Dead emerald crab or just a molt??

[ZeroShadez]

So my emerald crab has been growing fast and yesterday i saw him under a LR overhang.
Today i get home from work hes still there..
On closer inspection his claws were just dangling and i looked behind him and the shell was split where you would think it would exit while molting. And it was still clinging upside down..
The shell was completely hollow claws and all is it possible this is just a really intact molt or is the lil guy dead

 

[Fishnut]

My money is on a molt. Hopefully you will see him walking around after the lights are off tonight.

 

[ZeroShadez]

My money is on a molt. Hopefully you will see him walking around after the lights are off tonight.

I think so too but can they molt upside down lol

 

[Johniejumbo]

I had the same thing happen a few weeks ago. Thought the poor thing was dead for sure. Then I saw a MUCH larger emerald crab a few days later. I am inclined to think it is just a molt

 

[TheOne]

Are you asking is that picture you attached the molt? The answer is no. I have three that molt and its just empty shell.

 

[ZeroShadez]

Are you asking is that picture you attached the molt? The answer is no. I have three that molt and its just empty shell.

That picture is a completely empty shell

 

[ZipAdeeZoa]

Looks like a molt, if it isn't it will start to smell ;Hilarious

 

[TheOne]

Well if its empty then its a molt. ;) Check in your tank with a flashlight tonight.

 

[TheOne]

After one of mine molted it was huge, ha. It has no problem coming out at night and climbing on top of my rockwork out in the open.

 

[Katrina71]

Hollow=molt

 

[AZMSGT]

I had a crab molt and I swore it was a dead crab, a week later I saw the crab and it was bigger and eating my Zoas.. Little jerk.. After a molt they tend to hide to allow the new exoskeleton to harden.

 

[WVNed]

If you turn it around you can usually find where the crab came out on the back or bottom.
It is also very light but that is hard to tell with a small crab.

I have often wondered if there is a way to preserve a nice intact one for display.

 

[Schnizzle]

If you turn it around you can usually find where the crab came out on the back or bottom.
It is also very light but that is hard to tell with a small crab.

I have often wondered if there is a way to preserve a nice intact one for display.

I made an attempt. Haha I may try to just spray it on next time.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Nah that’s the whole crab. Rip krusty crab

 

[WVNed]

I made an attempt. Haha I may try to just spray it on next time.

Spray what on? I have no experience in saving biological things long term
except
Being an old guy I have things like a large beetle I found on my aunts farm 55 years ago and put in a little plastic box. Now it's disconnected exoskeleton parts. Still has the colors though. I think I threw it away when we moved last year though. None of my kids like my special things.

 

[Schnizzle]

Spray what on? I have no experience in saving biological things long term
except
Being an old guy I have things like a large beetle I found on my aunts farm 55 years ago and put in a little plastic box. Now it's disconnected exoskeleton parts. Still has the colors though. I think I threw it away when we moved last year though. None of my kids like my special things.

You sound like an older me. lol I have a couple beetles too. Usually any lacquer or two part resin will do well.

 

[Omgitsjoe]

That posted picture is the crab not the molt. RIP hommie

 

[WVNed]

I have seen many molts of various shrimps and crabs. With many of them you would not be able to tell with a picture. I woke up to a coral banded shrimp molt stuck in my gyre.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

I have seen many molts of various shrimps and crabs. With many of them you would not be able to tell with a picture. I woke up to a coral banded shrimp molt stuck in my gyre.

Usually molts are ripped open though. There must be somewhere for the crab (or shrimp) to get out.