Can two hermit crabs live in the same shell

Question
QUESTION: My kindergarten class has a pet hermit crab. Several weeks ago it died and I
cleaned out the shell and purchased a new hermit crab.  Not wanting the
children to be upset, I tole them just that the crab had changed shells and
left the old one in there.  Well, this morning as they were feeding it low and
behold TWO hermit crabs were in the cage.  The new one I had purchased and
one in the old shell.  If they can't give birth in captivity the only answer is that
there were two in one shell.  Is this possible?

ANSWER: I've never heard of two crabs in one shell.

Are you sure the first one really died and didn't just molt? When they molt they shed their exoskeleton and inside the shell is a very small soft pink crab(until he hardnes up). It's possible you didn't see the crab inside there and when you put the shell back in the tank, he came out when he was all hardened up.

Did you just rinse out the shell and put it back in?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I did rinse out the shell, however, I guess it is possible that I did not see the
crab in the shell.  It has been at least two weeks since I got the new crab and I
did not notice any crab until this morning.   Let me just tell you, my class is
amazed!

Answer
It is possible you didn't see it. They are very pale, smaller in size and can tuck far back into the shell.

Usually when a crab dies you will smell an awful fishy smell. If the crab comes out of the shell when he passes you would also see his abdomen. When they molt you will see an exoskeleton but no abdomen.

For more information on molting please feel free to check out this site.
www.hermitcrabaddiction.net/forum