Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Check for signs of life
• Method 2 of 3: Caring for shedding cancer
• Method 3 of 3: Getting Rid of Dead Cancer

Hermit crabs have periods of loneliness and lethargy, especially during molting. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if a hermit crab is molting, sick, or dead. However, it is best to assume at first that the cancer is molting rather than dead, unless all signs suggest otherwise. Here's how to properly identify and care for a hermit crab during molting.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Check for signs of life

1. 1 Sniff for fish or rotting odors. This is the surest way to know that a hermit crab has died. After death, the cancer begins to decompose, and a nasty smell of putrefaction emanates from its remains. If you don't smell any odor, remove the crayfish from the tank and sniff it. If he gives off an unpleasant smell of putrefaction, it is likely that he is dead.
2. 2 Consider if the cancer is molting. Hermit crabs periodically shed their shells, while they may lose some body parts. When molting, the cancer remains immobile for a short time until it regains muscle control and its new carapace hardens. Bothering cancer while molting can cause serious harm, so be patient. Assume that the cancer is molting, and only then wonder if it is dead.
3. 3 See if the cancer is lying motionless outside its shell. This may indicate that the cancer has died, but it may also be a sign of the molting process. If you find that the cancer lies outside its shell and shows no signs of life, take a closer look - it may be just an animal's shell. If the shell is empty and crumbles easily, then it is an old shell. See if a freshly faded crayfish is hiding in a nearby shell.
   • If you find it is cancer and not an empty shell, try lifting it up and see if it moves. If the cancer does not respond, then it is possible that it has died.
4. 4 Wiggle the cancer and see how it reacts. If you can't tell if a cancer is alive, move it to a new location and remember exactly how it lies. Try putting food at the other end of the tank to motivate the crayfish to move around. Leave the crayfish alone and return to the aquarium after a few hours. If the cancer has moved during your absence, then it is alive. If the cancer remains motionless, it may be asleep or molting.
5. 5 Track the buried cancer. Hermit crabs often burrow in the sand - this may indicate that the cancer is molting or is simply scared of something.Smooth out the sand around the area where the crayfish has buried to observe the tracks and determine if the animal went out at night to eat. If a buried crayfish does not come out of its hiding place for several weeks, gently brush off some sand near its hiding place and sniff for a rotting smell.

Method 2 of 3: Caring for shedding cancer

1. 1 Find out if the hermit crab is molting. If a cancer has grown out of its shell, it may begin to shed. In this case, the animal does not move. Signs of shedding include lethargy, less active mustache movement, woven and tangled mustache, pale carapace, and dull eyes (as in people with cataracts). Cancer can remain motionless for a long time and buried in the sand for safety reasons.
   • Young and fast growing hermit crabs can molt once every few months, while adult crabs usually molt once a year. Keep track of the time and duration of each molt so you know what to expect. If you have recently developed cancer or have not seen it molt before, wait until the first molt.
   • Wait a few days. The absence of a fishy smell will mean that the cancer is more likely to molt. Moulting usually lasts about two weeks, so you will have to wait a bit to be sure.
2. 2 Pay attention to the "fat bubble". Consider if your cancer has eaten too much in the past few days. Before molting, hermit crabs store additional fat and water in a small blackish "bubble", which is usually located on the left side of the abdomen, under the fifth pair of paws. However, from the fact that a bladder has formed in cancer, it does not at all follow that it must necessarily shed.
3. 3 Isolate shedding crayfish from their brethren. Since hermit crabs are inactive during molting and have a soft new shell, during this period they are susceptible to stress and damage from other crayfish. If there are more than one crayfish in the tank and one of them is molting, transplant it into a temporary "quarantine tank" for privacy and safety. Hermit crabs need rest during molting.
   • If you only have one aquarium, build an "isolated cell" in it. Take a 2 liter plastic bottle, cut the edges and submerge it in the sand to protect the molting crayfish. Make sure that such an improvised shelter is open from above - this is necessary for the free flow of oxygen.

Method 3 of 3: Getting Rid of Dead Cancer

1. 1 If you smell fish and putrefaction, dig up the buried cancer and dispose of it. In order not to get dirty, scoop up the deceased cancer with a scoop along with the sand in which it buried. Dispose of animal debris and sand immediately.
   • After handling a dead cancer, do not forget to wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap.
2. 2 Throw away the deceased cancer with the trash. If you have nothing against it, you can simply throw the deceased cancer in the trash can and take it out right away. Place the remains of the animal in a tight-fitting plastic bag, carefully place it in the trash can and take it out.
3. 3 Bury the deceased cancer. If you can't just pick up and throw away your pet's remains, consider burying them in the ground. This is your personal decision, so proceed as you see fit. Bury the remains deep enough so that other animals (dogs, cats, etc.) cannot reach them.
   • Bury the crayfish with the sand from its cage or tank. The sand can be contaminated and it is best to bury it with the remains of the animal.
4. 4 Don't flush deceased cancer down the toilet. While this may seem like a quick and easy solution, it is not sanitary. There is a chance that rotting remains will contaminate the water source. Throw away or bury the remains instead.
5. 5 Prepare your aquarium for new crayfish. If you want to replace a deceased pet with a new hermit crab, clean the tank before adding a new inhabitant to it. Remove any sand from the aquarium that may have been contaminated with rotting debris, clean the sides of the aquarium and change all the water.