Autotomy ... Then R.I.P.

[Mokulele_Hawai'i]

Aloha firends ...
have you ever experienced this sad story with your E' or PP ?

The hermit crab casted the limbs off one by one, then died.

This phenomenon often occurs to C.rugosus who is kept in unhealthy crabitat ( soggy or dirty ). But occasionally also happens to C.cavipes, strawberries and blueberries (C.purpureus).

Please share your experience & opinion.

Mahalo
Felix

[dbolack]

Aloha firends ...
have you ever experienced this sad story with your E' or PP ?

The hermit crab casted the limbs off one by one, then died.

I've had this happen with every species we've had except indo (which we haven't had many of. )

[blaze88]

i had perfect conditions and I had my oldest crab recently die of this. I think its like ich in fish, all fish have it, its just stress brings it out or on occasion seemingly nothing.

[Guest]

I had this happen with a rug, and a viola. Both times they were in the PPS timeframe. I also had a straw lose a limb and die shortly afterwards, during a deep clean. It's a horrible, horrible thing to watch.

What is most strange about it is that there often are no usual death signs, they don't get letharic, or soak in a salt water dish, or stop eating. They just start dropping limbs, walking around acting normally while they do, until none or only a couple are left and then they die where they are.