Molting or dead?

[Johnshin]

One of my hermit crabs, a very small one, began surface molting a couple weeks ago, I isolated him by putting him under a log with the entrance barely open, however he has yet to move or show signs of life. He stays in his shell, I don't see signs of exoskeleton hardening but he also doesn't have a strong fish/dead odor. Is he dead and should I get him out of the tank or is he still alive?

[Jedi Sena]

Sorry for the late, late reply. I hope it turned out okay by now. But I would leave the crab until it smelled. A small enough crab might not smell much, but it would be very damaging to disturb a surface molter.

[Giner13]

Hopefully you're guy makes it!! My first crab surface molted because I didn't have his substrate deep enough. I began to notice the exo separating from the shell, so left him alone for several weeks (at least 4 if I remember right). He never smelled at all because he was a small PP. But he never showed signs of life after those weeks.
Good luck & hope your guy/girl makes it!!


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