Calico Box Crab (Hepatus epheliticus) Molting:
We maintain a large collection of crustaceans and at least one of them molts each week. Usually it’s a blue crab (http://www.chesapeakebay.net/blue_crab.htm)
as we have many of them, but sometimes it’s something less common such as the lobster; it is fascinating to witness but unusual to catch in progress. This can be a dangerous experience for crustaceans as they are soft and exposed during this time and must be able to fully extract itself by themselves from the old shell; excellent water quality and a proper diet are essential to new shell formation.
Recently, I was able to film a calico box crab – a very attractive and docile crab species – in the process of molting as another crab watches in the background. In only about ten minutes this crab emerged about 20% larger, with a bright new shell. In a few days it will be fully hardened and eating again.
Follow this link to watch the calico crab pulling from its old shell:
