Can Crabs Grow Back/Heal injured eyes?

[Nireen]

Hi folks!

Quick two-part question. I am looking at taking in a medium-sized (Aussie) crab who has had one of his eyes pinched in half. I have previously taken in two smaller crabs with missing limbs from less than desirable conditions and they both immediately molted and grew back their missing legs. So I know they can regenerate limbs - but can they regenerate eyes? I am trying to develop a plan for looking after him.

Part two of my question is - will he immediately go down to molt if injured regardless of whether he has molted recently? Pure guesswork but judging by the brightness of his colour and the abundance of hairs on his legs, he has only just molted and his injury has happened recently.

Thank you for your help!

[curlysister]

Yes, they can re-grow an eye, but also may not and would do fine with only one eye.

No, they won't necessarily go down right away for a molt, following an injury.

[Nireen]

Ok, thank you for your reply!

I was just curious to know if he could regrow his eye the way they do limbs. No matter what he chooses, he has a forever home with me.

I have named him Pirate and other than his eye injury; he seems very active and robust. I gave him a good meal last night, which he sprinted towards within seconds and feasted. Today he has gone under, probably de-stressing. I'll monitor him for curiosity, but he seems happy so far.

[wodesorel]

Eyes tend to grow back funny over time and usually never get back to looking perfect, but they do seem to be functional. Their legs and claws will almost always come back to where you can't tell they were ever missing within a few molts.