HCA: Hermit Crab Association

As I came home today, my smallest crab Junior was not only out of his shell, he was completely turned over and missing a leg with his shell about 4-5 inches from him.
A couple weeks ago, I saw he was missing his big claw and a leg. He seemed perfectly fine and went under and molted and just came up with all his limbs. The way he was completely turned over makes me believe he was attacked. But his shell wasn't taken and my other two crabs are under the dirt. I believe my biggest crab, Ernie, is to blame. Because he has always been a bit aggressive, but nothing like this has ever happened. My boyfriend and I put him in a new tank by himself and my boyfriend put his body back into his shell. He's very weak and kind of "drooping" but when I lightly tap on the tank, he will adjust himself.
I'm hoping he will recover, but I don't know what to do. I cant leave him in a tank all by himself forever, but I also cant leave him in a tank where he can be killed by another crab. Does anyone know any advice on how to solve this?

aggression is a sign some need isnt being meet. so once you figure that out hopefully they will be ok. for your injured crab i would just offer some protein rich food with calcium and honey. also making sure that he is close to a dish of fresh and salt water if he isnt moving.

i think another important thing is making sure you have crabs of the same size. i started off with two small, two medium/large. now im worried my bigger small crab is closet to the medium/large crabs now.

i hope they are ok!

Please fill this out. Your answers will help us determine what is going on.

Aggression and cannibalism are signs that something is wrong.
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... hp?t=46102


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Just Jay wrote:aggression is a sign some need isnt being meet. so once you figure that out hopefully they will be ok. for your injured crab i would just offer some protein rich food with calcium and honey. also making sure that he is close to a dish of fresh and salt water if he isnt moving.

i think another important thing is making sure you have crabs of the same size. i started off with two small, two medium/large. now im worried my bigger small crab is closet to the medium/large crabs now.

i hope they are ok!

I tried offering him kale, honey and water and I think he drank the water, but he didn't want to eat the honey but I think he ate a little of the kale. He only did a little taste test with the honey. He hasn't moved all night, so I picked him up and he didn't move or if he did it was slight. But he is still gripping onto his shell. His antennas are down and his eyes arent as high as they usually are, but he isn't falling out of his shell. Im hoping, he's in some kind of deep rest because of all the stress.
When I first got them, they weren't too much larger than each other, but Ernie just seemed to grow twice his size in only about a year after I got him, and Bert and Junior grew at slower paces. I would like to get Ernie a pal that is just as big as him, but it's hard. No place sells crabs the size of him

make sure you fill http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... hp?t=46102 out so more experienced cabbers can help as well, because soilentgringa is correct. as far as helping your hurt hermie heal tho; i wouldnt take him out as that could stress a healing crab out. you want to keep his humidity up as well as being nice and warm. make sure along with the honey you are offering protein and calcium rich food. your hermie will need it to heal and have a successful molt. as far as friends your crabs will catch up with him im sure but i havent tried to add anyone new just yet. i want a better more secure environment for my crabs before adding anymore to avoid problems. hope all is well!