Is Crab dead/molted/molting?

[Schulks]

My pitho crab is upside down not moving and looking like a dead spider.

If a crab is not moving and not responding to any touch does that mean it is either a molt or dead? It is only a 20 gallon so I want to take him out before he rots too much and I don't see another crab anywhere.

 

[blaxsun]

When crabs molt they usually hide for a day or two. Without any kind of image it would be hard for anyone to guess. It could certainly be his molt.

 

[MoshJosh]

Welcome back to America's favorite gameshow SHED OR DEAD! (Sorry, from another thread)

Anyway. . .

If it's hollow it's a shed, if there is crab meat inside it's dead.

Can also try the smell test.

All that said, shed or dead, no harm in removing it so that's what I would do.

 

[Schulks]

@MoshJosh I read that thread lol

Would a crab ever be completely unresponsive to touch?

For the smell test there was absolutely no smell.

Here are some pics. Should I turn him around to get his other side?

Note: I had to toss him back into display (from my refugium) where I had moved him for the pictures. No hermits or zombie snails were bothering him when I found him like this.

Edit: never mind.. the snails are actually interested..