Is my crab surface molting or dead?

[nicholas]

Hello. I purchased my hermit crabs about 2 months ago from Petco. about 1 and a half weeks ago, my crab was halfway out of its shell. i decided to research and came to the conclusion that it was surface molting. i have salt and fresh water in my tank as well as heaters and a lid to keep humidity. i isolated the crab under a tupper wear and checked it today. it was upside down with two of its legs sticking out of the shell. is my crab dead or molting? also there was quite a strong bad smell after removing the tupper wear. please help.

[Wai]

If you gently try shake the crab out of the shell, is the soft abdomen attached the crab? If yes, it most likely has died.

[aussieJJDude]

The strong smell is usually a sign of a deceased crab, especially if it smells like rotting fish. I can't remember the smell for a moulting crab is, but I have heard to smells different to a dead crab.