Surface molting or dead?

This forum is where you discuss issues relating to molting hermit crabs, including pre- and post-molting issues. If you are having a molting emergency please post in the Emergency Forum.
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06pikacute
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Surface molting or dead?

Post by 06pikacute » Wed May 05, 2021 9:00 pm

Hello! So recently I thought one of my hermit crabs was surface molting. She wasn’t moving in the tank for a day or two so I had moved her into an isolation tank. It’s been a few weeks and she hasn’t moved in there either. Recently I noticed a very pale leg bit on the ground under her and the tank started to smell like rotten cheese. She isn’t falling out of her shell or anything but I’m wondering if she’s dead or not. It doesn’t really smell like fish just like moldy cheese. She originally didn’t smell at all so now I’m concerned. Does anyone know what’s going on? Ty!!

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FJrocks003
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Re: Surface molting or dead?

Post by FJrocks003 » Thu May 06, 2021 10:00 am

06pikacute wrote:Hello! So recently I thought one of my hermit crabs was surface molting. She wasn’t moving in the tank for a day or two so I had moved her into an isolation tank. It’s been a few weeks and she hasn’t moved in there either. Recently I noticed a very pale leg bit on the ground under her and the tank started to smell like rotten cheese. She isn’t falling out of her shell or anything but I’m wondering if she’s dead or not. It doesn’t really smell like fish just like moldy cheese. She originally didn’t smell at all so now I’m concerned. Does anyone know what’s going on? Ty!!
It sounds like a surface molt, I can't say anything on the smell but from what others say you definitely shell something strong if it dies.

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Topic author
06pikacute
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed May 05, 2021 8:53 pm
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Re: Surface molting or dead?

Post by 06pikacute » Thu May 06, 2021 10:03 am

FJrocks003 wrote:
Thu May 06, 2021 10:00 am
It sounds like a surface molt, I can't say anything on the smell but from what others say you definitely shell something strong if it dies.

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Alright! Thank you!

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curlysister
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Re: Surface molting or dead?

Post by curlysister » Thu May 06, 2021 11:37 am

Sometimes only time will tell you, one way or the other.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers

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