My pet crab moulting 🦀

[Norbert Wrigglebottom]

It took me around 4 years to finally capture my pet land crab (Archibald) moulting. Crabs are very vulnerable during a moult, and also for a few days after. It is an incredible thing to witness as it happens, and an opportunity that rarely comes along as the crab is so elusive at this time. I hope you enjoy watching nature at her rarely seen fineness

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[RainbowBrite]

Wow, this was such a fascinating video. I am so sorry you no longer have Archibald. He was beautiful.

What I do not understand is how stressful it is for them to moult. It seems cruel of nature to make this be so stressful for them. When snakes moult they do not usually die due to the stress. My friends snake is always happy when he moults.

 

[Norbert Wrigglebottom]

The moult is particularly stressful for a crab when the process gets going, because the crab's outer/old limbs and pincers no longer function, so it is totally defenceless against predators. The new limbs and claws are trapped within the old shell until the crab wriggles free. The predators even include its own species, as crabs are cannibalistic and won't let the chance of an easy snack pass by.
Also, the new shell on a freshly moulted crab is very soft, so the crab really is such a tempting, tender morsel at that time.
The reason the new shell is soft is to allow it to stretch and expand. The crab will suck in as much water as it can, and this will expand the new soft shell (carapace) The shell then begins to harden, and that is how the crab grows.

 

[RainbowBrite]

The moult is particularly stressful for a crab when the process gets going, because the crab's outer/old limbs and pincers no longer function, so it is totally defenceless against predators. The new limbs and claws are trapped within the old shell until the crab wriggles free. The predators even include its own species, as crabs are cannibalistic and won't let the chance of an easy snack pass by.
Also, the new shell on a freshly moulted crab is very soft, so the crab really is such a tempting, tender morsel at that time.
The reason the new shell is soft is to allow it to stretch and expand. The crab will suck in as much water as it can, and this will expand the new soft shell (carapace) The shell then begins to harden, and that is how the crab grows.

That is very interesting. No wonder it is so stressful if they fear they could be eaten at there most vulnerable.

 

[Norbert Wrigglebottom]

That is very interesting. No wonder it is so stressful if they fear they could be eaten at there most vulnerable.

Exactly. I tend to think of it like a woman giving birth, but out in the open surrounded by predators... Because basically, the crab is giving birth to its new self. The newly emerged crab is completely brand new, it's internal organs, it's legs and pincers, even the eyes. Nature really is a combination of beauty, brutality, and creation

 

[RainbowBrite]

Exactly. I tend to think of it like a woman giving birth, but out in the open surrounded by predators... Because basically, the crab is giving birth to its new self. The newly emerged crab is completely brand new, it's internal organs, it's legs and pincers, even the eyes. Nature really is a combination of beauty, brutality, and creation

That is a very good way of describing it. I love crabs. A few years back I thought of getting some.

 

[Maz]

That’s fascinating. It looks like he was needing time to find his feet afterwards.

 

[Norbert Wrigglebottom]

That’s fascinating. It looks like he was needing time to find his feet afterwards.

He did need quite a bit of time, he had jelly legs in every sense then once he felt a bit stronger, he proceeded to eat his old legs

 

[Norbert Wrigglebottom]

That is a very good way of describing it. I love crabs. A few years back I thought of getting some.

They are wonderful pets, just amazing to observe! I think you will probably enjoy this video/CGI that a young lad created for YouTube if you love crabs. It must have taken him hours upon hours to make...

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[Maz]

Lol

 

[Member ID2]

That is fascinating. How often do they go through a moult?

 

[Tulsi]

Aww he did look vulnerable at the end. Beautiful too.