How long can they stay buried?
How long can they stay buried?
Hey everyone! I am new here but have had hermit crabs on & off for many years. My current crabbies I have had for a little over 4 years. I have read a lot of other posts trying to get any information I could about my little situation but I have finally come around to posting myself. This past summer all three of my crabs started preparing for a molt. They were dumping the salt water dish & the fresh water dish for about 2 weeks & then they all disappeared. They have molted before so it wasn't too big of deal but I thought it was a little peculiar that all 3 of them at the same time decided to molt & they had never done that with the water before. So I waited & waited...& waited...no one surfaced. One shell was empty in their little "moss pit" but no crabby. I know crabs can bury themselves for months at a time, but it's December & no one has come out for food or water in months. These crabs are also on the smaller medium size scale. Any advice or info would be appreciated! Thanks!
Re: How long can they stay buried?
Just to be sure: could the empty shelled have been switched out to a new shell?
Crabbers unite!!!
Crabbers unite!!!
Re: How long can they stay buried?
I was thinking it could have been switched but the moss pit is on a second level basically so if he changed shells, he was very determined to do it there!
Re: How long can they stay buried?
Its possible! Best to make sure. For instance.. If you were sure there was a streaker you could search and rescue them..
But back to your original question... Crabs have been noted to bury up to 4 months with live results. Not sure how they survive, but it's happened. Then there's the 1.5 month buried who would become mold and thus pronounced dead. There was also mention in another thread that someone's crab escaped and an empty shell was found. 1-2 months later a molted naked crab came out from the laundry dryer! Either way i think i'd dig if i were you!
Crabbers unite!!!
But back to your original question... Crabs have been noted to bury up to 4 months with live results. Not sure how they survive, but it's happened. Then there's the 1.5 month buried who would become mold and thus pronounced dead. There was also mention in another thread that someone's crab escaped and an empty shell was found. 1-2 months later a molted naked crab came out from the laundry dryer! Either way i think i'd dig if i were you!
Crabbers unite!!!
Re: How long can they stay buried?
Well we went ahead & dug up the crabs today. All three were definitely very dead. I have no idea what happened. Two of the crabs were buried next to each other & the third one was in the moss pit buried in coconut fiber. Has this happened to anyone before? All of your crabs prepare for a molt at the same time & never come back up? It seems odd to me. I've been racking my brain trying to figure out what might have caused it, but I'm at a loss.
Re: How long can they stay buried?
I agree, there seems to be something very off about the way it went down. Can you fill out the emergency template so we can look at the big picture?
For them to group molt, i'd say that is normal, especially aince they have been with you for so long and molted several times.
The water dish dumping thing, i'm not sure crabs toss water around. They might like to soak and drink pre molt, but disposing of their offering sounds more like there was something that someone didn't like.
All of them dying together sounds very off. Did their remains show anything weird? Could they have been stricken with mites or disease, and have been trying to wash it off or treat it themselves, before they died?
When you say water dish i'm under the impression that it isnt very deep. After reviewing your conditions, i hope we will be able to pinpoint something.
I'm very sorry for your losses. I hope we can figure it out and bring some closure to their deaths.
Crabbers unite!!!
For them to group molt, i'd say that is normal, especially aince they have been with you for so long and molted several times.
The water dish dumping thing, i'm not sure crabs toss water around. They might like to soak and drink pre molt, but disposing of their offering sounds more like there was something that someone didn't like.
All of them dying together sounds very off. Did their remains show anything weird? Could they have been stricken with mites or disease, and have been trying to wash it off or treat it themselves, before they died?
When you say water dish i'm under the impression that it isnt very deep. After reviewing your conditions, i hope we will be able to pinpoint something.
I'm very sorry for your losses. I hope we can figure it out and bring some closure to their deaths.
Crabbers unite!!!