It would not be a longterm thing though, it would be a quick out and in.

[odelayheehoo]

I am just hoping he isn’t sickened where I need to move to urgent care, this is a wonderful crab and I would lose my mind if I lost him.

[odelayheehoo]

Yes, it is him naked, as I can see the side of his abdomen which is a tan color with small dots. I will be digging him up shortly.

[Oliviet#1]

I hope it goes well!

[odelayheehoo]

I am going to isolate him in a small kritter keeper with bottle caps for fw and sw, along with a qtip with honey. I plan to rinse his abdomen and shell in the freshwater and reshell him.

[odelayheehoo]

I got him out, and he wasn’t in a shell. I had a bit of difficulty trying to lift him out of the sandy hole, but finally he came out. Getting him back into a shell was easy, he took it almost immediately when I backed him into it.

He has a dented pincher, hopefully that doesn’t get bad to the point of dropping the limb.

[Oliviet#1]

He has such beautiful colors. Glad you got him in a shell, and I hope his pincher gets well soon.

[GotButterflies]

Gorgeous colors! I hope that all goes well! Make sure he stays warm and humid!

[odelayheehoo]

Gorgeous colors! I hope that all goes well! Make sure he stays warm and humid!

It's warm out so I have the heater off for now, and the tank is about 77-81.

[odelayheehoo]

He's doing good this morning, he's sitting while wiggling his antennae around and managing to eat his exoskeleton, this is good!

I gave him honey on a cotton swab yesterday, and he can have some bee pollen after he finishes with the exo.

[wodesorel]

Glad to hear he's okay. I think he'll recover fine. Looks like another crab discovered him! It happens sometimes, part of having multiple hermits.