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Molting is a very stressful time for hermit crabs! Molting is when a crab shed's it's exoskelton. This may take quite
awhile, and it is important to manage the hermit crab exceptionally well during molting- this is when most crabs end up dying.
If you see a molted crab, there are two things you can do- ISO or BOTTLETOPING.
ISO is when you have a smaller tank(I use a five gallon) and isolate the crab. IF THE CRAB HAS ALREADY BEGAN MOLTING
THIS IS PROBABLY A BAD IDEA!!! You do NOT want to disturb the molting crab. If, however, you catch the hermit crab right before
it starts molting, ISO is probably the best place. The only things you need in the ISO tank is water, food, extra shells,
and THICK substrate. No toys or climbing objects are needed. Humidity is ESPECIALLY important when crabs molt.
BOTTLETOPPING- is better if your crab has began molting already. Take a 2- liter bottle, cut the top part off, throw
that away, and put the bottom top over the molting crab where it is in the tank.
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MOLTING SIGNS
*mucho digging. Some crabs do like to dig, but if the temperature/humidity in your tank hasn't changed, this CAN be a
molting sign. Morgana, a crab I've had for a year, has ALWAYS dug and hasn't molted yet.
*gel limbs. Crabs often "drop" limbs and lose a claw or a limb(if they drop ALL of their limbs and claws....that's not
a good sign) If they start growing "gel" limbs(hard to discribe, but if they start, you'll notice) they are probably going
to molt soon.
*excess eating or drinking
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EXOSKELTONS
often, old exoskeltons look like dead crabs. There is a sort of smell that goes with melting, but it differs muchly from
the "dead" crab smell. a dead crab smells like rotten fish.
after your crab has molted, DO NOT THROW OUT THE OLD EXOSKELOTON!!!!!!!!!!! After molting, crabs need extra calcium. Eating
their exoskelton gives them that. If you accidently throw it away....
*cuttlebone
*shrimp skins/exos
*and other calcium-enriched foods
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