HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi everyone,

I have a jumbo crab with a pretty thick shell, and he loves to climb. As I was holding him (above my bed) today he climbed up my arm and lost his grip and rolled off, landing on the hard carpeting below, a couple feet of a drop. He landed on his shell but had no visible cracks or marks and almost immediately was out and walking again, antennae wagging. He also still has as strong a pinch as ever in his big claw.
I'm simply very worried that the impact hurt him because although I know they keep water in their shells after bathing, water leaked from his shell as soon as I picked him up off the ground and I'm very concerned for him. What can I do?

Update; It's been at least ten minutes since the incident and he is in his tank, milling about as normal, not acting as though anything is wrong.

If he did land on his shell, he should be ok, and even if he is hurt internally there isn't much you can do other than keep an eye on him.


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These guys are also known as tree crabs. They climb trees and fall. He should be fine as long as he didn't fall on anything hard enough to crack his shell.

Mine have fallen in my tall tank on edges of water dish, hard objects, etc. They are always fine. I mean I wouldnt drop them on purpose but falls happen and not much you can do when it does.


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The leaking water was probably just due to it being knocked around inside the shell. He'll replenish it as he needs.