Hermit

Question
QUESTION: Hey,
My name is Rachael and I have had my two cribs Hermit and Kermit for a little over a year and they get along really well. But about 2 months ago I noticed that Hermit was molting. I really did not think much of it until he started acting funny. He used to be a very friendly crab but now when you hold him he don't want to come out of his shell and this past week it was his bath time so I took him and Kermit out of there tank as well as everything in it and washed everything and then I washed him. But when I washed Hermit he came out of his shell while he was in my hand and he I did not know what to do with him so I very carefully put him and his shell on a towel and left him alone and after crawling around for a while he finely went back in his shell. He was really pick and when I came back to clean the take I had found were he had molted again. They are back and safe in there take now but He has not moved from the same spot that I have put him I know that he is still alive because when I pick him up he comes out to see me but quickly goes back in. Is Hermit ok? Please let me know.

Thanks,
Rachael

ANSWER: Are you sure he molted? Was there an exoskeleton? Or do you just mean he came out of his shell?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: He molted. I found his exoskeleton in his tank and it had be his both times because is much smaller than the other crab that is in his tank. But he also came out of his shell when I bathed him and landed in my hand. He was very pink and weak you could tell. Today though he moved all the way to the other side of the take and his color has returned. Is it possible that he is to cold? But the other crab is fine.

Rachael

Answer
When a crab molts he should be left alone with his exoskeleton and not disturbed until he has eaten it and become active again. It sounds like he was very freshly molted when you gave him a bath. That can be very stressful for a crab as they are very fragile in that state (as well as very tired).

In addition, you don't need to give your crabs baths as long as you provide them with a salt and fresh water dish deep enough for them to climb into and get water in their shells.