I'm not sure where this type of post would be appropriate, but it didn't seem to fit any of the other categories, and since I am rather new to the forum, I thought I'd stick it here. If it needs to be moved, by all means do so.
I have been searching around me for a week to find a straw to be a friend to my sole straw, Twizzler. I had another straw, Shortcake, but I purchased her when she was weak after a molt, and she didn't make it.
During my quest, I made two trips to petsmart. Since the employees I asked just told me to go ahead and handle them myself, each time I inspected each crab to make sure they weren't straws and just out of interest. Both times I was drawn to a medium sized PP who was very very friendly and in a horridly ugly painted shell. The problem lies in the fact that he's not in perfect condition: he is missing one of his walking legs, and when inspected, does not appear to have a gel limb already forming either. So I am worried about whether he could hold his own in a crabitat with two jumbos, one of which showed aggression towards the last addition. Also, if I do get him, are there any special steps I can take to ensure he grows a gel limb and can replace the leg in his next molt?
Caroline
Question regarding purchasing a somewhat injured crab
Question regarding purchasing a somewhat injured crab
26 LHC: 6 PPs, 5 Es, 1 Straw, 6 Ruggies, 2 Indos, 1 Blueberry, 4 Violas, 1 Aussie
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Guest
Ah, you've asked a tough question, to rescue or not to rescue a crab who otherwise might not be picked, or if picked and put into bad conditions would probably die. It's hard, because they do have their health comprised already by losing that limb, possibly from stress (it could be from just an injury in shipping-which would be better healthwise-but you have no way of knowing how this crab lost the limb). Loses are hard for any of us, and there is a greater risk with picking an injured crab.
I've purchased 4 crabs with a missing leg, three who died did not seem in good health aside from the missing limb. One of them made it (who always seemed healthy other than the missing limb) the others died. I don't regret picking up any of them, especially my E Wacko who molted, grew back the limb and is a fav of mine.
You've just got to ask yourself honestly how you feel about loses, and how greatly you'd be affected if you lost him.
Tip on keeping him healthy after purchase so he was the best chance of molting soon and getting back the leg, ISO him before letting him in the main tank. If the temps and humidity aren't at 70-80% in the petstore, start with the humdity level as it was in the petstore, and every three days raise it about 5-10 degrees, so the crab does not have a shock to the system. Keep food in at all times so he can regulate his metabolism. If he molts at the end of this, all the better. If he doesn't, or if you have the same temps and humidity as the petstore, I'd just ISO him for about a week so he can destress without compitition, if he seems normal and active at the end, let him into the main tank.
I hope that helps.
I've purchased 4 crabs with a missing leg, three who died did not seem in good health aside from the missing limb. One of them made it (who always seemed healthy other than the missing limb) the others died. I don't regret picking up any of them, especially my E Wacko who molted, grew back the limb and is a fav of mine.
You've just got to ask yourself honestly how you feel about loses, and how greatly you'd be affected if you lost him.
Tip on keeping him healthy after purchase so he was the best chance of molting soon and getting back the leg, ISO him before letting him in the main tank. If the temps and humidity aren't at 70-80% in the petstore, start with the humdity level as it was in the petstore, and every three days raise it about 5-10 degrees, so the crab does not have a shock to the system. Keep food in at all times so he can regulate his metabolism. If he molts at the end of this, all the better. If he doesn't, or if you have the same temps and humidity as the petstore, I'd just ISO him for about a week so he can destress without compitition, if he seems normal and active at the end, let him into the main tank.
I hope that helps.
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Guest
I have rescued soooo many crabs with legs gone, pinchers gone, etc...
These are the ones I feel need me the most...at any rate, I have adopted about 15-20 of the injured ones and only lost one....I just love it when they come with me and get better...some are molting now, others have not yet but it will so be worth it when they have all their limbs again!! I say go for it, maybe he will thrive with you when he may not if left. Mine are active, happy and doing great!!!
These are the ones I feel need me the most...at any rate, I have adopted about 15-20 of the injured ones and only lost one....I just love it when they come with me and get better...some are molting now, others have not yet but it will so be worth it when they have all their limbs again!! I say go for it, maybe he will thrive with you when he may not if left. Mine are active, happy and doing great!!!
crabber: I think I could handle it if I lost him, knowing when I go into it that he's probably not healthy. When I purchased Shortcake, I knew that she was weak after just molting in substandard conditions and would probably not make it. She passed on after a week, and though I was sad, it wasn't to the same extent that I would have if my Big 'un had died.
