Do hermit crabs molt?

ryanjharter · 04/01/2009, 04:47 PM

I have 5 thriving hermit crabs in my 20 gal high tank. Somehow I keep finding what appears to be dead hermit crab bodies on the bottom of my tank. There are no empty shells aside from the one that I leave in there just incase they need it, and I can clearly see all five still alive and kickin.

Anyone know where these bodies might be coming from?

davewbush · 04/01/2009, 05:24 PM

yes, they do molt.

Dave Harms · 04/01/2009, 05:29 PM

Yup, molts can look a lot like a dead crab too. I still have to look close to tell.

04/01/2009, 04:47 PM	#1
ryanjharter Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 15	Do hermit crabs molt? I have 5 thriving hermit crabs in my 20 gal high tank. Somehow I keep finding what appears to be dead hermit crab bodies on the bottom of my tank. There are no empty shells aside from the one that I leave in there just incase they need it, and I can clearly see all five still alive and kickin. Anyone know where these bodies might be coming from?

04/01/2009, 05:29 PM	#3
Dave Harms Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 466	Yup, molts can look a lot like a dead crab too. I still have to look close to tell. __________________ Dave Harms Current Tank Info: Established July 2008: 12g Oceanic, 4x 24w T5's, VorTech MP10, Tunze Nano Wavebox 6206, Phosban Reactor w/ BRS GFO powered by a Tunze Silence, Marineland Penguin 350, 50w Stealth heater

04/01/2009, 05:24 PM	#2
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	yes, they do molt.