i have had 4 fresh water crabs for about two weeks i have looked in there tank today and seen that one has shed its shell i think , what i want to know is is this normal and how often do they do this ????? any info would be helpfull
2007-01-31 04:16:10 · 15 answers · asked by jamie 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
Yes common RedClaw crabs do molt their shell. Make sure that the crabs can get to the surface of your tank though. As they do require some fresh air. But be advised that crabs are EXCELLENT escape artists. So make sure your tank hood has no gaps. I had a couple of these guys once and I noticed one went missing. I found him 2 weeks later up inside my filter!! He was happy up there he had air and water and tons of crud to eat off the filter.
2007-01-31 04:26:47 · answer #1 · answered by ryansdad_661 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This isn't a super-scientific answer, but yes. I say this because of soft-shelled crabs. And lobsters, too. At certain times, they have a very thin shell that hardens up eventually. Yummy and easy to eat then. But don't eat your pets, OK?
2007-01-31 12:23:01 · answer #2 · answered by shannonscorpio 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Ecdysis is the technical term.
The discarded shells are sometime mistaken for dead crabs, by the inlanders (aliens) that come to live beside the sea. It is these idiots (people) that get stranded when the tide comes in.
2007-01-31 12:27:47 · answer #3 · answered by Perseus 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Like lobsters, crabs shed their shells each time they grow, leaving their bodies soft and extremely vulnerable to predators
2007-01-31 12:37:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is called "molting" I do believe. They do this as the grow. It happens every couple of months normally. But, can happen more frequently in a controlled environment and good feeding.
2007-01-31 13:17:29 · answer #5 · answered by major b 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes perfectly normal.
The new shell is soft for a while.
Some people call these crabs "peelers".
2007-01-31 12:22:32 · answer #6 · answered by Not Ecky Boy 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Crabs do shed their shells although, I do not know how often.. Have you ever eaten soft shell crab? If so, then you have eaten a crab that recently shed it's shell.
2007-01-31 12:21:54 · answer #7 · answered by MommyToo 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
yes every 2 months about
2007-02-02 23:32:30 · answer #8 · answered by Robert C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes they do and that is when they mate. not sure how often shed shell. the new shell is soft, but be careful that's when they can attack each other,
2007-02-01 14:00:41 · answer #9 · answered by stephen eblue eyes 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They will molt, which is to shed their entire exoskeleton. Allow them to consume it as it will help them regain some of the calcium they lost.
2007-01-31 13:38:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