Newbie question: Hermit Crab

I have 3 hermit crabs in my tank and this morning, I just noticed a fragment of the hermit crab (claws and two legs) in my tank.

I thought one of the crab was probably dead or something, so I checked each one of them. All of them are OK and none of them lost any legs/claws........

Do crabs re-grow claws/legs??????????? I am pretty sure that stuff i saw was a piece of claws and leg together....

 

Hi Bluepill - they molt - they shed the outer layer of skin in order they can grow - shrimps do the same thing

they leave their shell find a hiding place, shed the old skin and then crawl back into their shell

Steve

 

hermit crabs molt their exoskeleton much like the way a snake sheds its skin.

 

Now to add a question to this....If several crabs and a shrimp have recently molted in the tank is that a good sign?

 

I think that if they are molting and growing, that would mean they are happy and comfortable with the conditions.

 

That's what I figured, just wanted some wisened input Thank you!!

 

On shrimp is always good, because that is a sign of them growing, but on the other hand the hermit crab could be needing a new home, which is a threat to any snails you might have.

 

I have one snail and just had all the hermits do the shell shuffle when I threw empties in. Everyone has a good sized home but I do have to get a couple more empty shells.

The shrimp, he was in my tank maybe 36 hours before he molted?

 

so.......do i buy new shells for them? How could I tell when they need new shells? I guess the LFS should sell empty shellls?

 

just a note: hermit crabs will kill each other for their shells.