Surface molt.

This forum is where you discuss issues relating to molting hermit crabs, including pre- and post-molting issues. If you are having a molting emergency please post in the Emergency Forum.
Post Reply
User avatar

Topic author
Erin9712
Posts: 51
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2016 4:23 pm

Surface molt.

Post by Erin9712 » Tue Jan 03, 2017 12:31 pm

Oh goodness. Okay, so I was checking one of my tanks and replacing food and stuff and the sub under the food dish was moldy. It stunk. Bad. So I scooped the nasty moldy sand out and I saw that it had moved to a giant piece of driftwood. I gently pulled out the driftwood, and unfortunately, under the driftwood was where my favorite crab Wobbles was. He'd only been under a few days so I dunked him in fresh water and left him alone to rebury. I checked on him later and he was limp and not moving. So I got out a Kritter Keeper and put it in the tank and stuck Wobbles in it. I checked this morning and the little dude surface molted in the KK. I'm just happy that I put him in there before he started molting. I guess my question is, should I wait until he eats his exo to put the honey and cuttlebone and all the good stuff in or should I go ahead and do it now?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar

PinchersAndShells
Posts: 1343
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2016 12:02 pm
Location: Ohio
Contact:

Re: Surface molt.

Post by PinchersAndShells » Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:55 pm

Wait until he eats most if not all of his exo and hardens up. Make sure when you go to put him back in with the rest of the crabs you dip him in the water bowl so he loses the "molt smell"
4 PPs + 1 E = Dusty, Momo, Seasalt, & Elvis
Captive Bred PP = Randy
75 Gallon Crabitat | Crabbing Since 8.11.2015
https://www.instagram.com/pinchersandshells/


Just Jay
Posts: 936
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2016 11:58 am
Location: New Orleans LA

Re: Surface molt.

Post by Just Jay » Tue Jan 03, 2017 5:58 pm

I would wait a well unless he is refusing to eat it. As far as the bath goes i don't. As long as he is hard you shouldn't have a problem but everyone likes to do things differently and what works in some tanks doesn't work in all.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

User avatar

Topic author
Erin9712
Posts: 51
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2016 4:23 pm

Re: Surface molt.

Post by Erin9712 » Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:24 pm

Thank you two! I'll wait. I've only checked on him once today as I don't want to disturb him, and he's still munching away so I'll wait until it's mostly gone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar

Visual
Posts: 354
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 7:59 am
Location: Kentucky

Re: Surface molt.

Post by Visual » Tue Jan 03, 2017 9:40 pm

I wouldn't want to disturb him further but did you snap any pics? I'm curious about all this because I think I lost one that maybe was or should have surface molted.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Sometimes there's fire, sometimes there's rain
www.loverochambeau.com

User avatar

GotButterflies
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 7312
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2016 6:56 pm
Location: Florida
Contact:

Re: Surface molt.

Post by GotButterflies » Tue Jan 03, 2017 10:05 pm

I would leave him alone as much as possible. Good luck!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Truly blessed to have incredible creatures, wonderful friends and my amazing family in my life!! I'm very thankful & grateful for all of them! www.thehealthyhermit.com

User avatar

LadyJinglyJones
Posts: 2115
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2016 12:01 pm
Location: The 6ix, Ontario, Canada

Re: Surface molt.

Post by LadyJinglyJones » Tue Jan 03, 2017 11:00 pm

What a lucky catch.
"Gaze upon the rolling deep..."
Quince the fat tailed gecko; Amazonian minnows; and now Harry & Luis, Bede & Aster, Chandra & Jace, Pax, & Piccolo, my adopted PPs.
RIP Vegita :(

Post Reply