Partially Blind Hermit Crab? Maybe neurological?

[SpearmintConure]

First off,
Welcome to Rhubarb! She’s a rescue i just picked up last week.
However, since i’ve brought her home, she’s hardly moved. I know this can be normal if crabs are sick, but she won’t even eat or drink. She will occasionally pace the sides of the tank and fall into bowls, but that’s it.
She wasn’t even eating any food other than the leaf litter and cuttlebone.
After a few days of this I got pretty worried, so picked her up (which she never seems bothered by- let alone notices. She continues to hold food and eat even when held in the air) and put her in the food bowl. She instantly started eating, absolutely gorging on the food.

She doesn’t really flinch when i move infront of her, but she did change shells so this shows me she has some vision.

I will add, she’s in an isolation tank as her old one was infested with various bugs and ants, however no mites thankfully.

I’m really concerned, anyone know what the issue is?


Now,
A few questions.
If she is partially blind, or has a neurological issue perhaps, she seems very very delayed with responses. How can i accomodate? I would hate for my bigger, more domineering crabs to hurt her, she’s so little.
How can I get her to eat, rather than placing food infront of her (don’t mind doing this if it means she will eat though).
I just want what’s best for her, so any and all suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

[JoeHermits]

I’m not familiar with any other known cases of blindness or neurological issues in captive hermits. Maybe see how she does after her first molt? You may be seeing a crab that’s stressed or sick


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[SpearmintConure]

She’s looking a bit better today after eating, but still the same issues.
Hoping she moults soon and i’ll let you all know

[wodesorel]

This kind of behavior can have a few different causes but none of them can be treated for or even ruled in/out because of the limitations in examining a hermit crab. Neuro/clumsy behavior can come about from nutritional imbalances, chemical exposure, physical injuries, organ failure, even hormonal imbalances from having to put off molting. The only "cure" is to try to get them stable enough to molt, and really that's only by offering good conditions and food, and keeping their stress levels as low as possible. Often they'll be too weak to fend off other crabs, so that's something to consider as well.

[SpearmintConure]

This kind of behavior can have a few different causes but none of them can be treated for or even ruled in/out because of the limitations in examining a hermit crab. Neuro/clumsy behavior can come about from nutritional imbalances, chemical exposure, physical injuries, organ failure, even hormonal imbalances from having to put off molting. The only "cure" is to try to get them stable enough to molt, and really that's only by offering good conditions and food, and keeping their stress levels as low as possible. Often they'll be too weak to fend off other crabs, so that's something to consider as well.

Thanks for the response.
Hopefully she'll come right, shes just gone down to moult or de-stress a few days ago.