I.D. Please I searched everywhere

[jrbates08]

I found something new in my 21 day tank. It is currently cycling and going through the diatoms stage. Just now I noticed this "thing" that appears to be on a piece of bubble algae. It appears to have antennas or feelers or something and kinda looks like a white house fly lol idk I just never seen anything like this before. Sorry for the crappy pix but it's the best I could get. Worry? Take it out now? If so, how????

 

[Steviereefs]

Um I think there's actually a flying insect in there and I swear I don't know why LOL some insects can hold their breath under water so I guess it's possible can you get a closer shot ,,,LOL crazy
Almost looks like a bee what colors is it?

 

[Squishie89]

It looks like either a hermit crab exoskeleton shed or a naked hermit or a dead hermit

 

[Steviereefs]

Sorry I was so focused on the pic I went over what you posted again and answered the questions , but if that's really a fly or something it would be interesting to see what happens

 

[skinz78]

It looks like either a hermit crab exoskeleton shed or a naked hermit or a dead hermit

I agree!

 

[Steviereefs]

It looks like either a hermit crab exoskeleton shed or a naked hermit or a dead hermit

Can you see the wing outline I swear I don't think it's a skeleton

 

[jrbates08]

Well whatever it is, it's not dead cuz it's moving. It's sitting on a bubble algae. Great now I'm gonna be up all night. Should I take it out??

 

[Squishie89]

Can you see the wing outline I swear I don't think it's a skeleton

I have seen SO many hermit crab sheds that I am 99.9% sure that is hermit, I can't tell if it is a shed or an actual hermit, but it is something hermit.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

Dying hermit crab most likely.

 

[Squishie89]

Well whatever it is, it's not dead cuz it's moving. It's sitting on a bubble algae. Great now I'm gonna be up all night. Should I take it out??

Sounds like a naked hermit. Do you have empty shells he can use?

 

[jrbates08]

Yes all over and all different sizes too. But I only have blue legged hermits. This is white???

 

[Steviereefs]

I have seen SO many hermit crab sheds that I am 99.9% sure that is hermit, I can't tell if it is a shed or an actual hermit, but it is something hermit.

Sorry Squishie at first glance I didn't know what to think but now I agree, I found this image on Google hope it helps!!!

 

[Squishie89]

Are you sure it is actually moving and it is not just the flow of the tank? Grab it and find out. If it is NOT a hermit shed, there will not be a fleshy back half.

 

[jrbates08]

Ugh the things I have to do cuz my husband is sleeping. Lol. Ok here I go....eeeekkkk....pssst, it won't chomp me will it? LOL

 

[Squishie89]

No you should be safe. Aquatic hermits seem to be much nicer than land hermits

 

[jrbates08]

Ok so, it was indeed a hermit but how do I know again if it's a dead hermit or just a shed? Cuz now I just seen a naked something looked like a crab and I don't have any crabs run into that same rock?? It's way too late for guessing games HERMIT!!! Lol

 

[jrbates08]

The body part was see through and it still had the little blue legs please someone tell me it's a shed and the live one is what ran into the rock, although it looked brown. Not blue

 

[Squishie89]

I think it was a molt/shed (why could I not come up with the word molt before?!).

 

[Squishie89]

http://www.ltr-photography.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Hermit-Crab-Moult.jpg
Here is a good photo of a molt

 

[Squishie89]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Pagurus_bernhardus_.JPG
This is what a hermit looks like naked (either alive or dead) it may not be that color, but it has a fleshy, curly back end