Dead Hermit Crab With No Shell

[hnf2k]

i found a dead hermit crab with no shell anywhere near him. did he get mugged by another hermit?

 

[sistrmary]

Nah, if they'd mugged him, they would have eaten him too! It probably molted

 

[hnf2k]

then how did he die? and where is his shell?

 

[slothy]

well if he molted it wouldnt have a shell... cause the momo alive would still have the shell.. they shed there skin (so to say)

 

[slick]

What does the crab look like? If it is clear or lightly coloerd it molted. I have had some die in my tank. I'm not sure what thier life span is.

 

[hnf2k]

i dont know what you're asking. he looks like a hermit crab. he looks like the other one that died. his shell is nowhere near him. where would it be? how would he die?

 

[sistrmary]

If he's molted, he's not dead at all Crabs will molt when they grow, the molting looks exactly like them, but clearish. His shell is still on him, probably hiding under a rock while his new shell is hardening. (Because he's soft and squishy for a while after they grow out of the old shell. One of the other hermits or a fish could easily kill him during this time, so it will likely hide)

 

[hnf2k]

umm...he didn't look clearish. i dont think. i flushed him. tomorrow ill snoop around a little more and move some rock around. he did seem to have a few white specks on him. but i was told they dont get ick, so it could just be normal. im not really sure. ill look around my tank tomorrow to see if i find his shell.

 

[donkeykong]

Your were told right inverts arent affected by ick, which is a good thing because all accepted ways of treating ick kill inverts

 

[dsa_mom]

I wouldn't try moving around rock to find the shell, just believe that its there somewhere. Maybe another crab will want to move in, if so, he will find the empty shell. Why would a hermit die? Who knows. they are affected by changes in temp and salinity. Maybe he was a 100 yr old hermit.

 

[surfnturf]

I've read that hermits can have problems during their molt if the iodine levels are too low, you could try to check this and adjust if necessary, just an idea.

 

[hnf2k]

well right near where he either molted or got killed, there is a big hole dug under some rock. maybe he is in there. it doesnt look like a hole dug by my gobies becasue they tend to leave sand dunes around the opening and there is none hear. and it is also a bigger opening than most. ill just wait and see. still havent found the shell, but i also havent looked. if someone stole his shell then wouldnt their shell be where he was killed?