Dead Hermit Crab, what killed it?

Etoimos · 07/04/2017, 07:02 PM

O was taking photos of my tank this evening and found this. The only thing in my take are 5 assorted hermits (was 6 and all close in size), 1 larger (than other crabs) electric blue hermit crab, 3 snails, a plate coral and a maxima clam. Also have 3 goniopora, toadstool leather frogspawn, and a couple of small blue mushrooms.

Any thoughts?

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JVan82 · 07/04/2017, 07:05 PM

Double check if it's actually a crab or just a molt

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Etoimos · 07/04/2017, 07:24 PM

Only seeing 5 of them right now. One could be hiding, but it's only a 60G cube. When they molt, do there entire exoskeleton come off? Like, legs, antenna, claws, and does the mold retain the color of the crab?

It really looks like there is some meaty flesh stuck to it behind the head in the photo I posted.

ericarenee · 07/04/2017, 07:32 PM

another Grab prob Evicted it for a Different shell.. Hermits are Tank Terrorist to there own kind.

Etoimos · 07/04/2017, 07:44 PM

Should I take it out, or leave it as food for the other crabs?

ReeferNoob4ever · 07/04/2017, 09:09 PM

Leave it. I swore my red leg died. I saw that meaty part and was like oh well he's a goner. Two days he came out of the rocks looking fresh.

Etoimos · 07/04/2017, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReeferNoob4ever

Leave it. I swore my red leg died. I saw that meaty part and was like oh well he's a goner. Two days he came out of the rocks looking fresh.

I'll leave it, but it just kind of swishing back in forth in that same area... tumbling some. So if that is not a molt, he has to be dead. I still can't find an empty shell anywhere though... and only 3 of my little hermits right now. lol

ladynavyvet · 07/04/2017, 09:33 PM

Hermit crabs can find plenty of places to hid in a 60 gallon tank, heaven knows they do in my 40 gallon one. It's a rare day that I actually see 1 of mine.

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Etoimos · 07/04/2017, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladynavyvet

Hermit crabs can find plenty of places to hid in a 60 gallon tank, heaven knows they do in my 40 gallon one. It's a rare day that I actually see 1 of mine.

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It's funny, this is the first time in two weeks I've not been able to find all of them within a few minutes.

JVan82 · 07/05/2017, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Etoimos

Only seeing 5 of them right now. One could be hiding, but it's only a 60G cube. When they molt, do there entire exoskeleton come off? Like, legs, antenna, claws, and does the mold retain the color of the crab?

It really looks like there is some meaty flesh stuck to it behind the head in the photo I posted.

Yes the molt is their entire exoskeleton, I had a blue leg hermit that just died (still in his shell) but when he would molt and it was the same color.

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Etoimos · 07/05/2017, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JVan82

Yes the molt is their entire exoskeleton, I had a blue leg hermit that just died (still in his shell) but when he would molt and it was the same color.

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Thanks, so it's possible he is still in there alive some place.

JVan82 · 07/05/2017, 07:46 AM

Possibly, I had 3 crab, 2 plain that grew very very fast, and a blue leg that hardly grew, the blue crab was always hiding under the rock, found that out when I had to tear my rock work apart. If you are missing a crab you should have an empty shell in the tank.

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ca1ore · 07/05/2017, 08:07 AM

Possible it's a molt, though the picture seems to show 'meaty' remains, so may be a gonner.

LuizW13 · 07/05/2017, 02:15 PM

On this subject of hermit crabs molting, where do you get new shells for them?

Etoimos · 07/05/2017, 03:00 PM

Okay, the wife came home and was able to locate all of the hermit crabs, so it was just a molt floating around.

I need to do some research on extra shells for these guys.

gabloo · 07/05/2017, 05:34 PM

It happened to me a few time. I thought they were dead but it turned out it was just molt. These guys are pretty hardy.

JVan82 · 07/05/2017, 05:53 PM

Reefcleaners.com sells spare shells

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Gladmaker · 07/05/2017, 06:32 PM

You can also find them on eBay. Reefcleaners is a good place to buy, but just for shells, the shipping is high.

