Molting without shell
Molting without shell
My hermit crab is in an ISO because I suspected him of killing another crab. He has now buried himself and left his shell on the surface..could he be molting without his shell? should I try to dig him up?
Re: Molting without shell
This is not molting, he has gone streaking 
It can be very dangerous for him! Dig him up and try the cup method.
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/pa ... dcrab.html
That should explain everything, keep the glass (with him and the shell(s) ) inside the crabitat to keep him warm and moist and keep him there for 24 hours after he re-shells.
What kind of conditions does your iso have? (heat, humidity, substrate, every bit of info will help)
Good luck! Keep us updated.
It can be very dangerous for him! Dig him up and try the cup method.http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/pa ... dcrab.html
That should explain everything, keep the glass (with him and the shell(s) ) inside the crabitat to keep him warm and moist and keep him there for 24 hours after he re-shells.
What kind of conditions does your iso have? (heat, humidity, substrate, every bit of info will help)
Good luck! Keep us updated.
We're not asked to do great things, we're asked to do all things with great care.
Rocky's Reptile Rescue: https://www.facebook.com/RockysReptileRescue
Stop the demand. End the trade.
Rocky's Reptile Rescue: https://www.facebook.com/RockysReptileRescue
Stop the demand. End the trade.
-
DragonsFly
- Posts: 1005
- Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 7:27 pm
- Location: Florida
Re: Molting without shell
"Going naked" is a sign that something is terribly wrong. Please answer these questions so we can hopefully help you save this crab. Just to be most thorough, you might want to give two answers; one for the main tank and definitely one for the iso the naked crab is in.
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? How moist is it?
2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read? Have you calibrated your humidity gauge?
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? (give details about size/wattage of lamps and UTH's, and where the UTH's are—side, back, bottom of tank? above/below substrate level?)
4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
7. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing (please give details about the lid, especially)? How do you maintain air flow?
8. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
9. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? (and have you checked “preferred shells” threads to make sure they are the right type for your crab/s?)
10. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
11. How often do you clean the tank and how?
12. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, what type are they (natural sea sponge, other?) and how are they cleaned?
13. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
14. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it? How moist is it?
2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read? Have you calibrated your humidity gauge?
3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what? (give details about size/wattage of lamps and UTH's, and where the UTH's are—side, back, bottom of tank? above/below substrate level?)
4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
7. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing (please give details about the lid, especially)? How do you maintain air flow?
8. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
9. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any? (and have you checked “preferred shells” threads to make sure they are the right type for your crab/s?)
10. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
11. How often do you clean the tank and how?
12. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, what type are they (natural sea sponge, other?) and how are they cleaned?
13. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
14. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
--{}: Dragons Fly Farm --{}:
Resident PP's:"Major Tom" & "Billie Jean"
“An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.”
― G.K. Chesterton
Resident PP's:"Major Tom" & "Billie Jean"
“An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.”
― G.K. Chesterton
Re: Molting without shell
okay I can definitely answer those but first what is the best method for me to dig him up? I can't see where he is and I don't want to hurt him.. should I dump all the sand out onto a flat surface or just dig for him with a spoon?
Re: Molting without shell
also- I've found one of his legs and another part of a leg while looking for him..I'm not sure how this happened because he was alone..thats why I thought molt maybe?
Re: Molting without shell
OMG everyone FALSE ALARM! haha thank you all for your responses. Turns out-after I already carefully sifted through all the sand in my ISO trying to find him, we WAS in one of the extra shells I had in the ISO as decoration (because it was way to big) tucked all the way back in it! 
lol all is now well and I am going to keep him isolated until he (hopefully) moves into a shell that better fits him! Thanks again everyone.
lol all is now well and I am going to keep him isolated until he (hopefully) moves into a shell that better fits him! Thanks again everyone.-
DragonsFly
- Posts: 1005
- Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 7:27 pm
- Location: Florida
Re: Molting without shell
But if he is dropping legs, that is still a sign that something is seriously wrong and he is in danger. Filling out the questions posted will help us help you and him.
--{}: Dragons Fly Farm --{}:
Resident PP's:"Major Tom" & "Billie Jean"
“An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.”
― G.K. Chesterton
Resident PP's:"Major Tom" & "Billie Jean"
“An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.”
― G.K. Chesterton
Re: Molting without shell
Dropping limbs is a sign of serious stress, and without help he will perish soon. We can save this guy! But we need to know anything that could be contributing, because usually if one is showing signs of stress, it is enviornmental, and the rest will follow.
Check his old shell, is something wrong with it? Maybe offer the same type of shell he moved into, only smaller? What type was he wearing and what is he wearing now?
And check the legs, are they full of meat (and stinky)? Or empty, and crush in your hand?
We can save this guy! But we need to know anything that could be contributing, because usually if one is showing signs of stress, it is enviornmental, and the rest will follow. Check his old shell, is something wrong with it? Maybe offer the same type of shell he moved into, only smaller? What type was he wearing and what is he wearing now?
And check the legs, are they full of meat (and stinky)? Or empty, and crush in your hand?
We're not asked to do great things, we're asked to do all things with great care.
Rocky's Reptile Rescue: https://www.facebook.com/RockysReptileRescue
Stop the demand. End the trade.
Rocky's Reptile Rescue: https://www.facebook.com/RockysReptileRescue
Stop the demand. End the trade.