Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab.....molting or dead?

[ddranschak]

We are brand new to the saltwater scene. We have 4 dwarf red and 4 dwarf blue hermits. One of our dwarf blues looks just like the first picture which I found posted on another thread. My crab is in the blue circle in the second picture. Wish I could get a better picture. Will try to get one. We found it hidden behind a shell today. They were all moving around well eating up my small diatom bloom two days ago. All other crabs are doing well today. If it is molting, can I put a shell or something over it to protect it while molting? Or maybe just shells around it? I have not located his old shell yet either. Is this normal? Thanks in advance!

 

[GK3]

We are brand new to the saltwater scene. We have 4 dwarf red and 4 dwarf blue hermits. One of our dwarf blues looks just like the first picture which I found posted on another thread. My crab is in the blue circle in the second picture. Wish I could get a better picture. Will try to get one. We found it hidden behind a shell today. They were all moving around well eating up my small diatom bloom two days ago. All other crabs are doing well today. If it is molting, can I put a shell or something over it to protect it while molting? Or maybe just shells around it? I have not located his old shell yet either. Is this normal? Thanks in advance!

View attachment 1969658 View attachment 1969659

Looks like molting

 

[ddranschak]

Looks like molting

Thank you.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Appears to be a molt. generally they do it in a hidden spot. I would say to move it below but during molt, you dont want to disturb it.

 

[ddranschak]

Appears to be a molt. generally they do it in a hidden spot. I would say to move it below but during molt, you dont want to disturb it.

Okay, thanks! I may move a shell close to it but not disturb it.

 

[ddranschak]

UPDATE: So we found the blue hermit that we though was molting. Turned out that he molted!! That was the leftover molting. Is it pretty normal for a two day molting?

 

[raks291]

Looks like molting

Hi there, I am a newbie too., have exact same situation . My hermit crab is out is shell, upside down under some algae , can’t tell if it is dead or molting but looks exactly like this picture, can you let me know if any update

 

[raks291]

Hi there, I am a newbie too., have exact same situation . My hermit crab is out is shell, upside down under some algae , can’t tell if it is dead or molting but looks exactly like this picture, can you let me know if any update