Hermit Crabs Shedding Skin?

[AK77]

Hi guys,

Earlier I found what I thought was a dead hermit crab in the tank. I looked around but couldn't see an empty shell anywhere. Do these shed their skins like shrimps do?

AK

 

[SkiFletch]

Yes, all hard-shelled crustaceans do it.

 

[AndyS]

Yep, the scarey thing with hermit moults is that they look exactly like dead hermit crabs. My blood shrimp was munching on a moult earlier.

 

[AK77]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'd seen a couple over the past week and put it down to them dying. When I saw the latest one, which was a large algae hermit, I was like "FFS NOT ANOTHER ONE" . The thing was it was right next to another large hermit (which was actually the same hermit after shedding). I later realized this as I remembered that only 1 of the hermits was that big.

You're right, they do look identical. The shrimps tend to be someone translucent, but the crabs are much more solid in appearance.

Thanks for info guys. 8)

 

[bambam]

wow that helps me out as well, i actually went back to my LFS and was complaining that they were dying cause i kept finding the bodies, thats weird i could of sworn they were a dead hermit

thanks alot

 

[shibby]

its coicedental i just searched for hermit crabs shedding as well! cus about 10 mins ago i noticed one of mine looking dead but it was just a shed

 

[AK77]

wow that helps me out as well, i actually went back to my LFS and was complaining that they were dying cause i kept finding the bodies, thats weird i could of sworn they were a dead hermit

thanks alot

I'd still go back and complain... preferably with a store full of people.... and do this.....

"I demand to speak to someone! This is disgusting. I bought all these hermit crabs and they all die in no time at all. What kind of rubbish are you pushing on people!!"

"What do you mean am I sure they aren't just shedding? What do you think I am? An idiot? I've never been so insulted in all my life!!"

The manager may give you some new ones or a refund just to appease you lol. I know its naughty... but hey... I'm cheap!!

 

[bambam]

hahahaha im sure it would work in most LFS especially some of them were i have a been where you ask them a simple question just to see how knowledgable they are and they get it wrong, honestly it should be manditory to know something about fish to work in a fish store....


in no means do i mean all LFS im just stating in my encounter there are a few out there that newbies have to be careful of, they try and give you some information but most of the time can be completely wrong. I know from experience. Best solution- do your own research and not just from one website or one persons experience, get a couple of sources or opinions

 

[AK77]

Yeah sometimes employees in LFS's aren't the sharpest tools in the bag. A few weeks ago I wanted just a small bit of LR with some coralline on it to help it spread in the tank. So the guy goes away, picks up a bit of LR in a bag fills it with water and goes off to weigh it. I then pointed out to him that since LR is sold by the kilo, that'd I'd actually like to pay for rock, not water at £15 a kilo .