QuestionHello! I have a bit of a problem. We obtained 2 hermit crabs about 2 months ago. The largest one buried itself about 2 weeks after we got it and we haven't seen it since. I read up about molting and we have just left it alone. This morning, the other hermit crab was on top of the molting crab and was on the empty shell. We also noticed a bunch of black looking flying insects. I looked this up also and they appear to be fungus gnats. We removed the other crab and washed him. The molting crab is still alive (I dug it up a bit and it moved) but it has gnats climbing on it. To be honest, I am grossed out by the gnats and would like to get rid of them ASAP but I don't know what to do about the molting crab. He is naked and is still laying there partially submerged. Everything I read says wash the crabs and then clean the tank thoroughly, but since he is molting and is probably already stressed from the activity this morning, I don't want to kill him. What should I do? Is it better to leave him alone and hope he finds one of the new shells we have in the habitat or get him out and clean the gnats off of him even though he is without a shell? I'm so afraid that he is going to die. Any advice would be most appreciated. Thanks!
AnswerHere's a site to check out for futher information.
http://hermitcrabaddiction.net/forum/
Are you certain the miolting crab is alive? Usually they do not leave their shell when they molt. Some will bury and some will molt topside, but their shell is their protection. You might want to section him off from the other crab. Your other crab might have pulled the molter out of his shell, it does happen.
To get rid of the gnats you can put a soda cap full of beer or wine outside the tank. They will be drawn to it and get stuck in the liquid.
Unless it's mites, I wouldnt risk deep cleaning the tank just yet.
