Do Hermit crabs molt?

petenheather · 04/02/2006, 12:45 PM

Do hermit crabs molt? I was re-arranging my rocks during a w/c and I saw what looks like a dead hermit crab, all hairy and ugh! I only have one of these and he has been here for 6+ mos now and is still alive, I know it is not him, I just saw him. Should I remove that thing?????

graveyardworm · 04/02/2006, 03:33 PM

Yep they do molt, and you are not the first to think their hermit has died.

I dont generally remove them, within a couple days it will be gone.

LeslieH · 04/02/2006, 08:41 PM

In invert zoology I was taught that crustaceans often eat their molts to recycle the nutrients

petenheather · 04/02/2006, 09:24 PM

thanks for responding leslie

romunov · 04/07/2006, 12:31 AM

I often observe my crickets Acheta (Gryllus?) domestica eating its own molt. You can observe in real time how they gain stronger pigment. It's pretty alien-like when brown/black color is flowing down their legs to get their regular colors.

04/02/2006, 12:45 PM	#1
petenheather Registered Member. Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 381	Do Hermit crabs molt? Do hermit crabs molt? I was re-arranging my rocks during a w/c and I saw what looks like a dead hermit crab, all hairy and ugh! I only have one of these and he has been here for 6+ mos now and is still alive, I know it is not him, I just saw him. Should I remove that thing????? __________________ Pete and Heather Current Tank Info: 46 gallon, 3 frogspwn corals, 1 hammer coral,Neon flower pot,1 yellow flower pot, bubble coral, 1 brain, 1 zoo. 55lbs+ fiji live rock, and 17 various snails, i fire shrimp, 1 cleaner shrimp, 2 mated Clarki clowns, lawmower blenny, six line wrasse Last edited by petenheather; 04/02/2006 at 01:26 PM.

04/02/2006, 03:33 PM	#2
graveyardworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nottingham, NH Posts: 7,251	Yep they do molt, and you are not the first to think their hermit has died. I dont generally remove them, within a couple days it will be gone. __________________ -David- President - New Hampshire Reef Club There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave Current Tank Info: 100 gal lagoon/seagrass, 100 gal sump, Lifereef 72" skimmer, 180 inwall, 125 inwall seagrass/lagoon in progress

04/02/2006, 08:41 PM	#3
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	In invert zoology I was taught that crustaceans often eat their molts to recycle the nutrients __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

04/02/2006, 09:24 PM	#4
petenheather Registered Member. Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 381	thanks for responding leslie __________________ Pete and Heather Current Tank Info: 46 gallon, 3 frogspwn corals, 1 hammer coral,Neon flower pot,1 yellow flower pot, bubble coral, 1 brain, 1 zoo. 55lbs+ fiji live rock, and 17 various snails, i fire shrimp, 1 cleaner shrimp, 2 mated Clarki clowns, lawmower blenny, six line wrasse

04/07/2006, 12:31 AM	#5
romunov Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 4,453	I often observe my crickets Acheta (Gryllus?) domestica eating its own molt. You can observe in real time how they gain stronger pigment. It's pretty alien-like when brown/black color is flowing down their legs to get their regular colors. __________________ Life is too short to learn everything from experience. "And ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free."