Being a newcomer, I have no experience with growth or molting. My three newbies fit the "small" sizing chart now - how soon will I have three medium hermies?
I'm not trying to rush them through life - just wondering for future tank capacity purposes.
Growth Rate
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OK found it...the crab went from a Micro to a Small-Medium...here's the thread with pics included:
viewtopic.php?t=41758
viewtopic.php?t=41758
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Guest
Since I have been crabbing for about a year & a half, now, I can share the growth rate I have experienced. The most noticeable growth has been with the Purple Pinchers. The rugs & Es do not grow as fast, and tend to be smaller species.
My ants, which were about the size of a pencil erase when I got them, were approximately 3 months old at the time. They became micros in about 9 months.
My micros became teenies in about the same length of time. (9 months to a year). The same with the teenies becoming smalls. Again, same length of time.
Some of my smalls are still smalls after a year. Only a few are now mediums. The mediums that I have had for over a year, are still mediums.
From my experience with crabbing, the smaller sizes have a much faster growth rate. It seems that once they become mediums, the growth rate slows down a lot. Just like like humans experience a rapid growth from birth to adolescence, crabs are the same!
My ants, which were about the size of a pencil erase when I got them, were approximately 3 months old at the time. They became micros in about 9 months.
My micros became teenies in about the same length of time. (9 months to a year). The same with the teenies becoming smalls. Again, same length of time.
Some of my smalls are still smalls after a year. Only a few are now mediums. The mediums that I have had for over a year, are still mediums.
From my experience with crabbing, the smaller sizes have a much faster growth rate. It seems that once they become mediums, the growth rate slows down a lot. Just like like humans experience a rapid growth from birth to adolescence, crabs are the same!
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hermiegirl
It also really depends on the crab. I had a few who just sprouted from small to medium in like 3 molts in less than a year, but I have one that is still a small and I got him at the same time. These are the PPs. My Es seem to hate molting, and my ruggies I haven't had all that long, so no significant growth noticed yet.
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starmaiden
- Posts: 419
- Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 3:41 pm
- Location: Washington State
I've had a PP, Bruce, who has molted twice for me in 6 months and has gone from a small medium to a large medium in those two molts. If he keeps this up, he's going to be a large in a year!
When I bought my 4 ruggies in early June, they were all micros. Now, three molts later, they are all teenies. They molt frequently, about every 6-8 weeks, but don't seem to grow as fast as the PPs do.
When I bought my 4 ruggies in early June, they were all micros. Now, three molts later, they are all teenies. They molt frequently, about every 6-8 weeks, but don't seem to grow as fast as the PPs do.
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Hermit_of_Hermit_Crabs
From what I have experienced and seen on here I have constructed the following updated guide for PPs (represents how long is spent at each size+:
Smaller than micro: 0-1 year
Micro: 6 months-1.5 years
Teeny: 1 year-2 years
Small: 1 year-3 years
Medium: 2-5 years
Large: 5-12 years
Jumbo: 12 years and beyond
Now, if you will notice the times overlap in the smaller sizes. That is because most pet stores seem to get smaller PPs. In my experience it has been much harder to find large and jumbo PPs. So since the pet stores keep smaller sizes it would be safe to assume that during the time they are captured and kept in the pet store that they go through a growth stunt.
Smaller than micro: 0-1 year
Micro: 6 months-1.5 years
Teeny: 1 year-2 years
Small: 1 year-3 years
Medium: 2-5 years
Large: 5-12 years
Jumbo: 12 years and beyond
Now, if you will notice the times overlap in the smaller sizes. That is because most pet stores seem to get smaller PPs. In my experience it has been much harder to find large and jumbo PPs. So since the pet stores keep smaller sizes it would be safe to assume that during the time they are captured and kept in the pet store that they go through a growth stunt.
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Guest
Oh good! so I have 2 - 12 years to save for a new tank for my medium/large crabs lol. I was actually thinking of growth rates the other day, since, well, I'm basically unemployed and if these guys start growing like weeds I'd be in serious trouble if they experienced a growth spurt in the coming year. With 2 medium/large crabs, 3 medium crabs and 1 small/medium crab in a 35 L I was worried about them getting over crowded... geez if they wait 12 years imagine the size of tank I could save up for 
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