do hermit crabs molt?

[scrmom]

I just was looking at my tank and see what appears to be one my hermit crabs laying on a rock without its shell. It moving a litte but in one spot. I don't see the shell anywhere. Should I put an empyt shell next to it?

 

[ERICinFL]

Yes, they molt.

 

[Flavorflave]

Make sure you are looking at the hermit crab and not the recently molted off skin of exoskeleton of the hermit. Do you see his shell anywhere in the tank with him not in it?
I bet you he is hiding somewhere in the tank, still in his shell after he just finished molting. Its amazing to see, but they shed there skin like snakes and I have been fooled into thinking a fish tore him apart in the past. But soon found out that it was just an empty batch of skin that he just molted off.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

yes they molt...and you say its moving? prolly just the flow or something moving it...unless you know for sure thats the real hermit. In that case, you could put a shell right by him...maybe he was in the middle of molting and his shell either got blown away or picked up by a fish (my diamond goby does that when they're still in the shell even lol). In that case just leave the shell by him and he'll get it...unless he's a nudist

 

[scrmom]

I thought the claws were moving but it could have been the water movement. I did put a shell right beside it. My peppermint shrimp molted the other day and I thought I had a dead shrimp. Then I saw the shrimp. I am new to all this and I am surprised everyday by something new happening. I love it.

 

[thor32766]

most defitnetly molt!

 

[2farNorth]

I know when I first seen my Scarlet Reef hermits molting, I thought it was a dead crab, the molts look exactly like a crab.. (usually without the tail end)

 

[Tripspike]

My biggest red legged hermit cam out to molt just recently....unfortunately my Sally Lightfoot got a hold of him before was able to find shelter again.

Trip