If you are trying to decide upon keeping a hermit crab as pet, then you must know the answer to the question 'do hermit crabs shed'. In fact, shedding or molting is such an integral part of a these crab's existence, that it will be completely justified to state that successive molting is actually the key life cycle process of the these creatures. All the other aspects of a crab's life are dependent on the molting pattern of the creature. The process of molting itself again depends on several factors like the species, age and size of these crabs. During molting, these creatures shed their existing exoskeleton and grow on themselves a newer and slightly bigger exoskeleton.
The molting patterns of the land and marine hermit crabs are distinct and a fair knowledge of both the molting patterns is essential for the safe keep of your hermit crab pet. In case of the marine crabs, molting is a fast process and the marine crabs shed their exoskeleton in a couple of minutes. However, for the land crabs, the process of molting is a long-term process and it may even require a couple of months for a large land crab to molt completely. During molting, the land crab not only grows a new exoskeleton, but also regenerates any lost body parts, that might have shed due to stress.
Thus, we find there are two different aspects to the question 'do hermit crabs shed'. The first aspect is shedding of the body parts (limbs, claws) as a response to stress and the second aspect is molting or shedding an exoskeleton, during when the creature actually regenerates his lost body parts. It is not necessary that the creature has to shed his body parts; if proper care is taken then the creature will not shed the body parts at all. However, molting is a mandatory process of growth for these creatures, which occurs after varied intervals. Molting is seen more frequently in the smaller hermit crabs; whereas, the bigger crabs shed less frequently. The kid crabs shed even twice or thrice a year and for the adults, one molting a year is the general schedule.
The owner must be able to identify the early symptoms of molting. This is necessary because there is a need for securing the privacy of the little creature. The hermits become highly vulnerable to many kinds of disturbances during molting and any disturbance can actually stimulate the creature to stop molting mid way and choose death over life. The early signs of molting observed in these creatures are formation of an oil sac in the underbelly region, a ruffled antennae, a whitish coat over the eyes, lethargical behavior, inclination to dig and an increased appetite. When these signs appear, and you are sure that the creature is in the very initial stages of molting, then the crab keeper must gently transfer the molting crab to an isolation tank. If the molting is in advanced stage then do not touch the creature, instead, you should remove the other crabs from the enclosure then. Alternately, you can also set up a compact isolation barrier around the molting crab's space. The barrier should be firmly placed and unclimbable to other hermit crabs.
During molting these creatures should also be supplied with a supply of dechlorinated freshwater and carotenoid (carrots) and calcium rich food. The molting land crabs eat very rarely during molting and they do so during the night. The presence of carotenoid can also be provided by crushing flower petals that contain the pigment to the diet of the creature.
It is very necessary that the new crab owner is conscious about all the different aspects of the question 'do hermit crabs shed' before adopting a one of these crabs for the home.
Joan Fox is a hermit crab enthusiast. For more information on do hermit crab shed as well as other great information on hermit crabs care check out her web site http://www.hermitcrabshome.com
