How long can a hermit crab live without a shell??

[nemosluckyfin]

Hello,
When I was picking up live rock from my LFS a few months ago I noticed that I had a little hitch hiker. It was a little blue leg hermit crab. He immediately took love to shell that I had and I loved the little guy. I noticed about one week ago I saw something run across my tank and it looked like him without his shell (whats weird is that it was fast and tan...) This was just after I had dosed with some API Algaefix (did that have anything to do with him leaving his shell?) Now it has been about week and i have yet to see him. I was going to buy some shells from live aquaria soon but I wanted to know how long they can live without a shell. Also I have no fish that would eat him.
Thoughts?

 

[webslinger]

The shell is for protection from predators. Throw some shells in.

 

[nemosluckyfin]

If I havent seen him in a while is there a chance he is just hiding?

 

[screamingibis]

I think it takes a week for them to molt. Make sure you have plenty of shells piled up in the back corner, and stir them up from time to time

 

[Hitch08]

If I havent seen him in a while is there a chance he is just hiding?

Certainly.

 

[nemosluckyfin]

Was the tan thing I saw scurry across the ground most likely him?

 

[spiraling]

could it have been his molt blowing around? The look exactly like a hermit without a shell.

 

[MakomekTVN]

could it have been his molt blowing around? The look exactly like a hermit without a shell.

+1

It's the outer layer of the molt, look like a dead hermit but if you pick it up it's nothing inside.