How do you know the crab is dead???

luvin_mummy · Post by **luvin_mummy** » 14 Nov 2009, 05:59

We have three hermit crabs, and two of them have been pretty dormant for several days now. One of them I think is dead, but want to be sure before we bury her in the backyard.

When I tilt the shell forwards or backwards, her entire body moves in and out. Her legs and pinchers are the same color she has been, but it looks like her body is white... Please advise whether or not this might be molting. She smells fishy, but its a slight odor, not anything horrendous (yet).

emmac350 · Post by **emmac350** » 14 Nov 2009, 06:57

Wait until it's horrendous. Leave her alone until then. There is a chance she could be molting, but you'll have to wait and see. You'll know she's dead (if nothing else) if her abdomen starts turning black - that's the first part of the crab to start decomposing. Most likely, by the time the fishy smell gets to the point that you can't stand it, she's dead, but there have been a few times that has been wrong - Marie (ladybug15057) has had a few crabs she almost threw away but waited just a little bit longer and avoided throwing away a live crab.

CrabbyJo · Post by **CrabbyJo** » 21 Nov 2009, 06:23

It's just best not to pick up a crab you think may be dead until you smell a fishy smell that knocks you off your feet. A crab that is surface molting may not move for days, and if you do pick them up, it may stress them enough to kill them. They are very vulnerable during molting.
Often they will give off a fishy or other smell when they are molting, so you can't use that as your indicator unless it's so strong you are 100% positive it is a death smell.
Also, some foods we put in the tank may make the tank smell fishy, and we dont' think about that when we are worried about an unmoving hermie. So always change out the food daily and make sure that's not your fishy smell.

So tipping them in and out is not really a good way to check, as you may be disturbing a hermie that is trying to molt and may kill them by disturbing them.

ladybug15057 · Post by **ladybug15057** » 23 Nov 2009, 13:23

I totally agree with CrabbyJo! If the hermie has passed there is nothing we can do, but if they are molting by disturbing them can harm/be lethal to them. And BTW, if a hermie is molting, they are very limp, their old exo has been loosened and their new exo underneath is very soft, similar to jello. So they will not be able to hold themselves in their shells so this is not an indication of death. And even if a hermie does smell really bad ALWAYS check for the slightest twitch of life. I have had a few hermies smell TERRIBLE and be very much alive.

CrabbyJo · Post by **CrabbyJo** » 23 Nov 2009, 18:13

What was the verdict on your crab? We are all very curious, I'm sure!
I really hope she was okay. It really could have been she was molting.

crabbylvr336 · Post by **crabbylvr336** » 21 Dec 2009, 02:37

I have the same problem! I think my hermit crab is dead too, but he's not falling out of his shell. He is a really chalky wjite color. At first, ithought he was dead completely, so i was taking him out to bury him. he fell out of his shell and everything but i noticed that he was probably molting because there he was in his shell! He was a LOT lighter in weight and a whole lot smaller too. His exo was also white. He smells a bit like fish, but not too bad. Do you think he could still be alive? He doesnt try to move when i wiggled his legs, and doesnt fall out either. What shoukd i do!

Spiral · Post by **Spiral** » 21 Dec 2009, 03:24

crabbylvr336 wrote:I have the same problem! I think my hermit crab is dead too, but he's not falling out of his shell. He is a really chalky wjite color. At first, ithought he was dead completely, so i was taking him out to bury him. he fell out of his shell and everything but i noticed that he was probably molting because there he was in his shell! He was a LOT lighter in weight and a whole lot smaller too. His exo was also white. He smells a bit like fish, but not too bad. Do you think he could still be alive? He doesnt try to move when i wiggled his legs, and doesnt fall out either. What shoukd i do!

He just molted. Place him in a ISO tank/ container with the substrate ( has to be moist / damp ) you are using (sand eco earth etc etc ) ,the exo skeleton and water dish. Cover a wet cloth over the tank to keep in humidity. No need for food yet.

ladybug15057 · Post by **ladybug15057** » 21 Dec 2009, 04:55

Please do read the postings above. If the hermie has passed there is nothing at all that can be done. However, if he is in premolt or molting by disturbing him can be harmful/lethal.
Patience is the key. Use a cut 2 liter soda bottle to section him off from the others. Due to the tight quarters, soda bottle lids can be used for a fresh and ocean/sea water source. Just leave him be. If he is in a corner or such an area that a soda bottle can't be used, use the glass off of a picture frame to section him off. Good luck!

crabbylvr336 · Post by **crabbylvr336** » 22 Dec 2009, 13:00

thanks so much. Im glad that my crab might be okay! ill deffinetley try the damp towel thing to keep him moist. i already put him into an iso tank. it's really small but probably bigger than the soda bottle idea. Last time he molted, i accidentaly disturbed him a little and he was fine, so im hoping that since i desturbed him a bit this time too, he will be okay. he is the toughest crab i have ever had, and he's also lived the longest!

How do you know the crab is dead???

How do you know the crab is dead???

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Re: How do you know the crab is dead???

Re: How do you know the crab is dead???

Re: How do you know the crab is dead???