Post by Rachel on Aug 3, 2013 21:55:19 GMT
This thread is to both show a relatively minor case of what can happen if crabs have improper conditions to moult in (or sometimes simply something goes wrong), and to also hopefully help alleviate the panic some feel when they get a crab in this situation.
Elf was one of a group of 5 babies that I got midway through May, forming my new colony in a second crabitat. Originally my intention had been getting just the four when I discovered Elf hidden away under some food. All I saw was a leg at a bad angle at first and assumed it was a dropped leg or dead crab, but when I moved the leaf I found the largest crab in the tank (and still a teeny) had been hiding away. I decided right away that he would be coming home with me, and my suspicion is still to this day by some miracle the little one had managed to pull off a moult in the tank burrowed in the tiny layer of sand, meaning the soft new exo had dried pressed against glass.
Despite expectations didn't he drop the leg, getting past the initial shyness and for about three weeks climbing around with it just like the others. As normal I made sure that the tank was well stocked with good food and calcium and the little guy soon burrowed down to moult, resurfacing with perfect limbs and a little bigger than before. Since then he has grown in confidence even further and now moulted again to a much bigger size, showing just what good less than 2 1/2 months of TLC can do!
In cases like these it is best to let them do their thing and provide extra calcium sources, energy rich foods, protein and other nutritious stuff alongside the usual diet. This means they have access to the best range of things that might be needed. If the leg or claw gets dropped don't panic, your crab knows what was best needed and can regrow this!
On arrival, the little "Elf shoe" leg that gave his name:
After the first moult, safely healing the leg:
At the time of writing, after nearly 2 1/2 months with me:
Elf was one of a group of 5 babies that I got midway through May, forming my new colony in a second crabitat. Originally my intention had been getting just the four when I discovered Elf hidden away under some food. All I saw was a leg at a bad angle at first and assumed it was a dropped leg or dead crab, but when I moved the leaf I found the largest crab in the tank (and still a teeny) had been hiding away. I decided right away that he would be coming home with me, and my suspicion is still to this day by some miracle the little one had managed to pull off a moult in the tank burrowed in the tiny layer of sand, meaning the soft new exo had dried pressed against glass.
Despite expectations didn't he drop the leg, getting past the initial shyness and for about three weeks climbing around with it just like the others. As normal I made sure that the tank was well stocked with good food and calcium and the little guy soon burrowed down to moult, resurfacing with perfect limbs and a little bigger than before. Since then he has grown in confidence even further and now moulted again to a much bigger size, showing just what good less than 2 1/2 months of TLC can do!
In cases like these it is best to let them do their thing and provide extra calcium sources, energy rich foods, protein and other nutritious stuff alongside the usual diet. This means they have access to the best range of things that might be needed. If the leg or claw gets dropped don't panic, your crab knows what was best needed and can regrow this!
On arrival, the little "Elf shoe" leg that gave his name:
After the first moult, safely healing the leg:
At the time of writing, after nearly 2 1/2 months with me:
Hellooooo
