Do Hermit Crabs Shed Skin?

[ilove2ride]

I found an exact replica of my hermit crab, it looks dead, on the floor of the tank. THe shrimp won't touch it, and there's only one crab. It's a scarlet one... is it a dead crab, or a skin?
Thanks
Heather

 

[clarkiiboi]

Dont have the same crab as you, but it is probably a molt. I looked into my crab shell when this happened and saw nothing, thought it was dead but was gonna keep the shell and 3-4 days later---crab appeared! Then my other one did the same thing. First time I netted the molt, and since you shrimp is ignoring it you may want get the molt out just incase of spikes. HTH

 

[bigbonedee]

Yes they molt and no you dont remove it because they rely on it to eat it as I believe it helps them harden their new shell.

 

[bigbonedee]

Dont quote me but I am 95 % sure of this. The shell I am referring to ofcourse is not the one they exchange but their own.

 

[jonthefb]

YEp, its probably a molt. i woud lhave to agree with sammy to leave it in there, as it is a good source of calcium if not for somethign eating on it, then for the tank in general. BIG bone, im not sure of this i personally havent observed any crabs that have just molted chowing their exoskeleton, but who knows, thats just me!
good luck
jon

 

[buzz]

When my hermit crab first molted, I thought I was watching it's carcass floating around the tank, and couldn't figure out what could possibly have chewed the front half of its body off...
Then I saw the crab in his shell walking around the next day...just fine...takes a little getting used to seeing that, but it is normal.

 

[ilove2ride]

Well, the shrimp ate it. THanks for the help!
Heather