Hermit crab death

[Jonathan Troutt]

hey guys so. Every so often I notice a DEA hermit crab. Never in his shell and his body is intact except for the back part of him which usually looks eaten.

I’m not sure what is doing this and would love to figure it out.

Parameters are all normal
Salinity 1.025
Ph 8.0
Nitrates .25 and falling
Phosphate 0
Calcium 475
Mag 1220
All 10dkh
Temp 78

Current inhabitants.
Regular clown
Royal gramma
Blue damsel
Target spot mandarin
Cleaner shrimp
A few nessarrius snails
About 6 trochus snails that are awesome and have grown quite large!
Bunch of stomatellas
RBTA
A few LPS corals.

I feed heavily and always see them eating. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any fighting. I do so have a selection of shells even bigger ones in my tank for when they need a new home.

Any ideas?

 

[rhdoug]

More than likely a molt -- they look exactly like your description.

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

Really?! I’ve seen my shrimp molt before. And I can tell it’s a skin. But these look dead up like hermit crabs. Freaky!

 

[starypotter]

I agree with the molt, my halloween hermit crab has done this to me twice now the little jerk that he is. Every time I get so upset thinking that he's dead, then later in the day I see his little legs poking out of his shell and celebration ensues.

 

[Joshua2598]

Yeah I thought I had a dead hermit and then 7 hours later I see him. I only have 2 so I can find them easily

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

Awesome well thanks for the info guys I can rest a little easier now know things are not dying!