Hermit Crab Mold OR Hermit Crab Molt?
Hermit crab MOLD or Hermit crab MOLT? Have you ever heard someone talk about their hermit crab and mention something about mold or molt? Perhaps you’ve used these terms interchangeably yourself when discussing your pet’s behavior. While both words may sound similar and related, they actually refer to two very different things. One is GROSS, and the other may seem gross. They are very different things but equally important to know and understand!
Mold vs. Molt
First, let’s clarify what each of these terms means.
Mold refers to the growth of fungi on surfaces, and it typically happens when the environment is too humid or damp.
Molt, on the other hand, refers to the natural process of shedding a hermit crab’s exoskeleton as it grows.
MOLD in a Hermit Crab Habitat
Mold can be a serious problem for hermit crabs. If their habitat becomes too humid or damp, mold can start to grow on surfaces like their shells, food, and bedding. Mold can cause respiratory problems for your hermit crab, and it can even lead to death if left untreated. So, if you notice any signs of mold in your pet’s habitat, it’s important to take action immediately. This may involve removing the moldy items, adjusting the humidity levels in the habitat, and cleaning the area thoroughly.
Here’s my post on avoiding mold in hermit crab habitats, here!
MOLT in a Hermit Crab Habitat
Molt, on the other hand, is a natural and necessary part of a hermit crab’s life cycle. As hermit crabs grow, their exoskeletons become too small, and they need to shed them in order to grow larger ones. During this process, which can take several days, your hermit crab may appear more sluggish and inactive than usual. It’s important to leave your pet alone during this time, as handling it can be stressful and even dangerous. After your hermit crab has shed its exoskeleton, you may notice the old shell lying around in the habitat. This is a good sign that your pet is healthy and growing.
Here’s more information on hermit crab molting, what to expect and how to help them, here!
A few tips on Mold and Molt
Saltwater should be available to your hermit crabs at all times in their habitat. Here’s my post on saltwater (seawater) for hermit crab habitats including tips on mixing it correctly and best products, here. While purple pincher hermit crabs can technically survive without saltwater for long periods of time (as long as they have fresh water), the nutrients they get from it are too important not to provide it at all times. Other hermit crab species require saltwater at all times, for their survival.
From calcium to magnesium, potassium and more… these nutrients are vital to the health of hermit crabs and essential to the survival of hermit crabs when going through the molting process.
Hermit crab habitats need plenty of substrate to burrow in, to molt. Here’s my post on hermit crab habitat substrate, with tips and suggestions, here.
Once hermit crabs are done with their molt, they will climb back to the surface of their substrate with a new exoskeleton. They will be slightly larger, most likely brighter and happier, and probably hungry and thirsty!
Make sure to provide plenty of extra shells for them to try on, and choose the one they like best. Here’s my post on hermit crab shells with tips and suggestions on sizing, types of shells and more, here.
To make sure your hermit crab habitat doesn’t get too hot and humid, which can accelerate mold growth, here’s a suggested humidity and temperature gauge. Tip: it comes with adhesive to adhere to the habitat glass, however we’ve found that it doesn’t stick on for very long. We use clear double-sided Gorilla Tape for mounting, which has worked great in all of our hermit crab habitats.
Temperature in this part is most often in the 70’s to low-90’s throughout the year. In winter, temps can dip for a day or two to the 30’s. At night with an ocean breeze temps are often in the 70’s. In high summer, temps during the afternoon can reach low to mid-90’s. If you don’t live in South Florida, the Florida Keys or a Caribbean Island, or you do and run your AC on very cold… you’ll need to watch your parameters. Does your hermit crab habitat need heat?
Purple Pinchers are the most resilient type of hermit crabs. Other types need higher heat and humidity to survive. Here’s more on types of hermit crabs here.
