arrow crab question

this may be a stupid question but do arrow crabs molt. the reason why i ask is he was acting kind of funny the past few days. then last night i noticed that his shell was laying on the sand. i thought he was dead but when i pulled out his shell it seemed to be hollow. now i dont know how long it was like that it happened some time when i was at work so im not sure if he died and something add his insides but left the shell or if he molted. i looked for him in the tank but i couldn't find him but god knows there are a lot of places to hide so what do ya think.

TIA
Joe

 

Well, I know for sure arrow head crabs molt, but if you can't find him in a few days he probably didn't make it. Do you find that you have less bristle worms since you have had the arrow head crab? The only thing that has ever stopped me from getting one is the fact that they eat tubeworms.

 

"Proof"

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Lucky pic I got of Mr. Arrowcrab in my tank.

Actually at time had no idea what was going on...was wondering, "where the heck did that other crab come from?"

Crab now gone. Developed taste for feather dusters & actually outgrew space available in old 55 gal.

OmarD

 

Pretty much anything that will eat bristles will also eat other types of worms. I love my cocoa worms. So I can't afford to put anything in their that will eat them.

 

day 2 and he hasnt shown his face yet but im looking w/ my fingers crossed

 

Check Iodine levels, my friend. Levels must be optimal to help them through the molt.

When they molt they are really vulnerable, so don't be surprised if he's hiding out while his shell hardens.

Do you have any livestock that might be interested in a soft shelled crab dinner? This is also a possibility.

Hope for the best. If he's there he'll come out when he's ready.

 

if after 3-4 days hes still missing i think its a safe assumtion he's history

 

well i haven't seen him yet so i assume hes dead

 

You'll just have to get another one I guess.