How do you know your hermit crab is about to molt?

Answer 1

u Hermit crabs have signs an about to molt. But when they do molt, they dig underground, and depending on size it will stay underground for weeks to months. My hermit crab is small and stayed underground molting for a month and a half.

Do NOT dig your hermit crab up! if you think it's dead smell the tank if it smells like dead fish them a hermie is dead :(.

Answer 2

the tips of there legs will be white there eyes will make a v shape instead ofstriaght and the will dig in the sand and hide for days then there will come back upnote don't touch them for two days because they have soft skin and they will need to grow there hard shell back

Answer 3

I'm very new to this myself so this may not be a great answer, but I'm fairly sure my fiddler is molting right now. I thought the poor thing was starving to death because she just wasn't moving, but hours later she's alive and just still as a statue. Apparently this is how they act when they're molting (the more you know, right?) -- Apparently it's also very important that you don't move them, I don't know why that is either. I actually moved mine around a little bit because I thought she was dead, but she's a tough little crustacean.

Anyway, that's beside the point. Here's your answer.

At first they act as though they're dead, they literally won't move apart from maybe a few mouth movements or TINY leg movements. Then once you're done with that heart attack of a phase, they'll shed their skin right off. Something about a lack of appetite before the process even starts, also.

Again, I'm a newbie too, this is just as much as I know.

Answer 4

I have had a hermit crab molt before and you can tell if it is dead if the tank smells like dead fish. hermit crabs molt underground and stay in there for a week to months. make sure it always has fresh water available. It is very important for newly molted hermit crabs to be hydrated.

Answer 5

Generally, when a hermit crab is nearing time to molt, he will begin spending more time in the ocean water dish (they need the marine salt to help them retain water to expand the old exoskeleton for easier removal) as well as the fresh water dish. They may seem to be spending a lot of time eating, packing away more food than you've ever seen them eat before.

Be sure to give them plenty of foods with high protein and calcium, along with seaweeds at this time.

Their exoskeleton may begin to take on a somewhat "ashy" appearance, and their eyestalks may begin to look ashy as well.

He might seem to be dissatisfied with his shell and start changing it frequently, but don't take that as the only sign. Some crabs will go through periods when they just don't seem content with the shell they have. This does not mean they are about to molt.

Your crab may show a change in behavior or personality. He may suddenly become more aggressive toward the other crabs, starting fights, trying to steal their shells, or conversely he may become more lethargic and not move around a whole lot other than to the food and water dishes.

If your crab becomes aggressive, it may be a good idea to isolate him in a smaller tank with the same conditions as the main tank (temp and humidity, substrate, etc). Make sure the substrate is deep enough he can burrow down. Crushed shell substrates are never a good idea, as pieces of the crushed shells have been known to get into a crab's shell and puncture their delicate abdomen, causing death.

When molting is imminent, you may notice your crab's eyestalks begin to "droop" at odd angles, instead of sticking straight out as normal. The crab is likely to be quite lethargic at this time.

Your crab may also be showing signs of wanting to dig a lot. Don't confuse this with the adaptive period that a new crab shows when you bring him home for the first time. A new crab will sometimes dig and bury to try to destress after his arduous journey from his home beach to the pet store to your home. It can be very very stressful. Many crabs do not survive this, and it is called Post Purchase Syndrome, or PPS. New crabs should not be held or disturbed for at least two weeks after being settled into their new home.

If your crab does not bury to molt, he must NOT be disturbed, as this is a very fragile time for him.

Answer 6

Your hermit crab will act kind of different. They might not come out of their shell for days. If you notice, a hermit crab will have hairy legs and black tips. Right before your hermit crab molts, you will notice there won't be many hairs or black tips, and they will appear worn down. But be careful, because a molting crab can be mistaken for a dead hermit crab. If your hermit crab has died, it will smell fishy, but just so you don't accidentally bury it alive, put it in a ziploc baggie and stick it in the freezer for a day or two.

Answer 7

if he/she wont move on his/her own and will not eat as much as it used to.

HOPE ITS OKAY :)