How come the tiny crabs that i find by the ocean are always empty crab shells?

Question

do they.. crawl out of their shell? what do crabs look like without their shell haha! or did they die and some other creature ate their insides? if so, what creature?

Answer 1

Thank God they were empty shells - or else you would'nt have TYPED this question.

Answer 2

their skeletons are on the outside, as they grow, they become cramped, because the skeletons dont really grow, so they molt out of there exoskeletons and form a new one, leaving the old behind.

Answer 3

Nah, they usually come to shore to shed, you just think they're moving cuz of the tide

Answer 4

just like us crabs grow,

they grow out of their shells

so they need to get a new one,

a bigger one,

they don't get as big as u think just a little bigger

the ones on the beach r called hermit crabs

Answer 5

Killed by pollution.

Answer 6

They shed out of their shell and develop a new one.