Post by Danielle on Sept 1, 2015 11:30:11 GMT -5
Hello hermit crab experts,
Apologies if this is not a true emergency. My membership is pending and I'd really like to get some advice on a situation that has developed in my tank.
Background: I have four hermit crabs (2 small, 1 medium, and 1 large). I've had the 2 small crabs for two years and the 2 others for seven months. The small crabs have been through several successful molts, and the medium crab also molted shortly after she arrived in the tank. My tank is set up according to standard specs, and there are several areas were the substrate is deep enough for even the largest crab to bury deeply for molting. My practice has been to leave them alone when they select a spot, and to this point everyone has molted without the others bothering them.
The potential problem: The large crab started preparing for a molt in July, but instead of digging down into the substrate, he barricaded himself into a plastic cave on 7/22/2015. This was basically the same as making a tunnel underground, because he filled the entire opening of the cave with thickly packed substrate, sealing himself inside. Initially the others avoided the area and seemed to be uninterested in digging into the cave, but last night one of the small crabs dug in while looking for his own molting spot (he has been looking for the past week or so). I could see the large crab sitting in the cave--he looked fine and was alert and mobile, but I couldn't tell if his molt was finished or not yet started (it's pretty dark inside). The small crab meanwhile buried himself somewhere inside or just outside the cave. And, the medium crab has also disappeared, and I'm not sure if she's in the cave as well, or somewhere else. She last finished molting on 4/23/2015, and I haven't noticed her getting ready again, but I supposed she could be. There is not a lot of room in the cave, so I fear that if all three are inside (two below the substrate and one on top), they may be too close together to molt peacefully. This morning I dug around lightly near the opening and front edges (without touching the large crab) and didn't feel or see any signs of the other two crabs.
My question: Is it better to just leave all crabs alone at this point and hope that their spots are far enough away from each other to molt in peace, or should I make an effort to separate the crabs? For now I have put the dirt back to cover the cave opening so it's dark inside, but I'm worried that if I sealed in the other crabs too, they will bother each other. Any advice?
Thanks for much for your help!
Apologies if this is not a true emergency. My membership is pending and I'd really like to get some advice on a situation that has developed in my tank.
Background: I have four hermit crabs (2 small, 1 medium, and 1 large). I've had the 2 small crabs for two years and the 2 others for seven months. The small crabs have been through several successful molts, and the medium crab also molted shortly after she arrived in the tank. My tank is set up according to standard specs, and there are several areas were the substrate is deep enough for even the largest crab to bury deeply for molting. My practice has been to leave them alone when they select a spot, and to this point everyone has molted without the others bothering them.
The potential problem: The large crab started preparing for a molt in July, but instead of digging down into the substrate, he barricaded himself into a plastic cave on 7/22/2015. This was basically the same as making a tunnel underground, because he filled the entire opening of the cave with thickly packed substrate, sealing himself inside. Initially the others avoided the area and seemed to be uninterested in digging into the cave, but last night one of the small crabs dug in while looking for his own molting spot (he has been looking for the past week or so). I could see the large crab sitting in the cave--he looked fine and was alert and mobile, but I couldn't tell if his molt was finished or not yet started (it's pretty dark inside). The small crab meanwhile buried himself somewhere inside or just outside the cave. And, the medium crab has also disappeared, and I'm not sure if she's in the cave as well, or somewhere else. She last finished molting on 4/23/2015, and I haven't noticed her getting ready again, but I supposed she could be. There is not a lot of room in the cave, so I fear that if all three are inside (two below the substrate and one on top), they may be too close together to molt peacefully. This morning I dug around lightly near the opening and front edges (without touching the large crab) and didn't feel or see any signs of the other two crabs.
My question: Is it better to just leave all crabs alone at this point and hope that their spots are far enough away from each other to molt in peace, or should I make an effort to separate the crabs? For now I have put the dirt back to cover the cave opening so it's dark inside, but I'm worried that if I sealed in the other crabs too, they will bother each other. Any advice?
Thanks for much for your help!