Dead or moulted?

Post by **Wai** » 27 Mar 2005, 12:15

This is a very common question asked by many crabbers, so I decided to put down an answer altogether.

If you think your hermit crab is dead because he is not moving and is hanging out of his shell, here's how to tell if they have molted or passed away.

If the crab falls out of his shell when you pick him up and there's an abdomen attached, the crab is probably dead. If there's also a fishy smell coming from the crab, you may be out of luck.

If the crab falls out of his shell when you pick him up but there is NO abdomen attached, the crab may have molted. Poke the body. If it seems light and hollow, it is probably just the exoskeleton (molted skin). Check inside the shell. If you see a small little pale crab inside, congratulations! Your hermie moulted!

I_love_my_hermie23 · Post by **I_love_my_hermie23** » 05 Oct 2006, 10:18

Ok this is Realli wierd n i dont know what to do
Ok about 3 min ago i went to go cheak on my hermie n He was Eatin the Sponge and i thought that was Reaali Wierd he was Sittin there Takin his Pinchers n Pinchin off a little piece of sponge at a time and eatin it...
I Have hermit crab cakes Rasien n Saltine crakers in there Why is he eatin the sponge?

hermiesrokmysox · Post by **hermiesrokmysox** » 07 Oct 2006, 23:12

saltine crackers probably contain iodine which is bad for hermit crabs, at least the way it is in salt. so i suggest feeding them fruit, veggies, flowers and meat because they like variaty like us.

I_love_my_hermie23 · Post by **I_love_my_hermie23** » 08 Oct 2006, 09:52

ohhhhhh well i took them out anyways n hes still alive instead i put oatmeal oats cheeos n there plan nothing on them walnuts n hermit cakes

hermiesrokmysox · Post by **hermiesrokmysox** » 08 Oct 2006, 23:26

here's the food list: http://www.epicureanhermit.com/mambo/in ... 4&Itemid=9

any "junk food" like chips or whatever shouldn't e fed to hermies. lol. except (possibly) the organic corn ships. they have sea salt.

lowee0420 · Post by **lowee0420** » 08 Mar 2007, 02:06

thanks for the food list site. i was wondering what other foods i could give my crabbies to very their diet.

ladybug15057 · Post by **ladybug15057** » 08 May 2008, 03:41

I_love_my_hermie23 wrote:Ok this is Realli wierd n i dont know what to do
Ok about 3 min ago i went to go cheak on my hermie n He was Eatin the Sponge and i thought that was Reaali Wierd he was Sittin there Takin his Pinchers n Pinchin off a little piece of sponge at a time and eatin it...
Why is he eatin the sponge?

I realize this is an old post, but I see a comment was not made regarding your little one eating the sponge. Sponges are found naturally in the hermies natural home. Some of the dark coffee brown sponges also have some chitin and shell grit within them. I do have a picture of my Slickette munching on the sponge... as majority of my hermies do.

If the crab falls out of his shell when you pick him up and there's an abdomen attached, the crab is probably dead. If there's a strong fishy smell, it's probably is dead.

There are times though that if the hermies is actually molting at the time that he will slide out of his shell too. (as in removing their exo)
And I have had a few hermies in the past who have had the dead strong fishy odor for some reason

and be very much alive? If and when this happens I always check for any signs of life, and when doing so I do not blink.

Post by **Wai** » 09 May 2008, 00:01

Yeah, I noticed the fishy odour thing too. It seems like it's not a clear indicator that the crab is dead.

iluvhermies · Post by **iluvhermies** » 09 May 2008, 08:59

Mine seem to get the fishy odor right after they have molted.

Jaci · Post by **Jaci** » 14 May 2008, 07:26

that's when i notice the smell as well

Dead or moulted?

Dead or moulted?

My hermie eats Sponge?

Re: My hermie eats Sponge?

thanks for the food list site

Re: My hermie eats Sponge?

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