offminded

do hermit grabs molt? if so, what would they leave behind?

sgould

Yes. They leave behind what very much looks like an intact, but dead, hermit minus the shell.

Mike

Man, I have several of these in my tanks and haven't noticed a molt from the hermit crabs. I see the shrimps molt montly it seems.

sgould

Heh...for the longest time, I didn't realize they molted either. Then I kept finding what I took to be dead crabs on a regular basis, yet when I counted live, active hermits I found I was not short any! From what I have read since, I get the impression that they molt regularly when young, but in adulthood much less frequently.

agsansoo

Yes they molt. Just not as offend as shrimp.