Limb torn off

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:49 am

I woke up this morning and checked my crab tank to find a leg lying there! All of my crabs are alive, but my smallest and shyest crab is missing a leg. Will he be ok? I just got these crabs about 4 days ago. I assume they had a fight during the night. What should I do?

hermiefanatic · Post by **hermiefanatic** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 12:05 pm

it is going to be all right i had this happen before! heres what i did and the crab is stlll alive and well! first put her in iso if u havent already. i didnt have iso avaliable so i put mine in a kk under a lamp that was turned on all day and night. then giver her honey, lots of calcium, such as crushed cuttlebone mixed with honey, also give fresh and salt water. put her under a hut, and leave her alone. mine went naked. if your's does boil the shell and put it back in. u can try to use the cup method if u want. that means putting her in a cup with her and her shell. mine just moved in after a couple hrs of my leaving her alone. dont check in her much, the most 1 time day. i left mine in iso till she came out. also mine did bury for a shore period of time. im sure ur crab will be ok!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 3:16 pm

What is kk? I don't have cuttlebone. I have a salt chew. The crab isn't naked, just hiding in the shell. Can I just put a scoop of honey in the food bowl? How long should I put the crab in isolation?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 3:16 pm

NOt a salt chew, I meant a calcium chew.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 3:18 pm

ALso are these scuffles just for dominance or will they continue?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 3:52 pm

they could be a dominance thing. However another very good possibility is that the crab just dropped the leg - highly stressed crabs will do this. it is not a good sign, but they can be saved if addressed soon enough - the isolation is a good start.

KK is a kritter keeper - the little plastic critter cages that they sell at Walmart for 8-10 dollars - not good for long term crab care, but work well as isolation tank.

If it was due to stress, make sure that your tank is set up correctly - fresh and saltwater; sandcastle texture moist sand/bedding; 80 degrees, 80% humidity, and large enough for the number of crabs you have. also, make sure that there are plenty of places to hide under, behind, and enough substrate to dig down completely out of sight. Since the crabs are brand new - it could just be PPS(post-purchase syndrome) that caused the crab to drop the leg.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:03 pm

How long should I isolate the crab for?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:04 pm

Also, my crabitat is set up fine. Just that little one is very nervous. Haven't seen him come out of the shell ever.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:05 pm

ONe last question. I will sometime coax out a crab by spraying him with salt water, they seem to like this as they stretch out to get doused more. Is this ok? The shy one doesn't respond to this.

hermiefanatic · Post by **hermiefanatic** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:06 pm

i would iso the crab until he is wandering around. that i did.

hermiefanatic · Post by **hermiefanatic** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:22 pm

i have shy crabs as well and they dont respond to it eathier. it should be ok ,but dont directly spray them. i spray them so that its just a fine mist that gets on them.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:33 pm

Ok I got a kk. I'm put sand in it, and i have water and food dishes. Do I need to get a hygrometer for it too, or can I just estimate because it is temporary. I think my conditions in teh crabitat are fine because all of my other crabs are enjoying themselves. I'm afraid that the conditions in iso will be worse than in the crabitat. Not as many toys to play with, not the same humidity, etc etc.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:30 pm

Ok the crab is in an isolation tank. It doesn't have as good conditions as my main crabitat due to lack of supplies. I'll tell you what I have and you let me know if he will be better off in the main crabitat. I do not have an extra thermometer or hygrometer so I am guessing on the humidity. I don't have any extra bowls. I am using empty shells for both salt water and fresh water. I tore a little bit of a paper plate for a food dish. I mixed the dry food with some honey. I put some moss in the corner. I misted everything with salt water and put a damp cloth on top for humidity. I also put one of my hermie huts in there. Shold I leave my room lights on or off?