HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I wasn't watching my young and/or small hermit crab and when I walked in the room it was on the floor with one of its claws beside it. It had fallen from a high distance on a hard surface. I immediately looked online on every website, what to do?, will it grow back?, will my crab survive?, everything! So I would really appreciate your help on what to do and if it will grow back and more information about the situation. Thank you.

Hi!

So initially, I thought this was PPS, or post purchase syndrome, but now it doesn't sound like a disease. Yes, the claw will grow back during molting, but only if given adequate conditions. I suppose you know what molting is, but if you don't, look here: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 23&t=92527

If he continues to drop claws, then this problem could become awfully unfortunate. I would give him some yummy calcium foods like:
- cuttlebone
- boiled eggshells
-carrots

And I would like to point out very kindly that if you take you eye off your hermit crab, he will escaped or do something naughty. I don't mean to insult you in any way, because these things happen to all of us.
I hope this helps.

Cumba wrote:Hi!

So initially, I thought this was PPS, or post purchase syndrome, but now it doesn't sound like a disease. Yes, the claw will grow back during molting, but only if given adequate conditions. I suppose you know what molting is, but if you don't, look here: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 23&t=92527

If he continues to drop claws, then this problem could become awfully unfortunate. I would give him some yummy calcium foods like:
- cuttlebone
- boiled eggshells
-carrots

And I would like to point out very kindly that if you take you eye off your hermit crab, he will escaped or do something naughty. I don't mean to insult you in any way, because these things happen to all of us.
I hope this helps.

PPS isn't a disease but rather a serious illness. Post Purchase Stress Syndrome is a term used to describe the symptoms (dropped limbs, lethargy, death) associated with crabs becoming very ill or dying literally due to the stress caused them by being harvested and shipped. Many crabs just don't survive the conditions or have been injured due to lack of humidity/temps/toxins for so long that they don't make it once they get to their new homes. If they are able to dig down, destress, and molt safely they have a better chance of surviving but I think the odds of them passing due to PPS lessen after 1 or 2 molts in captivity.

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Hermitcrablover135 wrote:I wasn't watching my young and/or small hermit crab and when I walked in the room it was on the floor with one of its claws beside it. It had fallen from a high distance on a hard surface. I immediately looked online on every website, what to do?, will it grow back?, will my crab survive?, everything! So I would really appreciate your help on what to do and if it will grow back and more information about the situation. Thank you.

Hi and welcome to HCA. I see that you've been linked to the care guides. The best thing to do for your crab is provide it with nutritious food, adequate waters and the correct crabitat conditions. Loss of limb doesn't automatically mean they are going to die, there are plenty of members here who have nursed their crabs back to health after dropping legs/claws.

Would you mind filling this out so we can help troubleshoot areas of concern? I will link the emergency template below.


viewtopic.php?t=46102


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How far did he fall? Fall injuries are tough with hermits. It really depends on how they landed, how the shell cushioned them, how well they fit inside it. I have a tank that is 2.5 feet high and mine take headers onto the substrate constantly with no ill effects. I've known other crabbers though who lost crabs that fell to tile from that height before. With luck the claw got caught strangely on the way down and was torn off, which sounds horrible to say but the alternative is that he is extremely hurt and has started to drop limbs from the stress. If you can fill out the emergency template SG linked above we can go over your conditions and make sure they're perfect for him, which is what he's going to need to be able to have a shot at recovering if he has been injured. Ideally he molts soon, regrows his claw - and it will grow back but it might take a few molts to look normal - and comes back up and is perfectly fine.