No Claws AND No Legs. Please help us.

[turoconnor]

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?
6 inches of sand & cocofiber mix


2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?
70-80 range on both. gauge is on the back wall of the tank in the middle.

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?
Yes, Reptitherm UTH. EDIT: sorry its a reptile basics Ultratherm.

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?
primed freshwater and 1.023 salinity instant ocean saltwater

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?
Handpicked diet of mostly proteins( varying sources all free of ethoxyquin and copper sulfate) every 2 or 3 days I replace the dried foods, oils and wet foods are replaced after a day but not given every day. Usually twice a week on my days off they get a frozen thawed silverside or a type of oil. (cocnut, salmon, sardine, sunflowe, etc)

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?
Ecuadorian, Four months

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?
Crab did not molt in my care. I was worried about him.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?
This little guy was in my 40 gallon tank with my two other Ecuadorians. I have an acrylic lid.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?
Bunsen(the emergency crab) is the smallest at a bit bigger than a quarter. My other two are a little smaller than golfball size.

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?
I try to keep 15 in there that I rotate out.

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?
No, the 40 gallon is in my bedroom.

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?
I change the moldy food immediately and replace leaf litter and moss every other month or so.

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?
No

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?
No

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?
I have been trying to move the tank into the basement, and Bunsen had been buried for four months, and I found a shell with debris inside that I thought was his and thought he had died and the other crabs or isopods had eaten him.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.
I thought he was dead so I moved my other two out and began to take everything out of the tank to move it into the basement. As I was digging I found his legs, and I was certain he was dead. I found a shell with debris in the back of it thatlooked like pieces of a dead crab. I set it aside as I dug up the rest of the tank. He began to peek his head out. But, Oh My God. He has no legs and he has no claws. How did he even dig himself a molt cave with no legs or claws???

I know you can hand feed them if they have no claws but how do I help him with water? With digging to molt? Is it even possible? I'm so sorry. What can I do?
I set him in my main tank on top of the food dish propped up by it so hopefully he can stick his head out and eat. I will reply with pictures.

[turoconnor]

How do I keep the other crabs away from him while I get a quarentine tank set up? How often should I hand feed him?

[curlysister]

There is a thread on the site somewhere, with details on how someone (I think it was MotorCrab) fed a limbless crab.
You can isolate him in a margarine tub or similar container with holes cut in the lid so that he gets the same heat and humidity but is safe from other crabs.
Let me see if I can find the other thread.

[turoconnor]

There is a thread on the site somewhere, with details on how someone (I think it was MotorCrab) fed a limbless crab.
You can isolate him in a margarine tub or similar container with holes cut in the lid so that he gets the same heat and humidity but is safe from other crabs.
Let me see if I can find the other thread.

Thank you curlysister! If you find that thread please send it to me.

[turoconnor]

I believe I found the thread!
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=119963&hilit=Molti ... rial+bloom This is very helpful. Hoepfully I can help him to molt them back.

[wodesorel]

There have been a few of us who attempted it and had the crab survive! It really comes down to if there are unseen internal injuries and if their mouthparts are intact enough to eat. Mine was even able to scarf down her entire old exoskeleton without assistance, she ate everything like it was a pie eating contest and so long as it was physically within reach of her mouth she demolished it.

There's details and links to other threads here: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=92528

[turoconnor]

There have been a few of us who attempted it and had the crab survive! It really comes down to if there are unseen internal injuries and if their mouthparts are intact enough to eat. Mine was even able to scarf down her entire old exoskeleton without assistance, she ate everything like it was a pie eating contest and so long as it was physically within reach of her mouth she demolished it.

There's details and links to other threads here: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=92528

Thank you so much! He has eaten well for me so far, I got bee pollen and a mortar and pestle and I'm giving a salt and fresh water soak everyday. He seems to be moving himself around a little by the secondary maxillipeds.

[turoconnor]

Here he is showing the maxillipeds he has been using to prop himself up and move around occasionally.


Do these look like gel limb nubs? He's still eating good.

[kuza]

This little crab looks pretty healthy considering the situation. Keep it up!