How do I tell if my hermit crabs are molting or have passed away?

[Becca24]

I have 3 hermit crabs that have been underground since late October. I have no dared to try to find them, but I am getting a little worried. If they did happen to pass away underground, would there be a smell? My tank has been smelling normal, so I’m hoping that’s a good sign! And what is the longest you’ve ever heard of a hermit crab being underground? Thanks for your help guys I really appreciate it!

[crabs_lex]

They might be molting. Crabs can take "longer" to molt because they will dig under and make sure they have found the right place to molt before they do it. So your guys could be taking longer to get comfortable.
Or how is your heat? when crabitats are colder crabs are more likely to dig down
Or do they come up at night?
If they are newer crabs they can be destressing under the substrate

[Becca24]

They are pretty new. I have one that never went under ground, and he is doing well. They are about an inch long so I gave them 4 inches of substrate. I currently have a 10 gallon tank with a heating pad that mostly covers the back. It tends to get warm in the daytime, so I just use it at night. I also am making sure the humor and temperature are at a good range. These little crabs where a surprise gift and sadly came in a small plastic cage. I studied all about crabs (Mostly here), and went out the next day to get them everything they need. And actually I just checked on my crabs, and one has emerged! Funny timing

[crabs_lex]

glad your giving them a good home!
it is recommended though that you use at least ) inches of substrate
and you can add even while your crabs are buried
you can up to an inch of sub a day
just give them time and they will come up

[Becca24]

How many inches would you recommend?

[crabs_lex]

i’m sorry i realized i made an error in my last post
at least 6 inches or 3 times the size of ur biggest crab
whichever is deeper

[curlysister]

Three times as deep as the largest crab is fine.
People will say that crabs can be down for a year, but it's like there is some compitition as to whose crab stays down the longest.
I would not worry for at least four months. One of my crabs seems to stay under longer than the other. There was one time when she came up after only about 3 months - but she was literally only on the surface for two hours, and then went back down for another two and a half months. So if I hadn't happened to look in the tank during that two hours, I would have thought that she was under for 5 1/2 months!

[crabbycasey]

Three times as deep as the largest crab is fine.
People will say that crabs can be down for a year, but it's like there is some compitition as to whose crab stays down the longest.
I would not worry for at least four months. One of my crabs seems to stay under longer than the other. There was one time when she came up after only about 3 months - but she was literally only on the surface for two hours, and then went back down for another two and a half months. So if I hadn't happened to look in the tank during that two hours, I would have thought that she was under for 5 1/2 months!

Lol, one of mine did that...Sandy! She came up at the back of the tank (wouldn’t have been able to see it on my Wyze cam) and basically did a u-turn and went right back under! Lol, it was so funny...it was like she had made a wrong turn or something. She had been down for a month at that point and that was a week ago. Guess she’s still trying to find her spot!


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[Becca24]

Thanks you guys for all the help! You’ve all been wonderful.

[Beckanai]

Just wanted to pop in, I just had 3 come up, that last went down in around September and look fantastic. So just keep on waiting!