If you are planning to purchase or currently own hermit crabs, it is important for you to know that hermit crabs molt as part of their regular life process.
By gaining a better understanding of this process and by learning what you can do to help your hermit crab through the molting process, you can help keep your little pets happy and healthy.
How Can I Tell When My Hermit Crab is Ready to Molt? Hermit crabs typically exhibit several telltale signs that they are getting ready to molt.
Some of these signs include: oDigging more often then usual oEating or drinking more than usual and then not eating at all the last few days before molting oDecreasing activity level oChanging shells more often oReducing antennae activity oChanging body color (ashy-colored body or the tips of the claws and legs turning whitish) oDeveloping white-looking or cloudy eyes oIncreasing time spent around water oDeveloping a Molt Sac, which stores water and is located just beneath the abdomen oGrowing a gel limb, which is a bud that eventually becomes a regenerated limb oDrooping legs and claws oChanging eye patterns, characterized by the eye stalks facing away from each other in a "V" shape What Should I do if My Hermit Crab is Ready to Molt? Molting is a natural process for hermit crabs, but it can still be quite stressful on the animal's body.
Therefore, you can minimize the stress by putting your crab in an isolation tank away from other crabs.
Since hermit crabs tend to be less active while molting and because their new exoskeletons are soft, separating them from the other hermit crabs also reduces the chances of your pet being injured by other hermit crabs.
How Do I Set Up an Isolation Tank? Your isolation tank does not need to be particularly large and does not need to include anything special.
Typically, it only needs to have a layer of sand or eco bedding on the bottom and enough room for you to provide the crab with food and water.
Since hermit crabs are not very active while molting, they do not need a great deal of space of items to play with in the tank.
You should, however, make sure the food you provide is rich in calcium.
Some good foods to feed your crab at this time include: oCuttlebone oCalci-Sand oBoiled Egg Shells You should also provide both salt water and de-chlorinated water to your pet as well as some larger shells for your crab to use if it decides to enter a new shell after molting.
When Should I Put My Hermit Crab Back In Its Usual Tank? Since no two crabs are the same, the amount of time it takes a crab to complete the molting process will vary from one crab to the next.
Some may even take up to 8 weeks to complete the process.
Once the crab has molted its old exoskeleton, it will take some time for the new exoskeleton to harden.
Therefore, you shouldn't put the crab back in the tank immediately.
Rather, wait until your hermit crab is moving around, eating and drinking regularly before removing it from the isolation tank.
While molting is a natural process for hermit crabs and you should not do anything to help speed up the molting process, it is a good idea to separate your crab so it can complete the process as easily as possible.
This way, you will be certain to enjoy the company of your little friend for many years to come!