Amy_Caiden: do you do anything special for crabs missing legs? do you find that the others pick on them more?
This specific crab is constantly in my thoughts. I am leaning towards purchasing him at my next trip to Hickory (30 minutes away). I'm not completely convinced though.
Caroline
Amy_Caiden: do you do anything special for crabs missing legs? do you find that the others pick on them more?
This specific crab is constantly in my thoughts. I am leaning towards purchasing him at my next trip to Hickory (30 minutes away). I'm not completely convinced though.
Caroline
26 LHC: 6 PPs, 5 Es, 1 Straw, 6 Ruggies, 2 Indos, 1 Blueberry, 4 Violas, 1 Aussie
I bought a tiny crabbie who is missing his third leg on the side with the smaller pincher. he is a bundle of energy and I have named him Legolas. I hope he makes it. I have him in my iso right now, maybe he will dig down and molt, maybe not. I am definatly not sure what species he is, however, how he is white/grey all over.
Caroline
Caroline
26 LHC: 6 PPs, 5 Es, 1 Straw, 6 Ruggies, 2 Indos, 1 Blueberry, 4 Violas, 1 Aussie
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Guest
I don't do anything different for them at all. I bathe them the same before I introduce them to the tank. Although, I have never had any with infections, which in that case I may have done things differently. They are actually just as, if not more, active than the others. They honestly are no different and I hardly even notice the broken or missing limbs. The one I did lose was in really, really bad conditions when I got her. She was in a tiny KK smaller than a childs shoebox, no water, no food so I knew for certain if she made it, it would have been a miracle!!
I just feel so bad for the crabbies that are "less desireable". To me they are sooo cute!!! I say go get him!!! If you are thinking of him that much, you have already bonded!! LOL
EDIT: No, they have never been picked on!!!
I just feel so bad for the crabbies that are "less desireable". To me they are sooo cute!!! I say go get him!!! If you are thinking of him that much, you have already bonded!! LOL
EDIT: No, they have never been picked on!!!
thanks for sharing, Amy_Caiden. you are right, Legolas is very very active! and he was a thirsty little devil, he drank all of the water in the iso tat! I guess this was because all they had in the cage at petsmart was one semi-wet sponge for about 20 crabs. he has a tiny gel limb, more of a nubin really, so hopefully he will grow it back in his next molt.
I'm going to iso him for the next few days to make sure things are okay with him. I don't think the jumbos will bother him, and I think Lila (small PP) will enjoy having someone close to her size in the tank.
thanks to crabber and Amy_caiden for your advice!
Caroline
I'm going to iso him for the next few days to make sure things are okay with him. I don't think the jumbos will bother him, and I think Lila (small PP) will enjoy having someone close to her size in the tank.
thanks to crabber and Amy_caiden for your advice!
Caroline
26 LHC: 6 PPs, 5 Es, 1 Straw, 6 Ruggies, 2 Indos, 1 Blueberry, 4 Violas, 1 Aussie
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Guest
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Guest
buy crab w/ missing leg?
Well, I think that if he seems otherwise healthy, a missing leg is of little concern. One of my first crabs got around so well, that I did not notice that he was missing a leg until I noticed the slimy booger that was (I learned later) a gel limb. He grew it back in the next molt. Whenever I go to the big-box petstores I think that every crab has some injury or another--a chipped off toe at least or a lost antennae. I wonder if that all happens during transport or what???
Legolas is buried down right now, either de-stressing or molting to get that limb back! If either takes a long time, he will be in isoalone for awhile...
these are the only picture I was able to take of Legolas, and they are awful:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lily_acb/ ... 779re2.jpg
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lily_acb/ ... pg&.src=ph
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lily_acb/ ... pg&.src=ph
I have really great shots of all my other crabs, but they were taken with my roomie's camera, and now shes in CT for the summer and I'm still here in NC with a crappy camera.
Caroline
these are the only picture I was able to take of Legolas, and they are awful:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lily_acb/ ... 779re2.jpg
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lily_acb/ ... pg&.src=ph
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lily_acb/ ... pg&.src=ph
I have really great shots of all my other crabs, but they were taken with my roomie's camera, and now shes in CT for the summer and I'm still here in NC with a crappy camera.
Caroline
26 LHC: 6 PPs, 5 Es, 1 Straw, 6 Ruggies, 2 Indos, 1 Blueberry, 4 Violas, 1 Aussie