A lot of people wonder why their hermit crab look white all of a sudden? The color of the exoskeleton of the hermit crab is white while molting. It is covered with skin that gives them a colorful look. If hermit crab is healthy, the color should be vibrant and bright.
Why does my hermit crab look white? When they are molting, then the color of the hermit crab is white. It is time when they shed their old exoskeleton and produce the larger shell because of the large growth. When there is excess calcium bicarbonate, and salt exposure, the shell of hermit crabs becomes white. If you see that the hermit crab’s color is white and not moving, then it means that the hermit crab is dead.
In this article, we will discuss why my hermit crab looks white, what a dead hermit crab looks like, and many other related things. Let’s start with why does my hermit crab look white.
Why does my hermit crab look white?
Why Does My Hermit Crab Look White?
The color of hermit crab should be vibrant and deep. There is no universal color for them. The color of hermit crab varies from species to species. If color is vibrant, then it is a sign of good health. If the hermit crab’s color is pale, it means that they are unhealthy.
But no, in all cases, if the color is pale, they are healthy. Many species are there that change the body color when there is any change in the external environment. Many reasons are there behind the hermit crab white color.
Depletion
As we know that they carry shells with them, depletion occurs when they are scraped along tank sides, accessories, and rocks. When there is abrasive damage, it results in discoloration, and you will see that the color of hermie becomes white or pale.
Calcium Bicarbonate
Why does my hermit crab look white? It would be best to give shells of different sizes and shapes to hermit crabs in their habitat. It is important because when they need it, they go into the shells, which is possible in molting. It is a process in which hermit crabs change their exoskeleton.
When you place a shell in a habitat, you should clean it by boiling it in water. It is made up of calcium bi-carbonate. It makes the shell turn white.
Salt Overexposure
Why does my hermit crab look pale? When there is overexposure to salt, it results in the white color. This mostly happens in the ocean when the shell is immersed in the ocean for a long time and then washed by waves. It makes their color white. That is why we notice that the color of the hermit crab is white.
Nutritional Deficiencies
When there are no proper nutrients in the diet of hermit crabs, then it results in a pale color. It would help if you gave them a calcium diet in good amounts. Calcium is a very important thing because it makes their exoskeleton good. Sea biscuits and cuttlebone are important calcium sources.
Why does my hermit crab look white? If your hermie is dull, you can give them fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat to make them vibrant and bright. Giving them a nutritious and balanced diet is important for normal life functioning.
Mites
They would not cause hermit color to turn pale and white. But some species are there that can make their color white. Many researchers say that fifteen species can affect the hermit crabs and change their body color.
Why is my hermit crab so pale? Mites can enter a tank or enclosure through shells, rocks, woods, and fresh foods. They boom in humidity, darkness, and warmth. Once they enter the tank, they will multiply at a very fast rate, and it will be very difficult to remove them from the tank.
Death
Like mammals, their color doesn’t fade as they age. But if you notice that your hermie has a white, pale, gray color and also notice that they are not moving, then it means that they are dead. It is very common for hermit crabs to die suddenly. There might be much reason behind this.
Many new owners don’t understand the molting in them; when they are molting, they don’t know this is natural. They assume that they are dead. You should carefully observe the hermie in molting season, whether they are dead or not. It is because, in molting, there is very little movement or no movement in hermit crabs.
Why does my hermit crab look white?
Why Is My Hermit Crab Losing Color?
When they are going to molt, there is a color change, and you can also notice the marks on the body of hermit crabs. The color of hermie becomes dull and pale. Many other things are also there, like nutrient deficiency that may affect the color of hermit crabs.
What Are Signs Of Hermit Crabs Dying?
If you see that hermit crab is out of the shell and you notice the putrid or pungent smell from the shell, then it means that hermie is dead. The pale color is also a dying sign of hermit crabs. If you smell salty and rotten, then it means that your body is decomposing.
What Do Dying Hermit Crabs Look Like?
Why is my hermit crab losing color? You should carefully observe the shell whether there is a hermit crab in a shell or not. If the hermit crab’s body is hanging out of the shell and there is also a foul smell from it, then it is dead. Sometimes when there is no movement, the hermit crab changes its shell into a new one.
What Color Are Healthy Hermit Crabs?
If the color of the hermit crab is vibrant, not pale, then it means that they are healthy. But we cannot perfect it from the color that hermit crab is healthy or unhealthy. Some species have a white or pale color, and they are also healthy. In most species, pale color can be seen only days when they are about to molt.
What Does It Mean When A Hermit Crab Turns White?
When they turn white, and there is no movement, then it means that they are dead. Another thing is that when they are molting, they change their color. It is because of the changing of an exoskeleton.
When overexposed to calcium and salt, it results in white and pale color. But if the color is white and no movement is there, it is a sign of death.
Why Is My Hermit Crab Changing Colors?
You can determine the species of hermit crab by its color. You need not worry about the shell color because it will be changed when the shell is replaced. But color changes when they are close to molting. Once they mature, they get a permanent color, and you can know the species you keep.
If you see that the hermit crab loses its shell and there is stiffness of the crab’s body, then it means that they are dead. In many cases, they suddenly died. It would help if you observed that by shaking him. It tells us whether they are dying or not.
Why does my hermit crab look white? Why does my hermit crab look white in sunlight? Why does my hermit crab look white while molting?
Final Verdict On Why Does My Hermit Crab Look White
Many reasons behind the white color of hermit crab-like overexposure of calcium bicarbonate, salt, nutritional deficiency, mite, etc. Color also becomes pale when they are about to molt. If the color of the hermit is white and he is showing no movement even after shaking, then it means that hermie is dead.
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