Hermit Crab Care Lesson 5 - What is Molting?
Author: John Brody
The molting crab. Even though this may sound like a movie starring Meg Ryan, it really will be your hermit crab one day. Every crab (and every crustacean) with an exoskeleton molts. It's a fact of nature. Molting is nothing more than shedding this exoskeleton so a new, larger one can grow in its place.
And once you get to know your crab better, you'll be able to recognize the signs that indicate he's about to molt. As a young crab, your friend may shed as often as several times a year as he grows quickly. Once he matures, the molting process may take
place as infrequently as once every year to year and a half. If your crab is molting, he's definitely growing. And that's a good sign, because he's healthy. One of the most recognizable signs that molting is about to begin is that you are able to view a black sack of fat and water deep inside his current shell.
Additionally, the current exoskeleton (the one he's currently wearing)begins to fade in color. The eyes of your friend also fade in color as well. In fact, when you look at his eyes, it may appear that he's getting cataracts. Don't panic if you notice this, because he really isn't going blind.
When your crab is getting ready to molt, you may also see some changes in his behavior as well. If he's normally shy and quiet, you may notice that he's suddenly aggressive. Or if he's normally aggressive, he may suddenly act shy and uncharacteristically inactive. Another clear indication that your crab is ready to molt, is that he's suddenly eating and drinking more - much more - than usual.
If you find them sitting in their water dish for what seems like hours (especially the dish with saltwater in it) you should begin to think that your friend Henry the Hermit Crab may be molting soon. Overall, you may notice that your crab - for lack of any better term - is lethargic. He walks sluggishly, he doesn't have that vibrant glow and generally he just appears tired looking. And indeed he probably is, considering his system is expending a lot of energy ridding itself of the old exoskeleton and growing a new one.
Another large sign that molting may be just around the corner is that he digs. And digs constantly. While these signs aren't always guaranteed that you'll see your friend molt anytime soon, it certainly tells you something is about to happen. In fact, the more signs of these you see in your crab, the greater the chance that your crab is ready to molt.
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