Hermit Molting
Hermit crab molting happens very naturally as they grow larger. It is during this process that the hermit crab will shed his exoskeleton, which is made up of the hard layer that protects the claws, legs and abdomen. During the time when the new exoskeleton is growing the crab is extremely vulnerable. It is normal for your crab to bury himself in the sand and not move for days during this time period. This is one of the reasons that it is essential to make sure you have three to four inches of sand in your hermit crab’s tank.
On average, you can expect the hermit crab molting process to take place about once every year or two. There are many different aspects that will have an impact on how many times a crab will molt. The younger hermit crabs will grow faster than the older crabs. Some species of crabs don’t molt as often as other species. Injury is another factor that might come into play, if a crab has lost a limb then the molting process might happen earlier.
Many experienced hermit crab owners can tell when a crab is about to enter the molting stage. If your crab has a bigger appetite than normal this could be a sign. Hermit crabs are noticeably sluggish during the beginning stage of molting. Some pet owners have thought that their hermit crab was ill or maybe even dead. It is not uncommon for the eyes to turn a bit cloudy resembling the way cataracts looks. Crabs will possibly begin to dig more frequently than they did before. In order to notice that you crab is carrying a sack of water that will sustain him during the molt you have to be a pretty observant person.
If you are only taking care of one hermit crab in your tank then you can leave him in there during the molting process. If you are taking care of many hermit crabs in the same tank it might be a good idea to have a separate tank for your molting crab so he can molt without being disturbed. This is a controversial question among hermit crab owners. It is believed by some that this isn’t crucial because their crab is better off remaining in the environment he is use to. There are other people that argue that the crab must be protected from other crabs throughout this time. If your crab has already buried himself in the sand to begin the molting process, do not dig him up to move him.
When you crab is molting you should never touch him. During this time, you should not try to help him remove the exoskeleton or give him a bath, because you may inadvertently cause irritation or infection. Go here for more information on a hermit crab bath. The only role you have during this natural process is to make sure your crab has enough food and water during this time.
The molting process can take anywhere from a couple weeks for a few month to be completed. Following the molting process, the crab will emerge and become just as active as before. The old exoskeleton that your crab sheds is high in calcium so it is good for them to eat it. It is important to provide your hermit crabs with extra calcium they finish up the molting process. At this time your hermit crab will want to move to a new larger shell, this is because their new exoskeleton is larger than their previous one and they will feel cramped in their old shell. You should make sure that your crab has several different shells to choose from after it has finished molting.
For more information on hermit crabs please visit http://hermitcrabcarecenter.com.
