Rescued feral crab quarantine

[Kitkat7]

My friend recently discovered a PP hermit crab on the loose, scrambling through his neighborhood. It's in a painted shell that is much too small. I've agreed to try and rehab the little crabby. It's currently in quarantine in a large tupperware. The poor thing was so excited to be offered water and immediately tried to clean itself and replenish its shell water. I've given it both fresh and salt water. It has also been gobbling down everything I offer it (food from HCP & oak leaves). I've got wet paper towels & sponges in with it to try and maintain humidity. It's actually a fairly large crab (big claw is 1.11" length) so I do worry that it has been denied proper molting for too long, but we'll see if it survives PPDS and its stint in the wilds of South Carolina.

Any tips on rehabing this crab? I've seen recommendations to isolate from 2 weeks up to 30 days. An article in The Crab Street Journal called "An Argument for Isolating Hermit Crabs" is helpful. It recommends checking for shell diseases. I've never seen shell rot so I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for, but I've googled a few photos. I'll also look for the red mites. Any other suggestions? I've done a visual inspection (and came within 1/2 second of being pinched by this feisty crabito) and it looks healthy from what I can tell. *fingers crossed for crabby*

[aussieJJDude]

Shell rot is typically characterised by patches on the exoskeleton that's discoloured compared to the rest of crab. Colour variation can be normal, and often the areas of rot the exoskeleton has been 'eaten away', so you want to look for anything unusual. Shell rot is pretty rare tbh, and all my time crabbing I've only seen rot reported once or twice.

Honestly, after a good check over, I recommend just plopping the crab straight into good conditions containing proper temperature, humidity and basics (deep water and substrate, with spare change of shells). This allows the crab good conditions from the get go.

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[RiNiKy506]

I agree with Aussie, I’d check him over and just put him right in proper conditions. I’ve done both the transitioning and just adding crabs in my main tank and from my experience, I don’t think I’ve noticed a difference with transitioning. The only time I wish I would have done a transition is a couple little crabs I got in the middle of winter, when it was below zero. I had gotten two really tiny guys, each from different stores and one made it and one didn’t. The one that didn’t make it started dropping limbs 2 days in and by the 7th day he dropped them all and had passed. He seemed so healthy and active too, I was so bummed out about him. If I could go back, I think I would have transitioned him bc of the extreme cold weather we had then, I think it was just about two years ago. Go with your instincts on what you think he needs, every crab is different and has different needs for their situations, your there with him and can see him, you know what’s best. I think crabs are kind of like kids, their parents know what’s best for them, within reason of course and the basic proper care. I’ll be rooting for him, I hope he makes a quick recovery. Poor little sweetheart just wandering around like that, that’s rly cool of you to take him in and give him the care he needs. Please keep us updated. We’re rooting for the little sweetheart!

[Kitkat7]

Thanks for the replies so far! I forgot to mention in my original post that I already have one PP in a 40 gal tank. I've had Calypso for over ten years. Calypso's friend Stitch died about a year ago, so I'd been meaning to get Calypso a new friend anyway. I live in South Carolina and have been battling palmetto bugs (calling them that makes me feel better, okay!) getting into my crabitat and setting up shop. I'd been waiting to add another crab until I got that situation under control. So the arrival of this rescue crabby was the catalyst for me to remove all the old coconut fiber substrate, scrub with vinegar, bake my driftwood in the oven, and convert to 5 parts play sand: 1 part coconut fiber. I'd wanted to switch to a more ideal substrate anyway–plus I'm hoping it will also be less enticing to the palmettos. My 40 gal tank was a turtle tank so there's that filter slot on one end which is how they kept getting in. I taped all over that so I hope they will not get in again. If there's one thing I don't like about the south...it's all the bugs!

Anyway, I hope new crabby–yet to be named–will survive and be excited to live in the 40 gal with Calypso. I boiled all the old shells today and offered a couple appropriate ones to the new crabby, and it almost immediately ditched the nasty painted shell. Good riddance! It's definitely showing a strong will to live. I'm thinking I won't quarantine it longer than 2 weeks at the most. That should be plenty long for me to notice any shell problems or parasites. Hopefully it will build up strength so that it can have a successful molt. I've been offering it HCP mineral supplements & worm castings in addition to food; just trying to give it all the nutrients & minerals it needs to get healthy. I will keep you all updated!

[RiNiKy506]

That is so awesome you’ve had Calypso for 10 years! I hope to have my crew for that long, especially a few that I adopted that have been in captivity for 8+ years before I adopted them. I love that they can live so long with proper care, they’re just such amazing little guys. Can’t wait to see how your new guy does, that’s great that he got rid of that painted shell so quickly. I think he’ll do just fine now that he has a loving home. Sending prayers and positive, healing crabby vibes for him.
Edit to add: I love those HCP mineral supplements. I use them along with Earth Water Fire Studio’s(on Etsy) Exo mix. Plus green sand and a half of a cuddle bone. I keep them as a staple in my calcium dish. I keep all that a separate dish bc it keeps longer and doesn’t need changed out as much as the regular food dish.

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[crabbycasey]

He’s eating and drinking AND got a new shell...all great news! He’s a lucky little fella to have found you...or the other way around, lol. Happy for Calypso too!


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[Beckanai]

Can I just say, I absolutely in awe of your large heart and kindness to this poor crabby! I cant believe someone would just toss a hermie to the streets! I hope you can help him out and give him so much love. <3