Post by Sach-Crabministrator on Nov 8, 2010 17:28:14 GMT -5
Recently I discovered and accidentally disturbed my largest crab while molting. Here's what happened:
While looking in the tank yesterday, I spied the tip of one of my magpie shells peeking out of the sand. I thought it was empty as my guys love to bury their empty shells. I hooked my nail under the edge of the shell and tipped it up. I saw pale legs and so I thought it was Gamera and that he'd just molted.
*Background story-Gamera had been MIA for about 2 months and when I had to go through the tank (10/29) to re-wet the sand, I found him and saw that he'd lost a leg and was growing a gel bud.
So, I knew he would need to molt soon, but had no idea it would be so soon. He didn't display any of the "classic" molting signs. No ashy skin or cloudy eyes, no lethargy (other than being hidden, hh) or constant eating or bathing. He sure surprised me!*
So back to our story. I thought that he had just molted. I went to check and be certain it was him and when I touched the edge of the shell this time, I could see his body stretched out, with the exo coming off the front of him. Oh my god, I thought I'd have a heart attack! So, I first sprayed some water in my hand to warm it and let a little bit dribble down on him, to help keep him moist. He's just at the edge of where my light shines in and that is my strongest (and driest) heat source. I tipped his shell a little more towards his hole and started freaking out, hh. I increased the humidity in his tank (thank you, Sue for that) to about 80% and started keeping a vigil. I've been able to watch him and see how he gets out of his exo and he's blown some molting theories for me, hh. I have always heard that when they shed their exo, they are all gooey and unable to use their muscles at all. Well, not only was he able to use his legs to dig a bigger hole around him, but to also push his exo away from him as he went. I also watched him use his LP to peel the exo off his legs. It was more flexible without the exo, but he sure was doing it!
Here's the pictures I was able to get (I know, finally, right?) yesterday and then today (the dates are wrong, but still consecutive).
So, I know the pictures haven't shown the whole process, but it's a glimpse of what isn't normally seen by us crabby parents.
While looking in the tank yesterday, I spied the tip of one of my magpie shells peeking out of the sand. I thought it was empty as my guys love to bury their empty shells. I hooked my nail under the edge of the shell and tipped it up. I saw pale legs and so I thought it was Gamera and that he'd just molted.
*Background story-Gamera had been MIA for about 2 months and when I had to go through the tank (10/29) to re-wet the sand, I found him and saw that he'd lost a leg and was growing a gel bud.
His color did NOT give away his impending molt.
Here's his gel bud
Here's his gel bud
So, I knew he would need to molt soon, but had no idea it would be so soon. He didn't display any of the "classic" molting signs. No ashy skin or cloudy eyes, no lethargy (other than being hidden, hh) or constant eating or bathing. He sure surprised me!*
So back to our story. I thought that he had just molted. I went to check and be certain it was him and when I touched the edge of the shell this time, I could see his body stretched out, with the exo coming off the front of him. Oh my god, I thought I'd have a heart attack! So, I first sprayed some water in my hand to warm it and let a little bit dribble down on him, to help keep him moist. He's just at the edge of where my light shines in and that is my strongest (and driest) heat source. I tipped his shell a little more towards his hole and started freaking out, hh. I increased the humidity in his tank (thank you, Sue for that) to about 80% and started keeping a vigil. I've been able to watch him and see how he gets out of his exo and he's blown some molting theories for me, hh. I have always heard that when they shed their exo, they are all gooey and unable to use their muscles at all. Well, not only was he able to use his legs to dig a bigger hole around him, but to also push his exo away from him as he went. I also watched him use his LP to peel the exo off his legs. It was more flexible without the exo, but he sure was doing it!
Here's the pictures I was able to get (I know, finally, right?) yesterday and then today (the dates are wrong, but still consecutive).
On the right side is him pushing out of his exo.
This one gives you a good idea of what is going on
You can see him using his LP here, these pictures were taken sequentially
Here you can see the shed exo from his LP! (Taken today)
This shows how I have the old moss-pit over him just to make sure the other guys don't harass him.
This one gives you a good idea of what is going on
You can see him using his LP here, these pictures were taken sequentially
Here you can see the shed exo from his LP! (Taken today)
This shows how I have the old moss-pit over him just to make sure the other guys don't harass him.
So, I know the pictures haven't shown the whole process, but it's a glimpse of what isn't normally seen by us crabby parents.