New hermit crab with only one leg!

[Ginko]

Gotcha, he's been in the whole for about a week now. I put some food and wet moss in the hole so I can't really monitor his eating habits. Should I cover up the hole anyway? If he's not molting then I don't want to suffocate him.

[megmaholm]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I wouldn't cover him until he's showing signs of molting since he should be in a normal day/night cycle. If you do cover him, just make sure it's with a container or something - don't ever actually bury a crab, because it can and will suffocate them.

[Ginko]

Gotcha, unfortunately I can't tell if he's showing signs or not because he's in that hole. The top of his shell is sticking out and I can see his shell move around, that's why I know he's still alive.

[megmaholm]

How big is the hole compared to him? You may want to widen it just so you can check him more easily without having to touch him.

[Ginko]

To be honest I'm not sure. If he's molting I really don't want to disturb him, I think he's still alive. I don't smell rotting fish yet, I have found 2 of the other hermit crabs just kinda standing right over the hole. Does that mean anything significant or did they just decide to hang out there?

[megmaholm]

I would isolate him from the other crabs if you can. Whether he's weak or molting, he's vulnerable to attack. A cheap easy way to keep him safe is to cut the bottom off a 2 liter soda bottle and put the bottle over him, pushing down until it hits the bottom of the tank.

[Ginko]

I think the hermit crab is going to make it, he's still alive! That's a good sign right?

[Lburns]

Absolutely a good sign. That's anazing! Can you tell if he has molted?

[Ginko]

I can't I stuck him in a hole that a previous hermit crab dug. It didn't connect to any other tunnels, but you can still see his shell and every now and again the shell will move.

[Ginko]

I have a problem with another crab, I have a small one that I might have interrupted her molt. I didn't realize where she was until a couple days ago so I assumed she was surface molting.

I notice that one of the other crabs was messing with her so I washed and cut a pringles can in half, put some holes in it to isolate her.

I decided to check up on her so I lifted the the can and she was completely out of her shell. I thought she was dead but she's still moving. Is she molting or about to die?

[Lburns]

Crabs don't molt out of their shells.

How is she? It's important to try and re-shell a naked crab right away. They can't survive outside their shell. There is a thread in the care guide that explains how to re-shell.

How are your two crabs doing?

[Dom :)]

ISO HER ASAP! That's a sign of big stress or even a shell figjt

[chobbychobby]

How I are they doing now???? has the little one gone back in her shell?

[Ginko]

Unfortunately she passed away not even a day after I posted the issue. The hermit crab with almost no limbs is still alive though, hasn't molted yet but hopefully he will soon.

[Lburns]

I'm so sorry. But, glad to hear your other crab is still alive.