crab molt

[lanzera34]

One of my dwarf blue legged hermit crabs molted. Should I take the molt out or is it safe to leave in the tank. I have heard suggestions either way. Thanks.

 

[taillonjohn]

either way is fine. I would just leave it, its too much trouble to get out. besides, it basically just calcium, nothing bad

 

[Randall_James]

It is actually made of chitin, (a polysaccharide) that is more of a celluose material, still harmless but not calcium

 

[Reefmack]

I leave the molts in - from my shrimp & hermits. They'll get eaten by things in your tank, or just seem to dissolve away after a while.

 

[dc]

Generally if you have a clean up crew they take care of it pretty quick.

 

[pammy]

I didn't realize that crabs molt. I thought my 1 crab, a Scarlett Leg Reef crab died. I hadn't seen him in a couple weeks, and then I just found a couple days ago, a red form on the sand in the back of my tank, that looked like the crabs body. I assumed it was, and that he had died. Then last night, I see the crab in his shell happily munching away!! I pulled out the red form, thinking it might be something bad algae, and thought hey, this sure looks like the crab molted. Then came and did a search and found this thread. Had NO idea that the crabs molt !! Happy my crab is still alive! I think he's been around all along. He has what looks like a Cerith Shell for his home, and I probably have mistaken him for a Cerith all this time. I remember his shell looking similiar to the Cerith's when I got him, so not sure if it's the same shell or if he killed one of my ceriths for his shell. I did put half dozen different size empty shell for him in the tank.

 

[Randall_James]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10231282#post10231282 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pammy
I remember his shell looking similiar to the Cerith's when I got him, so not sure if it's the same shell or if he killed one of my ceriths for his shell. I did put half dozen different size empty shell for him in the tank.

Many a snail has met its demise due to lack of new homes for hermits and that is the fix