Did my Jäger pass away?

[DemonnPrincess]

I have read SO much about molting vs passing away, and I posted about a week ago in the emergency board (viewtopic.php?t=127232) because I was worried he'd passed away.

He's above ground, still in his shell, still sitting in the same spot. I have been waiting, just hoping and praying, and I can smell a smell coming from the tank so I already started preparing to do after-care (there's a place near me that helps with hermit crabs. He's my baby, so.). But I recently read somewhere (https://www.hermitcrabanswers.com/how-t ... r-molting/) that molting can make them smell as well. I am not sure what to think anymore. I don't want his body to just sit there and fall away just because I'm too scared to see him like that, but I am also SUPER afraid of starting after-care and end up killing him if he's just molting, or making him suffer more if is passing and is still on the way to doing it.

He hasn't moved one inch since June 2nd. I've sat and watching him for hours and hours just to see if I can see signs of life. I still keep the tank up just in case. He was drinking massive amounts of water on May 30th to June 1st, and he was getting pretty lethargic so I thought maybe he was preparing to molt and I left him alone, that way I wouldn't stress him out.

[curlysister]

Can you post a photo of him?

[DemonnPrincess]

Yes, here is a picture I took just now.
The thing in front of him is peanut butter, just in case.

[curlysister]

I would gently pick him up by the shell, and see if he stays in the shell or responds at all, or if he falls out.

[DemonnPrincess]

I carefully lifted him a bit to see. He's not responding whatsoever, not trying to stay inside the shell at all like he normally would. And when I got close I can definitely smell the smell more. It's not a super strong, pungent smell, but it IS noticeable.

[DemonnPrincess]

I think I just have to accept that he's gone at this point.

I don't mean for this post to seem redundant. I just wanted to be SUPER SUPER sure before I called it.

[curlysister]

If you lift him up and he is falling out of the shell, then yes he has passed away. I am sorry.