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Hermit crabs are prone to periods of solitude and lethargy, particularly when they're molting. It can be difficult to tell whether a hermit crab is molting, sick, or dead. As a general rule, though: assume molting before death, unless you have evidence to the contrary. Read on for tips about diagnosing and caring for your hermit crab!
Steps
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Sniff around for a fishy, rotten smell. This is the surest way to identify a dead hermit crab. If your hermit crab dies, it will begin to decompose – and its carcass will begin to smell putrid. If you can't smell anything, pick the crab out of the tank to get a closer whiff. If you smell a salty, rotten scent, there's a good chance that your crab has passed away.
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Assume that your crab is molting. Hermit crabs periodically shed their exoskeleton, and this process often involves losing body parts. The crabs are immobile for a short time while it regains muscle control and its new exoskeleton hardens up. If you disturb your crab while it is molting, you may seriously endanger it – so be patient. Assume molting before death. [1] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Notice when a crab is laying outside its shell without any signs of transitioning. This can be a sign that the crab is dead, or it can just be a by-product of the molting process. If you find what appear to be a dead crab next to a shell, have a closer look to see if it is just an exoskeleton. If is it hollow and crumbles easily, it is an old exoskeleton. Look inside the nearby shell, and you might find a freshly-molted crab hiding out.
- If the immobile crab is obviously not an exoskeleton, try picking it up to see if it moves. If it does not react, it's probably dead.
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Move the crab and observe the results. If you can't figure out whether your crab is dead, move it to a new location and note exactly how it is positioned. Try placing food on the other side of the tank to give the crab a motivation to move. Leave the tank, then come back to check within the next few hours. If the crab moved while you were gone, then you know it's alive. If not, it may be sleeping or molting.
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Keep an eye on a buried crab. It is perfectly natural for hermit crabs to bury themselves; this can indicate that the crab is molting, or just that it feels threatened and/or scared. Smooth the sand around his hiding spot, then look for tracks to get an idea if he is coming up at night for food. If it has been weeks since your crab buried itself, you can carefully sweep off a bit of sand from around his hiding spot to check for a rotting smell. [2] X Research source
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Determine whether your crab is molting. Your crab may be molting if it is out of its shell and not moving. Signs of molting include general lethargy, less antennae activity, tangled and confused-looking antennae, an ashy exoskeleton, and dull eyes (like human cataracts). Your crab may remain still for long periods of time, and it may even bury itself in the sand as a safety tactic.
- Smaller, quickly-growing crabs can molt every few months, while larger crabs tend to molt about once a year. Note the dates and duration every time that your crab molts; this way, you'll know what to expect. If your crab is new, or if you haven't seen it molt before, you'll need to wait it out until you're certain. [3] X Research source
- Wait several days. If there is no fishy smell, there's a good chance that your crab is molting. Molting usually lasts about two weeks, so you may need to wait some time before you are absolutely sure.
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Look for a "fat bubble". Consider whether your crab has been eating a lot over the past few days. Before a molt, a crab will store extra fat and water in a small blackish "bubble" – usually on the left-hand side of the abdomen, just under the fifth pair of legs. However, do not assume that a crab is molting just because he has made a bubble. [4] X Research source
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Isolate a molting crab from other crabs. Molting crabs are vulnerable to stress and injury from other hermit crabs due to their inactivity and their soft new exoskeleton. If one of your crabs is molting, and you have other crabs in the same tank, put the molter into a temporary "isolation tank" so that it can shed in safety and privacy. It is very important that hermit crabs are not disturbed during the molting process. [5] X Research source
- If you only have one tank, improvise an "isolation cell" within that tank. Cut off the ends of a 2-liter soda bottle, then sink the edges into the sand to protect the molting crab. Be sure that the top of the "isolation cell" is open so that oxygen from the surface can replenish the space.
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Dig up a buried crab and dispose of it if you smell a rotting-fish odor. To be sanitary, scoop the dead crab up along with the sand it was buried in. Dispose of the crab and the sand in one swoop. [6] X Research source
- Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap after handling a dead crab.
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Throw your dead crab out with the garbage. If you have no qualms about trashing your deceased crustacean, you can simply place the carcass into a standard waste bin and put it out for garbage collection. Put the body into a Ziploc bag, lay it carefully into the trash, and let it be.
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Bury your dead crab. If you can't bear the thought of throwing out your crustacean friend, consider burying him beneath a foot of soil. This is a very personal decision, and you need to do what you must to feel okay about the situation. Make sure that you bury him deep enough that other animals—dogs, cats, raccoons, etc.—cannot dig up the body.
- Feel free to bury the dead crab along with the sand from his cage or tank. The sand may be contaminated, and burying is a great way to safely dispose of it.
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Do not flush your dead crab down the toilet. The flush may seem like a quick and easy solution, but it is not a sanitary choice. There's a chance that a rotting carcass will contaminate the water supply. Bury or trash your dead hermit crab instead.
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Prepare the tank for a new crab. If you want to replace your departed hermit crab, clean the tank before you introduce your new pet. Clear away any sand that may have been contaminated by a rotting dead crab; clean the sides of the tank; replace any water.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionDo hermit crabs eat their old exoskeletons?Community AnswerYes, they do. Never take away their old exoskeletons; they need them to harden their new skins.
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QuestionAre hermit crabs omnivores, carnivores or herbivores?Community AnswerHermit 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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QuestionMy crab is not moving, no matter what I do. What should I do?Community AnswerYou 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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References
- ↑ http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hermitcrabs/f/hcmoltordead.htm
- ↑ http://www.hermitcrabpatch.com/Hermit-Crab-Successful-Molting-a/138.htm
- ↑ http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hermitcrabs/f/hcmoltfreq.htm
- ↑ http://www.hermit-crabs.com/molting.html
- ↑ http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hermitcrabs/f/hcmoltisolate.htm
- ↑ http://www.hermit-crabs.com/FAQ.html
About This Article
Article Summary
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If you need to know if your hermit crab is dead, remember to take into account that the crab may actually be molting. During the molting process, hermit crabs shed their exoskeleton, lose body parts, and become temporarily immobile, causing them to appear dead. You can move the crab to a new location and see if it changes position after a few hours to test for signs of life. If your crab still isn't moving, check for a fishy, rotten smell around it, which can indicate death. For more tips on understanding and recognizing signs of molting, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "This entire article was helpful to me. We didn't plan on bringing home a hermit crab. I took my son to a friends birthday party and the parents asked my son if he wanted to crab. Hermies came home with us. I've never even had a fish before!" ..." more
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"This entire article was helpful to me. We didn't plan on bringing home a hermit crab. I took my son to a friends birthday party and the parents asked my son if he wanted to crab. Hermies came home with us. I've never even had a fish before!"
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"This article gave me a lot of knowledge. Thank you. My crab has been in this state for almost 4 months. I was kind of scared. I am still a little unsure and hope that it survives. Thanks again for the advice and tips. :)"
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"This was really helpful for me because two of my three baby small crabs got out of their shells and wouldn't move. But because of these articles, they might be alive!"
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"I always overreact when I see a molted crab and think it is dead. These help me make sure my crabs are happy, healthy, and alive. Great advice, and very helpful!"
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"I got a hermit crab from the beach. I thought he was dead because he wasn't moving, but he was moving the other day. Thank you for telling me he's molting."
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