really bad molt...any suggestions?

[rainbow_crab]

So on top of moving into a new house, tearing down all my tanks and moving them and all of the fun things that went with it.....I'm having a crab issue. This issues started 3 weeks ago right before the move. One of my crabs appeared on the surface, very pink and shell-less. Now the crab was ever so carefully rinsed off and put into a tapestry that was considered to be the right size for him. Slightly smaller then his last but lighter for him to try and carry around due to his health. The next night he ditched his shell. I once again reshelled him. He kept the shell for three days. Now one of my females stole his shell and surfaced with it on. So he was molting, and she stole it during his molt. Which makes me think that's why he surfaced. So we made the super crazy move and he was doing ok....then three nights ago he was naked again! I picked him up and noticed his BP was dented. Which was probly my fault when I was reshelling him while he was pretty much jelly. I feel bad that I dented his Bp but I was terrified to try and grab him anywere but his legs. I also noticed his back plate ( I don't know it's actual name) is dented and slightly squishy. He has harden and has kept his shell on since I reshelled him last. He is in a small ISO container with water and a special blend of my molting mix ( crushed crab carapace, crushed eggshell, anaxthin, powder coral , powdered cuttle bone, royal jelly pollen and honey- I mix that up whenever there is a bad molt like this) He was very stiff when I reshelled him this last time. He has been eating the molting mix I made, and he finished his Exo. He has also kept his shell on. My problem is I am wary of trying to put him back into the main tank anytime soon. And I'm not sure if he is even going to make it in the first place. I know my tank isn't the issues. Sub is nice and deep and sand castle consistency. The humidity and temps are great. The food is always varied so they get plenty of mixed nutrients. I honestly think my female is the culprit to the males problem in the first place. He is a medium pp. and he is normally a very active pp. I just don't know if someone with more knowledge on this kind of thing can tell me if I'm doing it right and if I should just keep him in ISO or try to put him back in the tank. I'm doing what I feel is right but I worry that he might need to molt again since he is kinda dented up, he can't do it in the ISO container I have him in. I could set up a 5 g just for him to molt but I worry he will ditch his shell when he gets room to wonder around, and I'm not sure which is worse. Being naked or a forced surface molt. I honestly didn't think he was going to make it these last couple of days because of how he was stiff and slow when I reshelled him last time. He has been with me at least 2 years and never had a bad molt before. Any advice?

[megmaholm]

It sounds like you're doing what you can. My personal rule is if I have an injured crab or bad molt, I isolate them for a molt. Less stress and no competing for resources. I would move him to the 5 gallon and keep an eye on him. With the stress he's been through, a surface molt could be too much for him, so it'd be best if he can dig down and have a normal molt. Keep food and water in close reach so he doesn't have to move far or expend energy.

[rainbow_crab]

I'm torn about putting him into the five gallon. It seems every time he has room to move around he ditches his shell and streaks. Surface molt is stressful and potentially deadly, but a Shellless crab would be worse. Idk, I have kept him in ISO I think I will set up the 2.5 instead, minimize his space, and keep the food and water close. If he ditches his shell again should I just stick a container overtop of him after reshelling him. Kinda close him in like the ISO container he has been in?

[wodesorel]

Quart sized deli container filled with substrate? Won't be able to do anything but dig. (When I worked in a deli in a grocery store, we used to sell containers for like 25 cents to anyone who asked for an empty!)

[rainbow_crab]

That's a good idea wode I didn't think of that! I actually have one I got awhile back from the reptile show, it has a tiny screen top that the crickets had for airflow at the show. It's in the leopard gecko item collection. I already put him in the 2.5 but if we have any streaking I will use that next to close him in. He is still alive and eating the molting mix so I'm hoping he can pull through!

[rainbow_crab]

So crabby ditched shell again, still eating though. I reshelled him, and placed him in the very deep deli cup with substrate, I covered it to make it dark and peaceful for him. That was last night, crabby has kept shell on since and dug down a little bit. Still hoping he makes it. It's been a rough road for the little guy. Hoping the deli cup secludes him enough that he won't ditch his shell again, but will still be able to dig down and molt.