Hermit crab dropped both of its pinchers

[jesstheginger]

Update:
I got the poor guy into the isolation tank and got him all set up last night. I went to the store and got some organic chicken baby food and put it on a q tip for him to eat as well as some peanut butter. He has all of his legs except for the pinchers, so he can come out of his shell and move around just fine. This morning when I went to check on him, I changed all the food and put the baby food on a q tip right by him and he touched it with his feelers and put his feelers by his mouth. I don't really know if he can feed himself with feelers but I hope so because he sure was trying. I also noticed that at some point last night he made an attempt to dig in the corner and theres like a half dug burrow.
I really hope the poor guy pulls through.

[Emm33333]

He/She will probably molt soon

[GotButterflies]

Perhaps you can prop the qtips in the sand too good luck!


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[PinchersAndShells]

Update:
This morning when I went to check on him, I changed all the food and put the baby food on a q tip right by him and he touched it with his feelers and put his feelers by his mouth. I don't really know if he can feed himself with feelers but I hope so because he sure was trying.

They can. I think it was the thread mentioned earlier but one crabber observed their crab using their feelers to grind up part of an eggshell. Also when we feed the crabs they just use their pincers to pull it apart and bring it to their mouth, so I'm assuming you'll be alright.

[jesstheginger]

update: This morning, I checked before I went to my classes and my guy was just kind of chilling out in his hut, nothing unusual. I tried to feed him again, and he got kind of fussy and didn't want anything to do with me or the food. This afternoon, I came home and found him like this, almost all the way out of his shell. He's definitely not dead because he was moving his legs around and stuff. I think he's getting ready to molt because he's really just laying on his side outside of the shell.

[LadyJinglyJones]

Crabs typically molt whilst inside their shells.

Do you know what the temp & humidity are in his ISO?

Edit: does his shell have holes in it, or is that just the way the picture looks?

[GotButterflies]

@LadyJinglyJones, I think you are seeing the humidity on the glass.

OP - are you offering fresh & marine salt water on the qtips towards his mouth also?

[Rawrgeous]

You could do a bottle capful of salt and fw, he should be able to drink. But by the way he's acting you might want to give him complete darkness after that and just give him some time.( Only check on him about once a week.) Darkness helps release the molting hormone ecdysone. Usually molting is the only way they can repair damage to themselves. Since he likely cannot dig he may very well surface molt. If he seems like he won't eat, it could be very soon. Just make it as dark and quiet as possible.

[Hermiearth]

I truly believe you are a great crab parent, I don't think there is much if anything that you could of done to prevent this. The other crabbers have mostly covered everything. Maybe try putting some apple sauce on a q-tip- he may like that. If he is able to dig himself under that's great! If not- make sure that the other crabs can't get to him as they will take advantage of a free meal... also be sure to not throw him out of he looks dead unless you smell something fishy! If he does molt don't worry if it takes a really long tine- he has a lot to grow. Also according to the HCA chart you are not overcrowded unless all three of the crabs have a leg span of above 2.5 making them mediums. Best of luck and please keep us updated!!


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[jesstheginger]

UPDATE: I definitely do not think he's dead or anything because he's been out of his shell laying like that since Friday and the iso doesn't smell like a fish market or anything. The temperature and the humidity have both been consistently in the mid 80's over the past few days, and I have a cardboard box over the iso tank so it stays really dark for him. Still hoping he'll pull through!

[GotButterflies]

I pray he makes it!


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[Hermiearth]

We are all routing for the little guy!!!


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[PinchersAndShells]

Make sure his back half stays moist, I hope he pulls through.

[jesstheginger]

Hi, all. I just wanted to let you guys know that the poor guy passed on. I went to check this morning and change out the food, and he had moved closer to the water dishes in the tank. I noticed that he had something funny on his body and I picked him up to look and it was mold and he smelled really bad. I'm really upset by all of this because I thought he was going to pull through, but I know sometimes they don't especially during a molt.
Thanks for all of your support.

[daws409]

Sorry for you loss!

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