Q&A for How to Know when Your Hermit Crab Is Dead

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Do hermit crabs eat their old exoskeletons?

Community Answer

Yes, they do. Never take away their old exoskeletons; they need them to harden their new skins.

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Are hermit crabs omnivores, carnivores or herbivores?

Community Answer

Hermit crabs are omnivorous. In the wild, they are scavengers and eat anything they can find, from carcasses to parts of windflowers. You can buy hermit crab food that contain carnivorous and herbivorous food in pet stores. It is also good to change up their diets with different types of foods.

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Question

My crab is not moving, no matter what I do. What should I do?

Community Answer

You may stroke the crab lightly to encourage him to move. If he still doesn't but is alive, just let him be until he is ready to move.

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Question

My hermit crab was half in his shell and half out of it. His body was lifeless, and he lost one of his pinchers. Is he dead?

Community Answer

Maybe, but it also may be molting. If you look long and closely enough, you might see it slightly jerking or wriggling its body out of its old skin to the new one.

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Question

My crab won't move and is tightly tucked in its shell. Does that mean it's dead?

Community Answer

Nope. A dead hermit crab generally comes all the way out of its shell. Your hermit crab could just be molting.

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Question

Is it safe for the other hermit crabs to eat a carcass of a dead crab?

Community Answer

No! If they are resorting to cannibalization then they are not receiving enough food or the correct food. Also, dead crabs should be removed from the tank.

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Question

What if their body parts are falling off, is it lethal or are they just molting?

Community Answer

Sometimes when a crab loses limbs, it means the crab is under a lot of stress and they simply do just that. However, if it is injured and it's losing limbs, it may not see keeping them as worth the trouble. Try relieving the stress your hermit crab may be under by ensuring the correct conditions are available to it.

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Question

Do I have to get a heater for my hermit crab?

Community Answer

Yes. Hermit crabs are tropical, and require an environment above 68 degrees. If the temperature drops below this, turn on your heat source. For smaller tank sizes, a heat mat supplies adequate heat.

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Question

My molted hermit crab has not moved for three weeks, could he be dead?

Community Answer

If molting, it is not likely he is dead. It takes up to four weeks for a crab to molt. Molting is like hitting puberty for them; it is a long, delicate, and stressful process. Give him a couple of days and then check him out.

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Question

My hermit crab hasn't moved for a while and won't come out of his shell when I pick it up. It doesn't smell dead and doesn't look like it's molting, what should I do?

Community Answer

Leave it alone. It is just shy and nervous. Try adding new things to its habitat to maybe coax him/her out.

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Question

Will the hermit crab be okay out of its shell while molting?

Community Answer

Yes, but you should consider getting a bigger shell for your hermit crab. When a crab molts, it mean that it is growing.

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Question

I might be getting a hermit crab and I heard that some people give their hermits painted shells, is that okay?

Shauna Morgan

Community Answer

No! Painted shells are toxic no matter what the pet store says! Crabs like to dig and mess with their shells, paint chips off and can make the crab sick or injured.

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Question

How long can a crab go without molting when it needs to?

Community Answer

It's hard to say, but crabs know when they need to molt and will begin the process in their own time. Expect the full process to take anywhere from 4-8 weeks.

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Question

Can I reuse old hermit crab shells for new hermit crabs?

Community Answer

Yes, just make sure the other hermit's parts aren't still in the shell. I use my old shells all the time and they transition just fine.

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Question

My hermit crab pinched my granddaughter and we had to pull it off her hand. In the process, we pulled it out of it's shell. What do we do?

Community Answer

You should probably pick it up with something and put it near its shell. The hermit crab should move into its shell, but if it doesn't, keep putting it in different positions near the crab. If this doesn't help, then your crab may be dead. Crabs will pinch to show that they are afraid or uncomfortable, and ripping it from its shell may have killed or injured it. However, the crab could also just need help changing shells .

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Question

My crab goes to a specific corner of the tank all the time. I move it and it goes back. What do I do?

Community Answer

Your hermit crab may prefer a particular spot to either climb, hang out, or bury themselves in. Just keep an eye on it and make sure it can still access food and water when necessary.

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Question

What should I do if my hermit crab's shell broke in half?

Community Answer

Try to find a shell that is around the same size as the shell that broke in half. Put it next to your hermit crab and encourage it to move in. Be patient and try different arrangements with the crab and the shell. If it does not move in or move at all for a long period of time, it most likely passed away during the time its shell was broken.

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Question

Does a hermit crab's habitat depend on how healthy they are?

Community Answer

Yes, most of the time.

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Question

I just got my hermit crab, and it is shaking a little bit, is it okay?

Community Answer

It's probably just stressed from moving. Let it be for a while. If it continues to shake, it might be sick.

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Question

My hermit crab has white eyes and hasn't moved for a while. Is she dead?

Community Answer

Most likely, she is molting. Check for a smell to make sure she is not dead.

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Question

My hermit crab was digging, but then stopped and hasn't moved for a day. Is it okay?

Savannah Bowen

Community Answer

This is completely normal. Hermit crabs molt around every eighteen months, and the molting process can take up to four weeks.

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Question

I'ts been 4 weeks and my crab isn't moving. I kept food near him one day and left. When I returned, the food was gone. I have 3 crabs. Was it the one that wasn't moving or the other ones?

Savannah Bowen

Community Answer

There is no way to know for sure, but try again and watch them all this time.

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Question

What if my crab hasn't moved in a while and isn't molting but doesn't smell dead?

Community Answer

If your hermit crab hasn't moved in a while, isn't molting, but doesn't smell rotten, or fishy, he most likely might not be dead, if you pick he/she up off of the sand, and it doesn't react, or if you see that the multiple antennae that they have don't wiggle around a little bit, then he might have passed away. However, if you see them move, it's not dead! It could be a sign of molting, or it could be a sign of it feeling threatened.

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Question

Why do I need a heater for my hermit crab?

Community Answer

They are tropical crustaceans, that means they need heat to mimic their natural habitats.

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Question

What do I do if I live in a tropical place?

Community Answer

Then you may not need a heater, but you should have one just in case. Get a thermometer and a hygrometer to monitor the levels. Just because it is a tropical country, doesn't mean that the temperature is always going to stay constant.

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Question

My hermit crab came out of his shell yesterday, and today he looks dead over the water bowl. Could it be molting?

Community Answer

Yes, most likely it is molting.

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Question

If I had two hermit crabs and one died, will the other crab be okay being alone?

Dieyun Ding

Top Answerer

Hermit crabs are quite social. You should get some replacements for your dead crab.

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Question

My hermit crab is small and is not moving but was moving the other day is he dead?

Community Answer

Not necessarily. Your hermit crab may be sleeping, because they are nocturnal, or it could be ready to start molting.

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Question

Do I need a heater even though I live in Australia? It's quite warm where I live.

Community Answer

You should have a heater regardless of where you live, it helps regulate temperature. Just make sure you turn it down/off when the weather is very warm.

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Question

My hermit crab is only staying in one spot. Is it dead or alive?

Community Answer

Hermit crabs are not the most active. Sometimes they try to move when they think your absent or not looking. Try picking him/her up and relocating them to the other side of the cage. Make sure they have a place to hide, food, and a sponge.

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