HCA: Hermit Crab Association

The smallest crab I have (Blackbeard) came as an extra in the shipment of hermits I received last week. He's between the size of a nickel and a quarter. I noticed early on that he's missing both of his walking legs on his BP side. He basically using his LP to hang onto things and the BP as a crutch or to drag himself along. It's very sad to watch him sometimes but he's a tenacious little guy and doesn't hide in his shell when I hold him. It's easier now that I only have the two other mediums (they seem to like him and not bully him, thank goodness) but I'm still concerned about him.

Is there anything I can do to make it easier for him until he molts and regenerates his limbs? I would be very sad to lose him.

This lot hasn't shown any signs of PPS at all either. We're still getting used to each other but they didn't dig in or anything. They're not particularly active but they're usually out and about, climbing or eating or unloading an extraordinary amount of poop around the crabitat. They're a little jumpy when I'm cleaning but I think that's mostly because they don't like shadows overhead. And I'm destroying their artwork of course.

Humidity and temp are generally 80/80. Playsand to sandcastle consistency. Aquafina with pure sea salt ( no clumping or iodine additives). They have half a conch shell and a coconut hut to hide in. Plus I have a second conch that has the inner curl still intact. It's funny because they'll tuck their legs into that shell and have their shells facing outward.

Advise me, oh wise ones! What else can I do for these guys?

July 19th So this morning, I went in to feed Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (it's chicken and corn day!) and I saw Blackbeard's shell sitting on the shell pile. I picked it up and was ready to cry, thinking he must have died during the night and the other two had moved the shell. Then I realized the little bugger was still in it! No sign that he's molted yet so I gently put him back. He crawled into the coconut hut. I think I heard crabbie muttering. He still has a bottle cap of water and a bottle cap of chopped apple with a honey+calci sand mixture in the hut, so I'll let him be.
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pps can last a good month........and that is what it sounds like. Nothing you can do but make him as comfy as possible.....some will come out of it--others do not-
In my experience anyone who has dropped legs during this month has not made it BUT others here have had some lose all their legs and survive, Some crabs are real troopers...........it all depends on the crab.

Try not to handle the crabs at all until the first few weeks pass, they are already stressed out.

Offer blackbeard honey and cuttlebone mixed together -- and some proteins and make sure he has a hut he can hide in..

Good luck

like Herm-EZ, this sounds like PPS. I would refrain from holding him, it might stress him out more. just make sure he has good foods and the conditions stay good, as Herm-EZ advised.

keep us updated on blackbeard.

Caroline

Herm-EZ wrote:pps can last a good month........and that is what it sounds like. Nothing you can do but make him as comfy as possible.....some will come out of it--others do not-
In my experience anyone who has dropped legs during this month has not made it BUT others here have had some lose all their legs and survive, Some crabs are real troopers...........it all depends on the crab.

Just to clarify, they were gone before he arrived. He didn't drop the legs in the tank or even while being shipped. I checked.

But I will refrain from holding him, try to make him comfortable, and follow your dietary tips.

Thanks!

I tried to rescue a crab missing two legs from horrible conditons recently, but she passed . however, she was very ill and never ate or drank. it seems like your little guy is a lot more up beat and mobile, and is perfectly capable of regrowing those legs in a molt. does he have little gel limbs on those areas yet? they look kinda like little gel nubbins where the limbs should attach.

Since he can't dig as well, I would be careful and watch him because there is a good possibility he could surface molt.

Caroline

annopia wrote:does he have little gel limbs on those areas yet? they look kinda like little gel nubbins where the limbs should attach.

Since he can't dig as well, I would be careful and watch him because there is a good possibility he could surface molt.

So sorry for your loss, Caroline.

I didn't see any gel limbs but he does have little nubs that look like legs should be attached. But I thought that's just where the leg disconnects when they drop it or something....

I'm definitely keeping an eye on him. He really likes apples so I've been leaving pieces outside of the coconut hut covered in honey. And as soon as the sand dollar pieces I ordered arrive, I'll add that to the honey-over-apple combo.

sounds like your guy has everything he needs. keep us updated.

Caroline

Blackbeard really doesn't understand this notion of dark, quiet places. Every time I go to check my humidity/temp, he's out of the coconut hut. I tried to get a look at his little stumps without bothering him. They're tiny but they're there. No sign of gel limbs yet and he came over to "smell" me when I changed their food and water this morning.

What do you do with a sick crab that won't stay sick? I don't think he's quite near molting yet and he doesn't appear to be stressed anymore. I'm going to continue leaving them alone for few weeks or so (4 total) -- just to be safe.

although its confusing given his losses, the activity is a good sign! i would think that the miossing limbs would make it difficult to move about,but it seems like blackbeard has it down to a science.

yep, I would hold off from playing with him for a bit longer. better safe than sorry, right?

Caroline

annopia wrote:although its confusing given his losses, the activity is a good sign! i would think that the miossing limbs would make it difficult to move about,but it seems like blackbeard has it down to a science.

The only things he doesn't seem to do well are climb the coconut mat and dig. I saw him on the choya wood last night, though, and he's been on top of the coconut hut.

Mind you, he does a lot of sitting and meditating but all three of them do.

annopia wrote:yep, I would hold off from playing with him for a bit longer. better safe than sorry, right?

My thoughts exactly. I am also going to keep some honey sprinkled with cuttlebone and water in the hut, just in case.