Substrate drying during a molt - new crab owner

[roadbling]

I have had three PP's since July. In October, my medium-sized PP went underground. In December, when switching from A/C to heat, I was having trouble keeping the humidity up with just misting. I have added moisture and re-mixed the substrate on the opposite two-thirds of the tank. Temperature is 75 degrees and humidity is now staying at 80%.

I probably read too much, but I am concerned that the third section where he is buried may be too dry and I am reading about sand caving in. I mist that area everyday to be safe. Also, he has been under for almost three months (no smell). Am I worrying too much?

I surely appreciate any advice.

[landlubber]

Hmmmm.....I suspect he has passed. They can't build caves in dry sand for molting-usually they'll pull a surface molt in that case. What size crab is this? For smalls and teenies 3 months would be a very long time to be down, for mediums and up it's not quite so long.

[roadbling]

He is a medium slightly larger than a golf ball, so maybe there is still a shot he will come up? It was moist when he dug under, but he went under mid-October and it is mid-January.

[landlubber]

It wouldn't be out of the ordinary for his size to still be molting after three months (normally it would be about 2 months, but it could take longer based on certain variables). So, Whew, that's good. But I am still concerned about the cave having collapsed or hardening if it's dried out since then. If it were me, and I had no other molters down and dry sand like that I would probably dig-if he has molted he should be almost done anyway I would think which is not the most dangerous time to dig up a molter (the midpoint of the molt is when you'd especially want to avoid digging them up unless its a major emergency). But that's just me, at this point if you wanted to wait I would say another month would put it at the time frame where he'd very likely be dead.

[roadbling]

Thank you so much for the advice. I found him and he moved a bit so I think he is okay. The sand was actually a nice consistency so maybe the moisture spreads throughout. Again, appreciate the advice! Steve (the medium-large PP) thanks you!