Hermit lost its shell HELP

Steve attewell · 01/18/2006, 02:24 PM

Hi all I have a blue and black striped hermit crab I donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t know it exact name, but I have had it for at least 3 months in that 3 months it has changed into three different shells and all seemed well until today.

The hermit crab seem to have fallen out of it shell and does not seem well, it look lifeless and well dead!!
Here are some pictures itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s in a difficult spot to take pictures of so sorry about the picture quality.

So is this normal or has it had its time and pass on????

SORRY ITS SO BIG i aint to good in the IT section

All help thanked as always thanks Steve

King-Kong · 01/18/2006, 02:29 PM

It's probably a molt.

Pandora · 01/18/2006, 02:32 PM

Steve, do you have shells of different sizes for it to pick from? Hermits molt like other crustaceans, and each time they grow, they have to come out of their shell, their most vulnerable period, and look for a new slightly larger shell. If they can't find that (I suspect that it couldn't find the right size if it changed 3-4X in 3 months), it usually will die and be fed on by other animals, since they are basically defenseless. Sorry, but I don't think he'll make it if he is already looking listless; they usually change at night, and if you are seeing it shelless it means it is already too weak to find another option.

Steve attewell · 01/18/2006, 02:33 PM

Whats that its old skin shell just that the shell i moved it near the crab before the shell was well above the crab.

Cutiewitbooty · 01/18/2006, 02:46 PM

When i first started with saltwater i always think that my crabs were dying then i relized they were just molting, i felt so stupid lol

Steve attewell · 01/18/2006, 06:33 PM

There are loads of larger shells in my tank so thats covered that.

01/18/2006, 02:24 PM	#1
Steve attewell Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: notts Posts: 36	Hermit lost its shell HELP Hi all I have a blue and black striped hermit crab I donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t know it exact name, but I have had it for at least 3 months in that 3 months it has changed into three different shells and all seemed well until today. The hermit crab seem to have fallen out of it shell and does not seem well, it look lifeless and well dead!! Here are some pictures itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s in a difficult spot to take pictures of so sorry about the picture quality. So is this normal or has it had its time and pass on???? SORRY ITS SO BIG i aint to good in the IT section All help thanked as always thanks Steve

01/18/2006, 02:32 PM	#3
Pandora Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Maryland near DC Posts: 1,706	Steve, do you have shells of different sizes for it to pick from? Hermits molt like other crustaceans, and each time they grow, they have to come out of their shell, their most vulnerable period, and look for a new slightly larger shell. If they can't find that (I suspect that it couldn't find the right size if it changed 3-4X in 3 months), it usually will die and be fed on by other animals, since they are basically defenseless. Sorry, but I don't think he'll make it if he is already looking listless; they usually change at night, and if you are seeing it shelless it means it is already too weak to find another option. __________________ Where are we going... And why am I in this handbasket? Current Tank Info: 75gal reef tank, 30 gal octopus tank, Other: 75gal planted Amazon tank

01/18/2006, 02:46 PM	#5
Cutiewitbooty Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alaska For 18 Years, Now Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 2,795	When i first started with saltwater i always think that my crabs were dying then i relized they were just molting, i felt so stupid lol __________________ WARNING: Taking my advice may result in personal injury and/or jail time. ~Amber~

01/18/2006, 02:29 PM	#2
King-Kong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 2,346	It's probably a molt.

01/18/2006, 02:33 PM	#4
Steve attewell Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: notts Posts: 36	Whats that its old skin shell just that the shell i moved it near the crab before the shell was well above the crab.

01/18/2006, 06:33 PM	#6
Steve attewell Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: notts Posts: 36	There are loads of larger shells in my tank so thats covered that.