HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So I've had 3 adoptees in the past couple of weeks from Petsmart - they call, say the crab is missing a BP (same situation all 3 times, weird) and let me take them home for free. The first 2 were active, pigged out, and dug down.

This one isn't in good shape. I got the full story when I arrived. He was naked and missing a BP, so I'm thinking he was possibly attacked. The girl said she wasn't the one working when they found him, but they got him out and he re-shelled on his own. I asked if there was an exo with him and she said she had no idea.

On the way home, he came out of his shell and was looking around, but he's extremely lethargic/sluggish. He didn't respond to me moving around while I was getting his iso ready (no flinching or tucking back into the shell), and I'm not sure if he's having trouble moving or if he's just that slow. He of course was covered in calci-sand so I gave him a quick bath to get the worst of it off. When I held him he came right out of his shell and was just kind of waving his legs slowly. He's in iso with honey, peanut butter, calcium, and water. I have a towel over his iso now to keep him in the dark.

I did take a quick pic. Does he look freshly molted? I would assume since he was out of his shell and moving a bit he's not still soft, but I can't tell by his color. I did see a few sharp toenails. My concern is he got attacked and is injured, and I know there isn't anything I can do. To me his eyes look a little weird, like they're too close together, but I doubt that means much.



I see now there's still some calci-sand on him, but I don't want to put him through another bath.

I really think he looks freshly molted. He's so spidery! Keep loading him up on good foods. I hope he pulls through!

I agree he looks freshly molted. Crabs seem real skinny right after a molt, beefing up as they eat their way back. I had one crab that was consistently spiney looking, and he ate for what looked like a week after his last molt!
Give him LOTS to eat. The honeyPB combo is good for a quick boost, but i think he can benefit from a nice, nutritious smorgasbord. Lots of varied nutrients, smells, and textures will hopefully pique his appetite and encourage him to fatten up. Hopefully he will become more energetic and explorative, coming around to his real crabby self.
Good luck!


Crabbers unite!!!

Thanks guys! I agree he looks really spidery, but I have a few little guys who constantly look like that so I wasn't sure.

I figured I would leave him with the honey/pb/calcium overnight to hopefully get him interested in eating, and then tomorrow work in a little variety for him. I'm hoping his lethargy is him just being a little shocked from the whole experience and he'll perk back up after he has a chance to settle in and calm down.

Of course my husband is trying to be the voice of reason, telling me to not get too attached, etc. but I'm already in love with him. I have such a soft spot for the gimpy/injured/special needs ones.

Im glad at least there was a decent shell for him to go into. He looks nice and perky, too! I hope he does well!!

I also have a little soft spot for the runty/derpy little ones. Rootin for the both of you!!


Crabbers unite!!!

I hope he makes it through, and people who don't understand the addiction crabbing don't know what there are missing. I too, can get attached.
I am rooting for you

I can't complain too much about my Petsmart - most of them genuinely seem to care for the crabs, and the fact that they call me rather than just get rid of the injured ones makes it hard for me to get mad at them. All their crabs are in natural shells, the humidity and temp is good, etc. Their tank is mostly EE with a corner of calcium sand. It's not their fault the little guy tried to molt and got attacked.

I adopted a crab from them last year that was naked and freshly molted. Got him home and reshelled, left him with his exo, and he did wonderfully until I found him dead with no warning one morning. I'm hoping this one fares better.

I think I'll switch him to a moss-filled Tupperware container so I can out him in my 55, which is nice and toasty. Obviously I'm trying to keep his stress levels down, but want him in good conditions.

Anyway, my migraine meds are making me ramble so I'll shut up now. Thanks for the good thoughts and I'll keep everyone updated if anything exciting happens

Oh, and I asked my mom to name him and she chose Piglet. So...Piglet it is!

Okay, I could use some more advice! Got up this morning and he was at the other end of his iso, naked. I stuck him in a tupperware with a few shells and then in the main tank where it's nice and humid/warm. I think he got too weak and that's why he left the magpie.

He's just so tiny and pale that I'm afraid to touch him. My heart dropped when I saw him out of his shell. He was a little perkier and tried to run from me.

After all my times of giving advice, I'm terrified to try to manually reshell him. I don't want to hurt him. I have no idea how long he's been naked, though.

Annnnd he re-shelled back into his old magpie on his own. He's in my 55 in a Tupperware with FW and a small food variety. I'll check on him again in a while. Come on, Piglet!!

Do you have any lighter shells that his abdomen would fit comfortably or even just fit, in like a Babylonia something that is much lighter. If you do I would make sure to offer them to him. If you have any Es you will know what I mean about light shells.
You are doing great

When he was naked I offered a few (lightweight) options and he still picked the darn magpie. I don't have any shells in with him right now since he's staying in the magpie, but if he streaks again I'll dig out some different options.

Crabs are so darn stressful.

Well you are doing what you can if he is getting stronger and running away from you,than that is a good sign
P.S. It does look like his eyes are to close together.

Whatever was going on with his eyes, they look normally spaced now now.

He's still hanging in there and staying shelled. He ate a little bit of honey/peanut butter off a toothpick for me and seems a little perkier. He has access to a food dish with worm castings, a protein blend, and both the mineral supplement and honey coral powder from THCP. I rolled a Q-tip in honey, the coral powder, and a popcorn blend that has bee pollen in it and set it in front of him. He promptly turned away and has his front end propped up in the food dish. I think I saw him picking at the foods in there but it was hard to tell.

Should I be offering SW right now? Space is limited in the iso so I'm just offering FW, but I may be able to rearrange stuff and fit another bottle cap.

It sounds like he is doing good and is really hanging in there, all of those are good signs. I would recommend trying to have saltwater, maybe if possible big enough for him to refill his shells water with, I think that it might be better to have more salt than fresh, that is just opinion though and I think you should follow your instinct. But if not possible to offer much just offering a bit of saltwater as much as you can. While following your instinct.
Best of luck, keep us informed.