Can hermit crabs breathe when molting?

[myllkti]

Stumbled upon this very interesting article! https://www.science.org/content/article ... ripped-out

Would this apply to hermit crabs? It seems to primarily be about aquatic insects and the crabbos are, of course, crustaceans. Thoughts? Other details I missed? Connections I’m not making? I’m curious to see!

[wodesorel]

I saw one reference to crustaceans also molting their gills, in a very cursory search. I've not seen this talked about with coenobita before, but it's a likely possibility. Land hermits have three different respiratory organs however so they are probably still able to process oxygen while molting - gills, branchiostegal lungs, and also an abdominal lung.

[myllkti]

Thanks for answering! That makes sense, they stock up on plenty else so they may stock up on oxygen too and process without intaking more like mayflies do