I hear what your saying!! I did notice a crab eating one of the dead ones but it was dead before the the crab got to it. The other 2 dead snails were still in the shell....I'm assuming they were dead. They were upside down (body part up) and not moving. I guess I'll know when I get home today (I'm at work right now) and find empty shells! Is it okay to leave the empty shells in there?