hermit crab help?

Question

does my hermit crab have to be in a diffrent cage while he is molting?

Answer 1

If you have another hermit crab yes and make sure the other cage is extremly moist. Hermit crabs are friends until one comes out of its shell then they just want to eat each other. If you only have one hermit crab just make sure its cage is extremly moist.

Answer 2

No. However, he has to eat the exoskeleton that he molts, it provides nutrients to help his body harden his new soft exterior. If left in a cage with other crabs they will eat his exoskeleton and possibly him as well. Its better, if you have more than one crab, to place a strong divider between him and the other crabs. Make sure they cannot climb over or under the divider. I use the bottom half of a 2 liter bottle, and poke holes in the top. Both sides should have plenty of water and food. Moving your crab, touching, or too much contact can stress him and he can die. So leave him be. Its also a good idea to replace the sand after your crab has molted and their exoskeleton has hardened with new calcium rich sand. There are lots of different ways people deal with molting and HC care. This is just my personal way. I placed a few links at the bottom so you can read and decided what you would like to do.

Answer 3

No, your hermit crab can stay in the same cage while he's molting. The same goes if you have other hermit crabs in the same cage. This won't affect any of your hermit crabs or their molting.

When the hermit crab is done molting, though, remove any bits of his former skin that you fine and throw them out.

After your hermit crab is finished molting, be gentle with him, as his new skin will be very soft for a day or two.

I hope this helps! Good luck! =3

Answer 4

Some will say yes while others will say no. Personally, my hermit crabs stay in the same tank unless they do a surface molt. Here is a great site to visit and chat w/other hermit crab owners.
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/index.php

Answer 5

do the exact opposite of the instructiones the first person gave you. leave the skin in b/c he will eat it for nutrients he lost during the molting process and i is better if you do put him carefully into another cage b/c the other hermit crabs that you have can bother him

Answer 6

no, not at all. Its just a normal part of being a hermit crab. He will be fine in his cage. good luck.

Answer 7

it's really up to you. for me i have a ISO tank but only use it for the newbies or crabs that are sick and missing legs. i have 10 crabs, two of them are molting and a few of them are distressing, they are all together. and in a 29 gallon tank with atleast 4 inches of bedding and sand, climbing toys, and 3 levels as long as your tank has plenty of climbing, things to hide under, and a second level. your crabs will do great and hopefully won't botther each other. one of the main reason why crabs eat each other, is they are lacking mainly calcium and a crabs exco is full of calcium, try in their food to put cuttlebone, which is an excellent sorce.

my crabs love my second and third levels, especially when i put moist sponges and rose pedals, it attracts them up to the top.

Answer 8

No, you don't have to move him but to insure a safe molt make sure that you have humidity at a proper level, and a variety of different sized and shaped shells.

Answer 9

heres a cool name ViVia it means live long in French don't you want your hermit crabs to live long and strong? well your choice :P

Answer 10

no y