worried about a hermit crab...

[hermie2013]

a few days ago I lost my hermit crab, Hazel. I found her dead, but my hermit crab Spiderman was eating her. i did not see any signs of molting and it would have taken her a few days at minimum, but i saw her almost everyday. There's the possibility that she was stressed, causing her to streak, but im not too sure. Spiderman is what i used to call, my gentle giant. i could call him over to me and he would sometimes tumble and fall, but made it to the glass, he never pinched, or did anything to harm anyone. after a while, he began to rip skin off of my hands and eat them when i held him, he eats everyday, whether it be his climbing bark, shrimp, crickets, fruits, but he still did this.

today, I came up to my room to feed my guinea pigs and the crabs, and found spiderman had escaped the tank. even i have trouble getting that thing open!! i am experienced with hermit crabs, but for this i don't know what to do but isolate him, and watch his behaviour. im worried about him.. im worried that he is going to kill himself or someone else, i don't trust him.. is this rational?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[aussieJJDude]

It's probably nothing too much. Try to find the source of how the crab has escaped so it doesn't happen again

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[GotButterflies]

Sorry about Hazel. I agree, try to find how he escaped. Hermit crabs are very strong. Mine can lift my glass lids. I tape them down with duct tape.
As far as Spiderman eating Hazel - try offering plenty of protein and calcium, different kinds than you normally do. If you need ideas, I'm happy to help, but I need to finish making dinner . Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LadyJinglyJones]

Yeah, perhaps try fowl or other species of crab meat with him? I got a whole dried duck wing, with bones and even the second digit with its claw attached. It was small, as bird wings go, but went over big in my tat. It came from the 'gross dead-thing chews for dogs' section at a small local pet shop.

[GotButterflies]

Yeah, perhaps try fowl or other species of crab meat with him? I got a whole dried duck wing, with bones and even the second digit with its claw attached. It was small, as bird wings go, but went over big in my tat. It came from the 'gross dead-thing chews for dogs' section at a small local pet shop.

Oh my word!! I've never seen anything like that here in the USA!!

[RebsCritters]

It's quite possible that Spiderman had nothing to do with Hazel's demise but was simply acting as scavengers do, cleaning up what was laying around (sorry for how insensitive that sounds) when you happened upon the scene. It seems disturbing to us but this is how things are done in nature.
We could speculate that perhaps Hazel fell ill, or had any number of problems that brought the end for her, though we'd never know for sure.
I wouldn't be concerned about your crab as a danger to others, though maybe it would be a good idea to evaluate what conditions are like in the tank for a member to suddenly succumb like this. If it is aggression related, then perhaps there is too much strain on what they deem valuable resources (shells, food, territory, etc.). It's hard to say from my vantage point though.
It sounds to me like Spiderman is living up to his namesake though. At least you found him rather quickly. I had a friend whose crab escaped and was found in a closet six months later just fine and dandy! I'm sure you're already on it, but definitely secure it for the future.
Don't fear the crab. He's just doing what comes natural to him. Did you have dried skin when he ripped off the pieces? From what I've witnessed of crab grooming they tend to stuff everything into their mouths, even if it's just dirt. Is it possible he was grooming you? I doubt it has much to do with a lack of nutrition, though it couldn't hurt to try other things like LadyJinglyJones mentioned.
Keep an eye on things and let us know if anything else develops. Good luck!