Resurrecting Hermit Crabs?

[Demm]

ok this has got me totally stumped.

couple weeks ago i bought 3 hermit crabs. two of them appaerently got in a fight or something. they both died a couple days ago. i took them both out. i left the empty shells in there for the 3rd hermit, thought it might like it. now i walk by the tank and to my suprise and amazement there's two crabs again...this isnt the first time it's happened either. there have been a couple times where i've found a dead crabs body but all of my crabs were still alive and fine. where do these things just pop up from? i doubt it would be from the live rock because i've had it setup for a while now.

this is just wierd, any explanations, or anyone had this happen to them?

 

[shibby]

theyve prob just shed, they constantly do it. looks just like a dead crab reli.

 

[littleme1969]

Yup shedding happens then they generally upgrade their shells a few days after when they have hardened off. It just looks the front half of the hermit with the back bit missing. They are vulnerable to attack from predators when they shed so they tend to keep a low profile for a few days You will need to add a good assortment of shells for them to grow into otherwise they will start trying to kill each other or any snails that you have so they can upgrade.

 

[Demm]

ahh ok, that makes sense now. thanks for solving my mystery, i was getting scared that i had demon crabs or something lol