Signs and Symptoms When Your Hermit Crab Molts

The most stressful time in a hermit crab life was when they are molting. Hermit crab must shed it exoskeleton every now and then because it has rigid exoskeleton that do not grow as the crab grows. Hermit crab molting is the natural process by which they grow and it happens every eighteen (18) months.  It involves shedding its exoskeleton and forms a new one. At that point in time the hermit crab will start eating the old exoskeleton which helps to recycle calcium and other mineral for the new exoskeletons health and rigidity.

When hermit crab molting, they are under a lot of pressure and need extra care during this vulnerable time. During this process, hermit crab is defenseless. They tend to bury underground to provide an isolated and stable environment for protection away from temperature fluctuation, elements and predators.

Hermit crab gives signs to its pet owner before shedding its skin. Once you see these sign, you should    consider isolating them from the other crabs right away. Below are some of the common signs and symptoms that an impending molt is near.

These are the following sign and symptoms hermit crab molting include:

  • Excessive eating and drinking: they eat and drink significantly more and they may stop eating completely just before a molt.
  • Excessive digging behavior: the crab is digging a lot because they like to molt under the sand.
  • Spend most of the time around water: crabs need to store an abundance of water when getting to molt. Water is use in order to swell and break open their exoskeleton. You may noticed a form of molt sac or water sac under the abdomen which indicates that the crab is storing food and water reserves that will be used to survive the molt.
  • Changing into a smaller shell: crab choose smaller shell instead of bigger shell in getting ready to molt. Crab knows that a bigger shell with a larger opening will get bogged down with sand when they buries down. To avoid this, crab often moves into more tightly fitting shells before they bury.
  • Sluggishness or relative inactivity: the crab activity decline because they prioritize to molting. They may stay tucked within their shells and show very little interest in other crab or even feeding until after molting. However, sluggishness is not always a sign of hermit crab molting; some are just naturally not as active compare to other crab.
  • Other visual signs: a hermit crab that needs to molt will often have cloudy or whitish eyes, eye stalk may face away from each other, whitish color on legs and claws, legs may seem weak, ashy color body and a chalky appearance to their exoskeleton. Molting is a time to lost and regenerate limp bud. This limp bud is newly regenerated leg or claw that is forming in a soft white and will unfold into a smaller version of the original limb upon molting. So if you see some little gel stubs sticking out where new limbs would go, this could also be a sign.

Observe carefully for these signs mentioned above about hermit crab molting. If you see these sign remember to isolate and leave your crab alone. These are best thing you can do to help for your crabby. Have trust to your hermit crabs on what they do during molting.

Some other content you might like to look at:

  1. Beginner Hermit Crab Care
  2. Pet Land Hermit Crabs
  3. Simple Basics on How to Care for a Hermit Crab
  4. The Cause Why Hermit Crab Shells are Turning White
  5. What are the Foods that a Hermit Crab can Eat?