Gladmaker · 07/05/2017, 06:34 PM

If you check eBay, make sure they aren't painted.

Etoimos · 07/05/2017, 07:03 PM

Thanks guys. Do you just buy an assortment of sizes and drop in the back of your tank?

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07/04/2017, 07:02 PM	#1
Etoimos Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 161	Dead Hermit Crab, what killed it? O was taking photos of my tank this evening and found this. The only thing in my take are 5 assorted hermits (was 6 and all close in size), 1 larger (than other crabs) electric blue hermit crab, 3 snails, a plate coral and a maxima clam. Also have 3 goniopora, toadstool leather frogspawn, and a couple of small blue mushrooms. Any thoughts? Sent from my LG-H871 using Tapatalk

07/04/2017, 07:32 PM	#4
ericarenee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 3,110	another Grab prob Evicted it for a Different shell.. Hermits are Tank Terrorist to there own kind. __________________ 240+G Mixed BB Reef tank.. 350 G Marine Pond. And the expensive stuff that runs it. Chic's are for Chic's You silly men Go Fishing or something... Current Tank Info: 240= gal Reef /550 Gallon Saltwater pond 72 G Bay front Tropical aquarium

07/04/2017, 09:09 PM	#6
ReeferNoob4ever Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: NM Posts: 523	Leave it. I swore my red leg died. I saw that meaty part and was like oh well he's a goner. Two days he came out of the rocks looking fresh. __________________ Get a life! Current Tank Info: 20gL mixed reef, 10g mixed reef w/nem & clown, 5g NPS & harlequin

07/05/2017, 08:07 AM	#13
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Possible it's a molt, though the picture seems to show 'meaty' remains, so may be a gonner. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

07/04/2017, 07:05 PM	#2
JVan82 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Valdosta GA Posts: 468	Double check if it's actually a crab or just a molt Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

07/04/2017, 07:24 PM	#3
Etoimos Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 161	Only seeing 5 of them right now. One could be hiding, but it's only a 60G cube. When they molt, do there entire exoskeleton come off? Like, legs, antenna, claws, and does the mold retain the color of the crab? It really looks like there is some meaty flesh stuck to it behind the head in the photo I posted.

07/04/2017, 07:44 PM	#5
Etoimos Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 161	Should I take it out, or leave it as food for the other crabs?

07/04/2017, 09:33 PM	#8
ladynavyvet Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 315	Hermit crabs can find plenty of places to hid in a 60 gallon tank, heaven knows they do in my 40 gallon one. It's a rare day that I actually see 1 of mine. Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

07/05/2017, 07:46 AM	#12
JVan82 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Valdosta GA Posts: 468	Possibly, I had 3 crab, 2 plain that grew very very fast, and a blue leg that hardly grew, the blue crab was always hiding under the rock, found that out when I had to tear my rock work apart. If you are missing a crab you should have an empty shell in the tank. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

07/05/2017, 02:15 PM	#14
LuizW13 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Under the sea Posts: 309	On this subject of hermit crabs molting, where do you get new shells for them?

07/05/2017, 03:00 PM	#15
Etoimos Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 161	Okay, the wife came home and was able to locate all of the hermit crabs, so it was just a molt floating around. I need to do some research on extra shells for these guys.

07/05/2017, 05:34 PM	#16
gabloo Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: San Jose Posts: 85	It happened to me a few time. I thought they were dead but it turned out it was just molt. These guys are pretty hardy.

07/05/2017, 05:53 PM	#17
JVan82 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Valdosta GA Posts: 468	Reefcleaners.com sells spare shells Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

07/05/2017, 06:32 PM	#18
Gladmaker Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Bentonville, AR Posts: 137	You can also find them on eBay. Reefcleaners is a good place to buy, but just for shells, the shipping is high.

07/05/2017, 06:34 PM	#19
Gladmaker Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Bentonville, AR Posts: 137	If you check eBay, make sure they aren't painted.

07/05/2017, 07:03 PM	#20
Etoimos Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 161	Thanks guys. Do you just buy an assortment of sizes and drop in the back of your tank? Sent from my LG-H871 using Tapatalk