Molting, Lost limbs, Out of shell for 24 hrs

[kdiamond]

I spent a good while researching hermit crabs and providing (what I thought) was a really good habitat for them. Ten gallon tank, 4-6 inches of substrate (piled up higher on one side of the cage for optimal digging), climbing structures, hide outs, food and water, heating...you get the point. I worked really hard on this. Yesterday afternoon I went to PetSmart and bought two crabs to bring home. They're the first ones in the tank. They crawled into a hollowed rock thing and didn't move for the rest of the day. I figured that was totally normal, I read a lot about hermies having to destress after all the moving around they had to go through. I went to bed around 11pm and everything was normal. I woke up this morning to one of the crabs was completely out of his shell and laying on his side. Throughout the day he began to molt above the ground right on the surface. I was a little worried about the other crab becoming aggressive and harming him since he was so vulnerable but I didn't want to disturb either of them and merely watched them very carefully throughout the day. It has now been exactly 24 hours. There's the exoskeleton next to him but also a claw and some legs that are not attached to the body. I'm not sure if that's part of the molting or if his legs actually fell off?? He's still showing absolutely no interest in moving into a shell, or moving at all for that matter, except occasionally a wiggle if you stare long enough. He looks miserable.

Should I be worried? Is there anything I can do to help make this time less stressful for him? Should I worry about the other crab getting to him? How long can a crab actually be out of it's shell? I tried explaining the situation the best I could, but from my point of view, this little hermie doesn't seem to be doing so good and I'm probably stressing out as much as him right now. I've only had them for one day and I already feel like I'm letting them down or that I could do something more to help thus why I'm coming to you for advice. Please help!

[ancrylu]

How many legs are still attached to him? There should be claws included in the molted skin, but the fresh, new claw should be attached to his body.

I know he's stressed, but I think his only chance is to get back into a shell. What always works for me is placing the shell at the bottom of a narrow cup, then placing the crab on top so that he has no where to go but into the shell. I usually move naked crabs with a spoon, but there may be another way I'm unaware of.

Also, I would absolutely separate the two crabs while he heals. If you don't want to move him, block him off from the other crab by putting barriers around him.

Hope this helps! Good luck!!


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[mool]

Oh my goodness, things don't sound too good. Just know that what happened to the poor soul prior to its arrival to your tank is not your fault and out of your control.

I would definitely isolate the molter. I can't speak to ancrylu's method because I've never tried it before. What has worked for me is to put it's old shell and maybe one more of the correct size (lightweight if possible) next to it, along with some honey. Then take a 2 litre pop bottle with the bottom cut out and put that over the crab, shells and food and push it all the way to the bottom of the tank. I try to use a bottle that is dark colored (like for 7UP) or wrap something dark around it, but leave the top open for air.

Then, just let the crab be. Don't peek or check on it at all. The rest is up to the crab.

Good luck!

[wodesorel]

Can you share a photo? We should be able to tell what's going on by seeing him. I would not move or touch the molter until we know for sure what is going on - move the other crab that seems to be doing okay.

[Candie]

I feel you, when I got my first 2 crabs one went down to molt that night and 3 weeks later I found him in a shallow hole naked with 2 legs missing, I didn't know if he came up but was attacked by the other crab because one of the lost legs was gone and the other was by him, one of his still attached legs was torn at the joint and still dangling. I tried to convince him to go in the Shell but he couldn't move and I was told to carefully uncurl his abdomen and put him in the Shell but it didn't work and I panicked. He died 3 hours later and I felt like I failed him. I don't have any help to give but definitely separate them, my one crab had a meal out of the others leg, I hope the best for you.

[kdiamond]

Sadly, the little guy passed away last night. I'm not sure there was a whole lot I could have done. I just feel awful. This might be a strange question but I was wondering how you guys usually dispose of your dead crabs? Do you just toss them in the bin, bury them, should I be worried about any post diseases dead crabs may give off? Is my other crab going to be lonely now or should I hold off on getting a new one for a bit? I would hate to have a repeat of this poor guy.

[landlubber]

I'm sorry you lost him. It really doesn't reflect on you-it's just PPS. Sadly it's the number one killer of crabs. So to be frank about it, which I think you deserve, there is a decent likelihood that another new crab may succumb to PPS when you purchase again, and again it will not be your fault and there would be a limit to what you could do about it. I know it's traumatic to lose them, especially when you feel like you're doing everything right-it's not a cool feeling.

Your other crab should not be alone his whole life-they do better in social groups. You could wait until he had his first molt with you before you purchased another, to be very cautious about it if you wanted to.

One thing you may want to consider is an adoption. Adopted crabs may do better for you because they were either well cared for by someone (so no PPS) or if they weren't well cared for and lived any length of time in poor conditions they are likely the last of a pair or more and probably survived tank mates because the remaining one or twos should be very hardy crabs. Sometimes adoptions are hard to come by in certain areas, but adoptions can be very rewarding. We have an adoption section on the forum, on Facebook, and there's always craigslist as well to name a few options.

ETA: I simply dispose of my dead crabs. I take their shells first. Sounds so undignified but shells are expensive and other crabs can use them. They do not carry disease that are communicable to other members of your household.

[Crabinski]

Not to seem hard-hearted, but both PetSmart and Petco guarantee all the pets they sell for 7-14 days so you can bring the deceased crab back for a replacement.

As @landlubber said, the crab's passing is not your fault and does not reflect on your set-up; most likely, it was a victim of Post-Purchase Syndrome, a result of the traumas our poor crabs undergo in being taken from the wild. Unfortunately, there really is no way to determine if the crab you buy has PPS -- some are nice and active in the pet shop but still pass within a few days after purchase. Those that have been delaying their molt due to unsuitable surroundings may be so desperate to do so that they make the attempt as soon as they find themselves in good conditions, i.e., your tank; however, they are simply too weak to be able to manage the physical demands of a molt and pass on.

Since both crabs were purchased at the same time, the remaining crab hasn't had a chance to get all territorial in the tank and would probably be glad to see a roommate -- after all, he's never been alone before as he lived with a large social group in the wild, was captured, shipped and housed at PetSmart with other crabs.