QuestionI own three treecrabs. I've seen them molt many times and I know what to look for. Recently, one has molted but this time its different. His exo-skeleton is scattered all over the place. And when I look at him he looks all shriveled up and dead. There is nothing about him that looks alive. And he never moves. Never. Doesn't even twitch. The odd part is, hes still inside his shell. I've lost crabs before and I know they're supposed to fall out of their shell when they die. But he has a death grip on it. He doesn't smell either. But his legs are turning gray and look kind of like ash. He looks like hes rotting away and all of my instincts tell me hes dead. But I'm afraid to do anything with him because what if hes alive? I keep them at about 70 degrees or more slightly and i spray the tank with a spray bottle two times a day to keep the humidity in. the water that i use is not filtered, but all of my other crabs are just fine as of right now. However, one molted and grew back without a big claw. And I had one die right after it was done molting. Just incase that information is useful in your diagnosis.
AnswerNot all crabs fall out of their shell when they pass. It just depends. If you feel 95% certain that he has passed, place him in a plastic bag and then put him in the freezer for several weeks before burying him. This may seem cruel but it is the only way to be certain that he has passed. If he is not moving at all and is beginning to decompose, he has most likely passed on.
Do you dechlorinate your water?
