it molted about 9-10 days ago. if i turn it over, i can see the little thing in there, but it dosn't move!? is it dead or just protending so i'll leave it alone? how long do i wait b/f i know 100% if it is dead? don't want to tell her it's dead if it is not.( my kid is only 9.) thank you for any help you can give. :)
2007-02-05 07:22:44 · 8 answers · asked by rblankenship_rblankenship 5 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Well.
I've owned MANY hermit crabs so I hope I'm able to help.
flip it over and touch it with a Q-tip with salt water on it.
If it doesn't move then it's dead.
Hermit crabs are REALLY hard to kill so you might want to check the water and food to see if it had any complications.
I don't know what else to say but it's probably dead.
I know they are cheap so just switch it out for one that looks like it :)
2007-02-05 07:34:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take a toothpick and gently lift one of the legs out and away. If it's alive, there will be resistance and it will pull the leg back to the original position. If you can see it's main claw, poke between the two halves gently, and a live hermit crab will reflexively twitch, even if he doesn't actually grab.
If you lift the leg and it flops, and you poke the claw and it doesn't move, then it's dead.
Good luck.
2007-02-05 07:41:31 · answer #2 · answered by Theresa A 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's not dead. it's still trying to recover from the molt. i think when it's dead, it'll jst fall out of the shell. my aunt had a bunch and we came home to the others eating the dead one. FREEEAKY!!!
if it's dead, like all sea creatures, it'll smell.
did you dig it out of the sand after it molted? leave it alone for a bit in a separate container (if it's with others) and then see if it eats and drinks.
hope that helps. i dont own any, thought they were cute.
2007-02-05 07:32:43 · answer #3 · answered by hydez2002 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will dry up and start falling apart. Seriously, that happened to my daughter's hermit crab. One of he legs fell off first.
2007-02-05 07:31:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if it is dead then this is a good opportunity to teach your kid about death. i guess let her know that letting go of something is a natural thing that people go through. i think this is a great opportunity for your child to begin to learn to let go certain things in life. this event might become a starting point or foundation on how she will be able to handle death, break ups etc. in her future.
2007-02-05 07:27:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
well i will say it is dead but that is just me cause my cousin had one and when you turn it over it starts kicking its legs so if it isnt moving i would think it is dead.
2007-02-05 07:26:55 · answer #6 · answered by !it is me! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it smells bad, it is dead. Turn it over and touch it with a toothpics or straw, it should react.
2007-02-05 07:25:56 · answer #7 · answered by Jim R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell her it ran away
2007-02-05 07:40:58 · answer #8 · answered by Nate Lockwood 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