Hermit Crab buried, may be dead.

[IMS08]

Hello.

I have been monitoring a hermit crab the past few days who is at the bottom of my 10 gallon ISO. I have 8 inches of substrate and she is at the bottom just barely visible. I can see her legs and it appears that she is laying motionlessly at the bottom with her legs out. Have any of you had crabs that lay motionless for a period of time?

Thank you!

[hermitcrab24]

Well, if it has only been a few days, I would say she is preparing to molt. I had a surface molter who was motionless for a few days before molting, sadly she died (because of a surface molt). Keep an eye on her though, but I wouldn't be too worried this early.

Best of luck,
Bonnie

[IMS]

Thank you so much. She was moving around a lot before hand but seemed to have settled down in this area. Hopefully she will be able to molt successfully.

[hermitcrab24]

I have my fingers crossed for you

[YYWW]

She could also be showing you her exo. Maybe tape or cover that spot to make it dark ans check it in a couple days. Darkness helps molting. She could have dug there in the dark and be stuck there mid molt.


Crabbers unite!!!

[Cydonia1]

another thing, right after molting they're paralyzed for, I think 1-3 days. so she could of been recovering when you saw her.