Crab genocide or just a molt?

[neilster1]

I've got three emerald crabs in my 55.. they have never paid much attention to each other. Yesterday evening I saw one of the emeralds picking at the broken-open shell of another emerald.. it was literally like he had the hood open on a car, he was picking inside the shell on the "victim" crab's underside. Has anyone ever witnessed a crab molt? Do they pull themselves out of their shell on the top side or the bottom?

 

[ntswift]

Yes its probably the molt. I think they come from the bottom out. I had mine molt and I thought it was dead because it looked so real. Give it a couple of days and you'll probably see it again. HTH

 

[melosu58]

I agree probably the molt

 

[Devilishturtles]

I agree. I've found fully intact crab shells before only to find a newly shedded crab a few days later.

 

[roka64]

My big hermit molted. His shell was propped up on a rock. It looked like he died and fell out of his shell. The moly looked just like him and wasn't as transparent as my shrimp's. Maybe they look more real as a decoy.

 

[ntswift]

Maybe they look more real as a decoy.

Never thought of that. Makes sense though!

 

[Sadielynn]

The molts do look like a dead crab/shrimp this gives them time to harden their soft shell ... protects them from preditors HTH