A change in activity is a reason to observe and check conditions, not a diagnosis. A buried crab may be molting or settling in; do not dig it up during routine care.
Check accessible food and water, actual temperature and humidity readings, shell availability, and visible conflict. Do not repeatedly handle a soft crab to test whether it is alive. A shed exoskeleton can look like a lifeless animal, and odor alone cannot confirm death.
Use Help Now for shell loss, surface molting, or persistent targeting. Visible abdominal injury, severe trauma, repeated shell evacuation, suspected chemical exposure, multiple affected animals, or unresponsiveness despite stable supportive care justify prompt help from a qualified professional when available. An online checklist cannot diagnose the cause.
Sources: the FAQ answers Q11, Q12, Q15 and Q16, with their linked public keeper references.
Editorial source review: October 4, 2026. This is an editorial draft of keeper guidance, not veterinary approval. Guidance generally focuses on Purple Pinchers (Coenobita clypeatus).
