HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I am an experienced hermie caretaker, my PP Riker (whom I have had 6 years) is ill/injured.

He appears to have bilateral wounds, one much more severe than the other, on his posterior carapace. I have never seen this in my 15+ years of being a hermie owner.

I realize that there is little that can be done, but does anyone have any recommendations at all?

http://tinyurl.com/nx3x42q

Thanks,
azbirdgirl

Hello and welcome to the HCA,

I have never seen anything like that either. I would imagine that the wounds might have happened during a molt. Do you think it may be possible that he molted a little while back and got hurt while soft, and you just noticed the wounds? Or do they look fresh? Is he acting differently?

If he is behaving like he normally does, I do not think there is anything that should or should not be done, unless you think one of your other crabs attacked him or something. I would think that he might get back to normal after a couple molts.

He lives in a tank by himself, so no attacks. He came thru his last molt well, always good at that. It is very strange that the dark spots are in the same place on both sides, as opposed to only being on one or the other.

Has anyone used melaleuca (tea tree) on a hermie?

I told him that if he needs to go, it's okay to, he is a great crabby and I was glad to be his caretaker.

Maybe try putting a little honey on it. Kinda looks like a bacteria infection, but either way I don't think the honey will hurt him. Good luck!

I do have raw, unfiltered honey - I use it on myself, as well as on animals (I'm a wildlife rehabilitator). I guess it can't hurt to try. He may be too far gone, but anything is better than nothing....

Is he acting sickly?


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Very much so. I found him out of his shell the other night. He is still hanging on, and I did give him another salt/unsalted bath, then put raw, unfiltered honey on the wounds.

I'm so sorry. I wish I could be more help. I've heard about using honey in this way too. Can't hurt. Keep him ISO'd in proper conditions with easy access to food, freshwater, and saltwater. I would disturb him as little as possible. I hope he pulls through. Keep us updated. :grouphug:

The honey should help. I'm not sure, but I don't think the exo can heal , if the wound is only going through the exo then not much can be done (until a molt) , but (still not sure) if it went throught to the fleshly skin of the crab the that part could be healed by the crab, but there would still be exposed flesh with no exo. Do you know how the crab got the wound? As for the lethargy just ISO him thats the best that can really be done. I've seen pictures of crabs with exposed spots if flesh and they made it so theres always hope! Good luck!

When looking at the wound, it looks almost like something burrowed in, but there are no parasites in his tank (no tankmates, no new crabs, nothing new in his environment, and nothing seen on the other crab). He keeps coming almost all the way out of his shell. I have only seen that with dying crabs.

I hope the honey isn't too little, too late, but it has healed some pretty nasty wounds on other animals I have treated (I specialize in songbirds).

Thanks for all the help!

I would immediately call an exotic vet if I were you. I've never seen anything like this, and the things you are describing don't bode well. Keep him isolated and hope for the best

Crabs have molted back missing eyestalks, blind crabs have molted back their vision. I'm pretty sure molts can help heal damage through exo, but how many molts is impossible to tell. Good luck with it not being a disease or parasite. If it is either you might be in the company of some ground breaking information!


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azbirdgirl wrote:When looking at the wound, it looks almost like something burrowed in, but there are no parasites in his tank (no tankmates, no new crabs, nothing new in his environment, and nothing seen on the other crab). He keeps coming almost all the way out of his shell. I have only seen that with dying crabs.

I'm so sorry for your crab, and you having to go through this too. I hope he gets better for you; you'll both be in my prayers.

Riker is still hanging on. I switch him from his food bowl to his water bowl throughout the day. He is sitting in his salt bath next to my laptop. I hope he will come out of his shell for me later and I can put more honey on his shell.

Riker T. Crab crossed the Bridge yesterday afteroon. Here is his final resting place, with his favorite hiding spot above him. Thanks all for your help and positive thoughts

https://plus.google.com/photos/10748231 ... 4717234113