Is my hermit crab molting, dead, or what?

It seems he may be dead. The molting process is not usually that long and if you wait a few more days you can be sure. I had one that I thought was dead, and I put him on the ironing board, hoping to clean out the shell and save it, but when I came back the next day he was gone. I don't think he was dead.

I'm sorry, but I do think that yours has died.

Keep their home lightly misted several times a day. I just keep a spray bottle of water handy.

sorry to hear about your loss. Not sure where you got him... or when... what I noticed about stores that sell hermits.. is they have them in a tank with sand... no mist, no humidity control... which is necessary for hermits... I hope you have a humidity control and some sort of misting device.. they need this or they dry out and die.... hermits are not as easy to keep as people think.. walmart is the worst for killing them before they are even sold and the ones they sell usually dont last long unless they do to a hermit expert who knows the condition of the crab.

So having said all this, you should educate yourself about them more and shop at breeders of these crabs (I am only assuming your not an expert because your on here asking if one is dead after its legs and pincer fell off)...you will get a much healthier crab ..... and enjoy him for awhile....

good luck

When they molt, they usually shed 1/2 or all of the shell at once. It is often lighter in color. If the limbs fall off, it means they are dead.

Check the humidity of the tank? They need a decent amount of humidity and access to iodine (from hermit food) while molting and UV light. Often they start this energy intense process and die part way through due to lack of a critical element or moisture.

Make sure yur tank has the right amount of sand and moisture. They do need a shallow dish of water and a fine sand with calcium to digest for minerals.

I had a hermit crab, his name was Hermie, and after about a year his legs started falling off too, then the pincher. But he was still moving so I had hope. I kept feeding and watering him until he finally fell out of the shell dead. Take that as you will, but I wouldnt give up hope.

i doubt hes dead ,

when i had a hermit crab when i was younger and didnt know about molting i picked him up one day and a leg fell out. i freaked out because i thought he was dead and buried him. poor little guy was probably still alive :(

when i went to the pet store to get a new one and told them what happenend they said it was usual for them to lose limbs during molting and it can take as long as 2 weeks.

hope this helped

if you don't have the right kind of sand, the right amount at the right temp, not enough larger shells for the crab to move into most likely it didn't make it. they must remain buried in the sand when they moult and if there isn't larger shells about the cage for him to choose from when he/she moults he won't make it.

crabs do shed their shells, but I'm not sure about hermits, as they usually adopt an empty one.

i think it's dieing my fist hermit crab did dat as well n it died shortly after but dont throw it awya it might b moltin

sorry, he's dead, usually when limbs fall offf thats a sign

Uh his limbs fell off. I think you have your answer.