Very strange crab behaviour

[richardgunderse]

Hi

I have some red clawed crabs the other day mine started to look like he was shedding his shell (standing on his head, doing wierd stuff etc). But for the next few days he has been lying on his back as if he is dead.

I keep going to fish him out but he keeps grabbing the net, so he is definately alive, but I really don't know what is wrong because he is completely immobile.

Has anyone else seen this? He is definately still avlive. Maybe he is trying to shed his shell but it is stuck??!! Who knows, but I'm getting really confused.

Any advice very gratefully received!

Thanks!

[OrionGirl]

I think these guys are brackish. They need the additional trace elements and such to successfully molt. Adding some iodine may help, but moving it into brackish conditions is probably the best bet.

[richardgunderse]

thanks for the advice - will see what the shop recommends. Hope he can hold out until then :)

Thanks!