In: Ask Milo
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Kendahl asks: my hermit crab just started molting a few days ago and we put him in an ISO tank but he is completely out of his shell and surface molting. I know thats not good for a hermie but for some reason he just wont dig. i’ve been checking on him and hes still alive and doing fine, hasn’t ate his exoskeleton yet. I’m worried he’s not going to molt properly and die. is there anything I can do to get him to dig underground? or should I just leave him alone? Dear Kendahl, It depends what your ISO looks like. If it isRead More →

Coenobita cavipes Surface Molt

In: Caresheets, FAQ
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Hermit crabs typically go about their molting business below ground away from your prying eyes and nosey tank mates but this isn’t always the case. Sometimes you will find yourself with a surface molter on your hands. Surface molts can be very cool for you but additionally stressful for the crab. Let’s look at the best way to handle a surface molter. First do not touch or move the crab! (unless you feel you must to ensure it’s safety) Second find a way to securely isolate the crab. It is extremely important that your tank temperature and humidity are in the proper ranges at thisRead More →

In: Ask Milo
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Stephanie asks: I’ve had my hermit crabs for a few months and I have noticed a couple of things. One of my crabs molten but did not change shells, is that weird. Also, my crabs stopped moving around inside the tank. They never are active. What should I do? Hi Stephanie! It is a common misconception that hermit crabs must change shells when they molt. This is not true. Hermit crabs change shells when they decide it is time. A molt can trigger a shell change if the shell was very small fitting prior to molt. You can’t control when your little guys change shellsRead More →

In: Biology
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The land hermit crab (Coenobita) develops a water sac inside of their shell prior to a molt. As shedding of the old exoskeleton begins, this store of water is used to expand the body to stretch and increase size before the soft exoskeleton begins to harden again We are building image galleries of specific body parts. If you have high resolution, clear photos that you would like to donate to this project please contact us via email: crabstreetjournal at gmail dot com Overview of the anatomy of a land hermit crab (Coenobita)Read More →

Coenobita compressus enjoying fish, peanut butter and veggies - Photo by Amber Miner

In: Caresheets, FAQ
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First and foremost use the SEARCH BOX and SEARCH, SEARCH, SEARCH! Our site has a ton of information and nearly every question that a new crabber is trying to answer, has been asked here before. We work hard to maintain a current and extensive library of articles to help you. Have you found yourself an unprepared parent of a hermit crab or two? Are you prepared to give them the proper habitat in which they can survive long term? If so, here’s a very basic list of supplies to get you started.   A glass tank  go as big as you can afford  it doesn’tRead More →

C. compressus surface molt. Top most leg is a newly regenerated limb.

In: Biology, Caresheets, FAQ
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The molting cycle in crustacean is controlled by hormones. Below is a snippet from a study on crustacean molting that explains the role of hormones in the molting cycle. Land hermit crabs continue to molt their entire life unlike some other crustaceans. ERNEST S . CHANGM, ARILYN J. BRUCEA, ND SHERRY L. TAMONE Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, P.O. Box 247, Bodega Bay, California 94923 SYNOPSIS In order to increase in size, arthropods must first molt (shed) their confining exoskeleton. This molting process is under the immediate control of the steroid molting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HE). Read the full article More articles on molting: WhatRead More →

In: FAQ
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Originally written by Marie Davis Updated by Stacy Griffith Is my hermit crab molting or dead? It is often extremely difficult to distinguish whether a hermit crab is indeed molting, or has passed over the Rainbow Bridge. This is due to how similar in appearance the two can be. In the early stages of the molt, the large cheliped (pincer) becomes somewhat paralyzed as it prepares to pull free of the old exoskeleton. The large shape of the claw must be pulled backwards through the smaller exoskeleton. The soft underlying tissue must be contracted to allow it to pass through the smaller parts of theRead More →

A hermit crab building it's molting burrow. Photo Credit Matt Steele

In: Biology, FAQ
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Originally written by Vanessa Pike-Russell and Lisa Loseke Arthropods (e.g., insects and crustaceans) must molt their exoskeletons periodically in order to grow; in this process the inner layers of the old cuticle are digested by a molting fluid secreted by the epidermal cells, the animal emerges from the old covering, and the new cuticle hardens. The molting process is a central, and nearly continuous, part of a crab’s life. A crab may spend 90% of its time getting ready to molt, molting, or recovering from a molt. There are many dangers to molting including predation, difficulty in movement as muscles have no ridged points of attachment,Read More →

Hermit crab pre molt eyes

In: Caresheets, FAQ
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Observed Premolt Symptoms by Marie (aka ladybug15057) At times, crabbers become concerned due to certain actions their hermit crabs are beginning to display. Often, they are concerned that the hermit crab is ill, or has another form of complication happening that needs attention. Where, as on occasions, the symptoms they are observing may be due to a stressful situation, whether it be from their past or current living conditions, there are many times that the hermit crab is displaying premolt symptoms. If one knows that he/she has provided the hermit crab with the essentials it needs to thrive (proper humidity level, proper temperature, proper diet,Read More →