Anemone Crab Molting Question

hllb · May 26, 2021

I've had an anemone crab for about 4 months now and he's done very well. He molted recently (I found the proof) but he still hasn't come out of hiding. It's been 4 days. My other crabs did not hide more than 1 or 2 days after molting. Is this the norm, or did something happen and I may have lost him?

anemoneanatomy · May 26, 2021

While crab shells are regrown within a few days after a molt, it takes them 2-4 weeks to fully harden. It could be that your crab feels it is under threat and is just being cautious. It could also be that something happened to it during the molt. Time will tell.

hllb · May 26, 2021

anemoneanatomy said:
While crab shells are regrown within a few days after a molt, it takes them 2-4 weeks to fully harden. It could be that your crab feels it is under threat and is just being cautious. It could also be that something happened to it during the molt. Time will tell.

Just seemed strange since my other crabs never hid that long. But he is on the shy side and sticks right by his nem. It took him a few weeks to venture a few inches away from the nem for better chance at catching food.

Jonas Bergkvist · Jun 7, 2021

hllb said:
Just seemed strange since my other crabs never hid that long. But he is on the shy side and sticks right by his nem. It took him a few weeks to venture a few inches away from the nem for better chance at catching food.

I got two porcelain crabs two weeks ago, and one of them molted today. I also found the proof

i posted my finding here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/this-is-what-a-porcelain-crab-molt-look-like.835942/#post-9037264

My crab who molted is located just under my Bubble Tip. I haven't had them for long so i just thought they would always stick to the anemone at all times? It would makes sense that sometimes the would go out to get food but i haven't seen them do that yet. From what i've seen they just live in the anemone and filter out what they can get from the water column. It would be really cool to see any of them go find some food outside the anemone.

hllb · Jun 7, 2021

Jonas Bergkvist said:
I got two porcelain crabs two weeks ago, and one of them molted today. I also found the proof i posted my finding here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/this-is-what-a-porcelain-crab-molt-look-like.835942/#post-9037264

My crab who molted is located just under my Bubble Tip. I haven't had them for long so i just thought they would always stick to the anemone at all times? It would makes sense that sometimes the would go out to get food but i haven't seen them do that yet. From what i've seen they just live in the anemone and filter out what they can get from the water column. It would be really cool to see any of them go find some food outside the anemone.

My guy never showed back up, so I assume something happened during molting. Such a bummer as he was a cool critter.