I thought I lost my hermit crab until he turned up four years later… alive

8. Super still? Don’t hold a hermit crab funeral yet

Tragically, many a hermit crab owner has mistaken an immobile crab for a dead crab. Here’s the thing, though — hermit crabs are prone to prolonged periods of lethargy, particularly when they are molting. Unless you detect a strong fishy or salty smell emanating from the crab, don’t assume it is dead just yet. Wait a few days to be 100 percent certain before saying sayonara to your shelled friend.