boxing crab- dead or molted?

[mer-fairy]

hi all,
just wanted to pick some brains if possible! anyone who's got boxing crabs really. have had mine for about a week, and yesterday at lunch time either found a molt or he is dead. it was on the sand just under the rock where he has been living for the last couple of days, and no anemones to be seen. i had same with my blue leg hermit only a couple of days ago! thought he was dead, found a molt on the top of the rock, but no hermit shell, but then he reappeared the next day! so am hoping that he has just molted and he is hiding somewhere. if it had just died, where are his anemones? and i got the shell out of the tank and left it on the side, coz its quite pretty, if it was the whole dead crab, wouldn't it smell bad? because it doesnt! have done my best to find as much info as possible myself, but would like to hear from someone who owns one!
thanks muchly

[Loverotties]

After a molt they hide because they don't have there armor,it has to grow a hard shell again.

[mer-fairy]

thanks but i meant to ask was, if it was the real crab that had died, would his anemones still be on his claws. or am i definately looking at a molt? before i stress myself out, waiting for him to re-appear?
am used to my freshwater shrimps molting, but you can tell its a molt as you can see how they get out!