Always Be There For Your Hermit Crab While Molting
Author: Amber Constantine
If you aren't familiar with the hermit crab, it's a species of crustacean that doesn't produce its own shell. The hermit is actually not even closely related to crabs at all. It roams the oceans and beaches looking for the abandoned shell of mollusks in which it can make its portable home. It is this frequent changing of commandeered homes that earn the hermit crab its name and has nothing to do with any antisocial tendencies
For a hermit crab to grow in size, it must first shed its hard exoskeleton. The process of shedding
the old skeleton and growing a new one is referred to as molting and is a fascinating process to watch. During this process, the crab sheds its old exoskeleton, grows in size rapidly and grows a new exoskeleton. The crab can only grow in size once the exoskeleton has been shed. Since the crab is unprotected without its shell and exoskeleton, the growth process happens very rapidly and is quite noticeable.
During molting, the crab is very vulnerable. Once signs of molting are observed, the pet hermit should be moved to a separate container to avoid being eaten by other crabs.
Signs that molting is about to occur include excessive digging behavior. The hermit is preparing a secure location in which to complete the transformation. Make sure the cage has sufficiently deep sand or gravel to accommodate this behavior. Once the hole is complete, the crab will enter it to have the required darkness necessary for the release of the molting hormone. The crab will remain in this lair until the process is completed.
For the molting process, the crab requires greater than normal amounts of both salt and water in their bodies. This is the reason you will notice your hermit spending a lot more time basking in the water dish. By taking on the excess water, the crab can swell and break through the exoskeleton. Once the skeleton is broken and shed, the excess salt helps in rebuilding a new one.
Another strange behavior you might notice is that the crab will shed its old shell in favor of a smaller one. This may seem counter intuitive since it is about to grow, but it actually makes sense since the crab will be smaller without the exoskeleton. By finding a smaller shell, the crab will still have some degree of protection while waiting for the new exoskeleton. After the process is complete, the crab will need about a month before the new exoskeleton is fully bulked. During this time, the crab will go in search of yet another shell to call home.
Hermit crabs may not offer the same companionship as a dog, but many people find their behavior fascinating. Closely observing the molting process is something every hermit crab owner should do at least once.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/always-be-there-for-your-hermit-crab-while-molting-2315350.html
About the Author
Amber Contant is a featured adviser and author discussing the issues that all pet owning families will experience. Amber works with Pet-Super-Store. Visit her site for a great selection of pet beds.