[swinginbeef]

My system is 4 weeks old, parameters are good (0/0/0 with pH 8.4, salt is 1.025, temp bounces between 78-80, Alk at the bottom of the 'high' range on the card). I added 2 crabs and two snails about 2 weeks ago. All 4 have been very active every day. Over the past two days, the crabs seem to be not moving as much and spending most of their time pulled completely into their shells. There is none to nearly no algae growth other than some long bushy algae, I don't even have to clean the glass.

Could the crabs be starving? The snails can get the little bits of algae from the glass but the crabs are limited to the what's on the rocks and sand, which is nothing. They don't eat or pick at the long bushy growth. Instead of supplementing the crabs feeding with some dried seaweed or something, could I pour a glass or two of tap water into the tank to promote some algae growth?? I bumped my light cycle up too.

Could this work?

[glampka]

Throw some food in there for them & see what happens. The other possibility is that they are getting ready to molt.

[swinginbeef]

how often is their molting process? and is there anything special I need to do.

I don't have any food yet, I'm planning on buying it with my first fish next week after I return from the lake.

[glampka]

You never know when they'll molt. You don't have to do anything special. Got a piece of cooked shrimp or that imitation crab? Throw a LITTLE of that in there.

[emccullough1]

I'm just a begener to but from what I have read invertabrates need Iodine to help the molting process . Have you tested your levels in your tank ? or have you been adding it all along.