Do Hermit crabs molt?

[petenheather]

Do hermit crabs molt? I was re-arranging my rocks during a w/c and I saw what looks like a dead hermit crab, all hairy and ugh! I only have one of these and he has been here for 6+ mos now and is still alive, I know it is not him, I just saw him. Should I remove that thing?????

 

[graveyardworm]

Yep they do molt, and you are not the first to think their hermit has died. I dont generally remove them, within a couple days it will be gone.

 

[LeslieH]

In invert zoology I was taught that crustaceans often eat their molts to recycle the nutrients

 

[petenheather]

thanks for responding leslie

 

[romunov]

I often observe my crickets Acheta (Gryllus?) domestica eating its own molt. You can observe in real time how they gain stronger pigment. It's pretty alien-like when brown/black color is flowing down their legs to get their regular colors.