Blue Legged Hermit Crabs....do they?

[Makaiveli]

Do they molt?

I just found what looks like a dead hermit crab...way up high, next to two hermits.

[DEmigh]

I suppose so :scratch:

I don't think there's any other way for a crab to grow.

I bought a dozen blue-legged hermits just a few days ago, and one of them molted (I think) within hours of going into his (her?) new home. I'm pretty sure it was a molt, not a mortality, because there were no shells to spare in the tank, no immobile shells, and that shell was moving the next day.

[BuGGaPimp5.0]

noooob here!! but what does "molt" mean?! thanks!

[Makaiveli]

molt is the process of an invertebrae loosing it's outer layer so that it can grow. Like a snake shedding it's skin.

I don't know why the word "molt" is used although. I just use it to communicate the process.

[BBN]

Yes they do. That's how they grow.

[BuGGaPimp5.0]

if there was no spare shells in the tank, then how the hell did he molt? into what?

[plantman1028]

You definately need some transition shells.My crabs started killing each other for the shells.after i put in emptys the killing stopped and all is good now.

[BuGGaPimp5.0]

Thats cool. Where can you pickup replacer shells? is off the beach ok? can you order them??? what are the options here? <--- noob