HCA: Hermit Crab Association

*this is not an emergency post*

One of my large-sized crabs went down for a molt about a month ago. This is pretty standard so I haven’t been concerned. My other crab started digging a few days ago and this morning dug up and brought the empty shell of the other crab to the surface. I don’t see any body parts or smell any smell, and I haven’t gone digging for him just in case. There is no evidence of death at all.

Should I re-bury the shell where I found it, or leave it on the surface where it is now? Should I assume that the crab that was molting is dead?

My thoughts are that it died during the molt and maybe the other crab ate it under the surface, but my boyfriend says he still thinks the crab is down there.

Anyone have any advice? Opinions?


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If the crab went down with that shell, and another crab now dug it up, the chance of the crab being alive are unfortunately low. If the crab is naked under the substrate, he should be dug up. However, that is a low possibility.
More often when something like this happens, it turns out that the crab changed into another shell before it went under.
If you have no other crabs underground, there will be no harm to digging. If you have other crabs underground, you will need to consider the risk to them, if you decided to dig.

I've had a crab go down in one shell and come up in another. My crabbies like to bury shells just for this purpose, I think. I'd wait it out personally, unless you detect an odor that indicates decay.