Are my crabs even alive?

[itsme143]

I've posted a lot about my PPs. I now have 4 of them. Not that anyone can tell.

I posted an emergency post about Shellina back in January, who we've owned for a lot of years now. She molted and came out early around New Years and I panicked because she came out of her shell. We put food and water close to her and she got strong enough to choose a shell. For about 3 to 4 glorious weeks she was then out and about. Eating, climbing, drinking. I figured, she is old enough (3.5 years with us) that she's not molting all the time and now that conditions are consistently perfect, we finally have our "pet."

But she disappeared. Gone. Haven't seen her since February. Heard her under there for awhile, saw where she was, but she's long disappeared.

I have another crab we've had almost as long... literally took 2 years to finally upgrade shells, molted, came out, then disappeared... haven't seen in months.

But Shellina (our 3.5 year old) has gone for almost a year.

Please don't ask me to fill out an emergency form. Conditions are utterly perfect. So is food.

I think I'm pretty much done with hermit crabs. This post is mostly for assurance that possibly my crabs are somehow not dead, I suppose, but also I think I'm about to hit the adoption boards. But seriously... down for 8 months... she's probably dead, right?

[itsme143]

And... even if she's not... then how am I supposed to care? Let alone my 10 year old daughter? If disappearing for a year is norm... how can anyone even consider these "pets?"

[fandt94]

Wow, that’s a long time! How big are the crabs? Hopefully one of the Mods will pop in with some advice....as in, to dig, or not to dig....after such a long time. Are you absolutely positive neither have come out while you were sleeping etc?

[itsme143]

Utterly positive. I would have known.

[fandt94]

Utterly positive. I would have known.

Gosh I’m not experienced enough but if I was absolutely sure nobody had been topside for that long of time....I’d probably start gently looking for them....especially after you had the emergency molt with the one crab. I’m sorry you are dealing with this....especially after having had them so long. Wishing you the best of luck!

[wodesorel]

Shellina does sound like she is probably gone. I'm so sorry.

How long has the other been missing? I would encourage you to wait until at least four months have passed, as there is a decent chance that digging around to look for Shellina before that could disturb his molt, which is very dangerous.

[fandt94]

Shellina does sound like she is probably gone. I'm so sorry.

How long has the other been missing? I would encourage you to wait until at least four months have passed, as there is a decent chance that digging around to look for Shellina before that could disturb his molt, which is very dangerous.

Thank you for popping in!

[itsme143]

Sigh. I went gently digging. I found a shell suspiciously deep near the last place I heard/saw Shellina and completely filled with sand.

I found both of the newer crabs (from Reptile City) underground.

But what I DIDN'T find was any trace of Shellina. None. Anywhere.

In finding the two below-ground crabs, I realized that the one ABOVE-ground crab was Starlight. We've ALSO had him 3.5 years. He's just smaller because he was exceptionally picky about changing shells.

All I can figure is that Shellina died underground, Starlight ate her, and took her shell, which would explain the smaller green turbo I found deep underground about in the last spot where I knew Shellina was -- it was Starlight's. Starlight is the only crab now walking around in a shell that was even near big enough to accommodate Shellina. (they are all green turbos since that's what they all like so it's very hard to tell). I searched and searched and there is no other shell underground.

Does this seem right? When a crab dies underground, do other crabs completely make use of the, ah, remains? Even the exoskeleton? Has to be the case, right? Too coincidental for this smaller shell to be 6" underground right near the spot where I had last heard / seen Shellina.

Thanks for the input, all.