Molting disaster

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 7:08 am

That red patch is the gill cover or gills, no? Just make sure its red on both sides. If not, maybe get some closer pics, just in case. If it is only on one side, we will need to speculate further.
If he is refusing food it could be a sign he is ready to molt. Offer food 1-2 more times, inside the tank. By taking him out you could be giving him an "eat, or else" type of vibe. If he doesn't seek out food on his own, just dig a pit for him and cover it with something light and flat, to help him simulate a cave. Then just let him molt, which is our goal here. Hopefully he will shed any issues with another molt and continue on with his crabby ways!

Crabbers unite!!!

CallaLily · Post by **CallaLily** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 10:01 am

I think he's actually recovering from a molt that was disturbed towards the end? But I agree, give him food and both fw and sw in his ISO and leave him be. It's pretty normal for them to take it easy while recovering from a molt. Just continue to keep dishes easily accessible and conditions right. Once he's climbing around and eating normally, he'll be ready to go back to the main tank.

kornchaser · Post by **kornchaser** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 11:00 pm

CallaLily wrote:I think he's actually recovering from a molt that was disturbed towards the end? But I agree, give him food and both fw and sw in his ISO and leave him be. It's pretty normal for them to take it easy while recovering from a molt. Just continue to keep dishes easily accessible and conditions right. Once he's climbing around and eating normally, he'll be ready to go back to the main tank.

He's still a light color and not acting like he's ready for the main tank so I agree to keep him in there longer...

YYWW wrote:That red patch is the gill cover or gills, no? Just make sure its red on both sides. If not, maybe get some closer pics, just in case. If it is only on one side, we will need to speculate further.

Is on both sides

If he is refusing food it could be a sign he is ready to molt. Offer food 1-2 more times, inside the tank. By taking him out you could be giving him an "eat, or else" type of vibe.

This was caused by a disturbed molt and he won't molt again for another 10-14 months according to his recent molt time and size. I was feeling that vibe tbh and didn't want to force him but also he ate banana all by himself when I left him alone in the tank after not eating at all this entire time. I just don't want him to starve himself like Bruiser did before he passed

hermieluv1 wrote:Just my opinion, but I think you need to leave him completely alone for now. I have living proof that after their molt, they just hang out in their cave until they are ready to come out. I have a molter in a window by the glass in my 55, and I keep expecting him to come up. I can see every detail of his perfect claws and feelers.....he moves around, looks at me...but he doesn't want to see daylight or food yet! We don't understand how they can't eat or drink after being without for so long, but that is their natural way.

I have food fw and sw in there for him in case he changes his mind. Also though this little spot in the middle of the tank could be his "cave" or the only place he can move to. I want opinions on this now so don't be shy: I want to buy a ten gallon for a new ISO for a crab his size I believe it's absolutely necessary and while taking him out and feeding him he ate by himself right? So I believe taking him out isn't stressing him out too much and in fact helping him so with that in mind moving him out of his little spot (not burried or anything but just sitting) and making more room for him to roam and making it more "homey" could aid him back to health.
Am I crazy? Opinions?

Hermit mommy of 10 PP babies: Octavius Flemming, Poseidon, Junior, Matty Pumpkin, Turbo, Aries, Kaylee Frye, Pepper, Flower and Adrian Shephard.

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Sat Jan 31, 2015 12:07 am

A 10gal ISO would be luxuriously wonderful! I regret selling my 10 gal. I should have kept it for an ISO

I just would like to add that a crab may try to pull a back to back molt, for whatever reason. Not common, but it happens, and can result in fatality. I think this is generally in the case of repairing damage or deformities.

Crabbers unite!!!

kornchaser · Post by **kornchaser** » Sat Jan 31, 2015 2:46 am

YYWW wrote:A 10gal ISO would be luxuriously wonderful! I regret selling my 10 gal. I should have kept it for an ISO
I just would like to add that a crab may try to pull a back to back molt, for whatever reason. Not common, but it happens, and can result in fatality. I think this is generally in the case of repairing damage or deformities.

Crabbers unite!!!

He's not showing any signs of wanting to molt (no digging or excessive eating) and everything folds up into his shell like normal, no missing limbs or claws

So I'm just waiting on him to eat and drink on his own and to darken and I think a bigger tank will make him feel batter and get on the right track.

Hermit mommy of 10 PP babies: Octavius Flemming, Poseidon, Junior, Matty Pumpkin, Turbo, Aries, Kaylee Frye, Pepper, Flower and Adrian Shephard.

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Sat Jan 31, 2015 5:44 am

A bigger tank makes EVERYTHING better, always!

Crabbers unite!!!

kornchaser · Post by **kornchaser** » Fri Feb 06, 2015 4:50 am

I changed everything a few days ago. I got a 10g from gpa and washed it out. Filled it with sub and decorated it. He's been under the willow hide since I put him in there. I haven't checked on him (besides look at the back of his shell) to see how he's doing but no smell. Pics and specks soon.

Hermit mommy of 10 PP babies: Octavius Flemming, Poseidon, Junior, Matty Pumpkin, Turbo, Aries, Kaylee Frye, Pepper, Flower and Adrian Shephard.

kornchaser · Post by **kornchaser** » Sat Feb 07, 2015 1:09 am

I've got two little containers one for fw and one for sw, moss pit, climbing jute, 3 extra shells, and a new hygro/thermo meter, a little lid full of food. Today's menu is all natural oatmeal with blueberries from alaskahermit and oats. He's in a little hole I just dug since his willow hide started molding. Little antennae movement and no color change at all. Is he too scared to harden or change color?

Hermit mommy of 10 PP babies: Octavius Flemming, Poseidon, Junior, Matty Pumpkin, Turbo, Aries, Kaylee Frye, Pepper, Flower and Adrian Shephard.

kornchaser · Post by **kornchaser** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 11:11 am

Sad news, I found Octavius had passed yesterday. It's really upsetting since he was one of my originals I believe my 3rd crab ever. I'm really upset that I dug him up and it just went all downhill from there. I've leaned my very hard lesson the worst way possible. RIP Octavius.

Mommy of 11 PP babies:
Poseidon (Sid), Octavius, Matty, Junior, Aries, Kaylee, Turbo, Adrian, Pepper, Flower and Winifred.

KellyCrabbieLove · Post by **KellyCrabbieLove** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 11:21 am

I am so so sorry. *hug* It is always hard to lose one of our babies but an original is harder. How long did you have him?

kornchaser · Post by **kornchaser** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 12:51 am

KellyCrabbieLove wrote:I am so so sorry. *hug* It is always hard to lose one of our babies but an original is harder. How long did you have him?

I had him for a year and 7 months

He looked crunched up like this first photo of someone else's crab who isn't dead but Octavius had the death smell, and was "going bad" to put it lightly.
viewtopic.php?t=103022
Poor guy, I'm 1,000% responsible because I dug him up when he was pink and ugh

... Yeah, it's extra hard with an original...

Mommy of 10 PP babies:
Poseidon (Sid), Toby, Matty, Junior, Aries, Kaylee, Turbo, Adrian, Pepper and Flower. RIP Octavius & Fred

HCA: Hermit Crab Association