HCA: Hermit Crab Association

My crab, sharkbait looks like he has a big welt on his big claw and his pincher looks hurt. He is also is very pale he is usually a beautiful bright red. If you have any idea of what is going on please let me know and tell me what I can do to help my hermie thank you!
If you could explain to me how to post a pic from an I phone I could try to post some pics

If you can get Tapatalk, you should be able to post a pic through them. (I say should because I'm having a few problems on my phone with Tapatalk, one of them being it won't let me share pics)
How long have you had him? When was his last molt with you? Is he acting weak or does he seem fine other than being pale and the possible injury?

I have had sharkbait for about 6 months. His latest molt was about two months ago. His behavior and activity seems normal, I haven't noticed anything different.

If you can share a pic that would help. If tapatalk isn't an option you can upload images to photobucket or the like and then copy and past the image code or just the link here to share.

Here are some pics



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow, what a bruise! (Or at least that's what it looks like.) One of mine has a dark spot like that on it's leg and I read that sometimes they scrape themselves while they're soft from molting. The dark spot is like a scar and would go away after molting again. I've also read something about shell rot but I've never experienced that. I'm sure some more advanced crabbers can shed more light on the situation, though.

Thank you soilentgringa

There's a lot going on there - not just the discolored area, but what looks like either a crushing pinch injury or old exo that is stuck to the surface below it. I really think he just had a rough molt, which happens sometimes. He should be perfectly fine after his next molt. You'll need to make sure he's not accidentally bothered when he does molt again. Does he have tankmates, and how much space and substrate do they have?

Yes I have three crabs In total including sharkbait. They are in a ten gallon tank. I don't have an ISO tank yet. (Response to the questions above)

If I were you, I would put the crab in an isolation tank and feed it plenty of calcium foods, just in case it was shell disease. I've heard that is could spread to other crabs. The crab can be rid of it by molting. Here is some more information about it: http://www.hermitcrabparadise.com/crabc ... ellrot.php

Clypeatus wrote:If I were you, I would put the crab in an isolation tank and feed it plenty of calcium foods, just in case it was shell disease. I've heard that is could spread to other crabs. The crab can be rid of it by molting. Here is some more information about it: http://www.hermitcrabparadise.com/crabc ... ellrot.php

I don't have an ISO tank right now, do you have any ideas on how I could separate him from the other crabs? Maybe a makeshift ISO tank?

You can stick him in a tupperware in the main tank, just make sure he has room to dig and molt.


Crabbers unite!!!

Should the tupperwAre have a lid on it?

kadynadair16 wrote:Should the tupperwAre have a lid on it?

A lid with enough holes poked into the top to make sure he has air flow. If you have a Kritter Keeper, those work wonderfully for isos that go inside of the main tank!