Molting???

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I went to look for my hermit crabs today and found one under the water dish
dug in. Next to it was something that looked like a dead crab and I got scared
for a moment. But when I picked up the shell it was in, inside was a very light
pink crab. I recovered it with the sand/soil next to what I believe is the
exosceleton ( I think it molted ) and covered it back up with the water dish. I
was going to isolate it but I am afraid it will need water or a new shell. I
have 3 other hermit crabs in the tank though. I didnt know what to do? I also
wasnt sure...does it need a new shell if it is already molted and in the "old
shell" it was in previously? I'm confused. Can you help? I dont want anything to
happen to it. Also, how long will it stay dug in?


ANSWER: If it's in it's shell it will probably stay there. Molting don't always equal moving to a new shell. Sometimes, but not always. It seems that my crabs often change shells before molting rather than during or after.

You definitely did the right thing by leaving the exo in there. They need to eat it to recover valuable nutrients lost during the molting process.

I wouldn't move it as long as you didn't fill in his "cave" with sand and just replaced the water dish he'll be fine down there, mine LOVE to molt under the dish often I get a little peek when I'm changing the water.

It could be under there for another week or two.

You should always have 2-3 extra shells that are good candidates for your crab to move into otherwise he might become aggressive toward your other crabs even if they are the same size as him.

I hope I answered all your questions, good luck!

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

QUESTION: yes you did answer my question... now I checked on him because I didnt know what was going on for sure and then I put him back. One of his feet look bendt back? Is that right? He is alive and in the same shell. I recovered him with the dirt he was under and left his shell and returned the water dish on top. Now today I found another crab dug in under the crab hut and found shell around him and his foot was also bendt and I spritzed him with water to see if he was alive and he was. He also in in his old shell. (I do have other empty shells in the tank.) I put him back under the soil sand and put the tiki hut back on top and left him. I couldnt find the other crab (I have 4 total) and decided to just spritz the tank with water just in case he is also molting. The smallest of the bunch is still wandering around the tank. Could all these crabs be molting??? And am I doing all the right things. I feel so clueless. and If it takes 2 weeks then I should be just spritzing the tank and leaving everything right? Also do I keep replenishing the food? It seems to be sitting there. I keep replenishing the regular water and the sea salt water. I thankyou for all your help.

Answer
This one is a little tougher.

The bent leg is okay, it's what they always look like. When you rebury a crab, do not cover him with dirt, his cave is a hollow one and he might not have the strength to remake the cave.

Is your substrate moist? If your substrate is moist you do not have to mist every day. What is the humidity in your tank? Adding damp moss can also keep the humidity within range.

They COULD all be molting but they could just as easily be digging for fun.

You do not have to spritz if the humidity is okay.

If you are 100% positive that all your crabs are down just change things every few days with a small amount of food put in in case they come up in the night.

Did I get them all? Good luck!!