Is my crab surface molting or dead?

Questions about hermit crabs moulting and its symptoms.
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nicholas
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Is my crab surface molting or dead?

Post by nicholas »

Hello. I purchased my hermit crabs about 2 months ago from Petco. about 1 and a half weeks ago, my crab was halfway out of its shell. i decided to research and came to the conclusion that it was surface molting. i have salt and fresh water in my tank as well as heaters and a lid to keep humidity. i isolated the crab under a tupper wear and checked it today. it was upside down with two of its legs sticking out of the shell. is my crab dead or molting? also there was quite a strong bad smell after removing the tupper wear. please help.
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Wai
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Re: Is my crab surface molting or dead?

Post by Wai »

If you gently try shake the crab out of the shell, is the soft abdomen attached the crab? If yes, it most likely has died.
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aussieJJDude
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Re: Is my crab surface molting or dead?

Post by aussieJJDude »

The strong smell is usually a sign of a deceased crab, especially if it smells like rotting fish. I can't remember the smell for a moulting crab is, but I have heard to smells different to a dead crab.
246L/65G - 'Tidal Jungle' (Crabs) | 246L/65g - 'Backwater Pool' (Fish/Snails) | 96L/25G - ''Twisted Minds" (Fish/Snails/Shrimp) | 300L/90G Fancy Pond (Goldfish)

I've never had any problems with 'Impulse Buying'. They're just animals that I forgot I had planned to get.
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