Emerald Crab Help

[FutureBoyGenius]

I have three emerald crabs. One of them is distinctly larger than the other two, he is probably an inch and a half in diameter.

I had to leave my tank for a full day and a night and when I came back there was something that looked just like him sitting on top of a rock. The only difference is it didn't have those black eyes. They seemed to be gone. It was the entire body though with claws and legs. It was intact with nothing missing. Is this an exoskeleton? Do they shed like that?

I also found two large claws seperately and his legs. They were definitely from him because of the size, but they were soft, like they came from inside of the exoskeleton? Is he still alive in my tank but just hiding? Or did he just die and begin to fall apart by the time I got home? If he did how did the inside of his claws come out without there being damage to the skeleton?

 

[sassafrass]

Yes that is how they grow.
Lee

 

[FutureBoyGenius]

So, is he going to be in hiding for a few days for his new exoskeleton to harden?

Isn't it a good sign that they are able to shed their exoskelton? Like as far as water parameters and such?

 

[thehunt]

exo

exo

that is completely normal. My shrimp do it about once a month. They hide for a few days untill their new exoskeleton hardens. I've heard iodine and calcium help it harden quicker but I don't even mess with that stuff. I just use B-ionic and they never have a problem