Molting deformities

Dawn · Post by **Dawn** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:43 pm

Has anyone had any crabs deformed after a molt? How did they do with the deformed limb?

I have an ecuadorian who was in my care almost exactly two months when she molted. Her outside walking leg is bent 180 degrees up and out but she still walks and climbs with the leg in this position. I fully expect it to break off but wondered if anyone kept track of things like this. this is the only deformity I have ever had and we've had 80 successful molts in 3 years. I'm not a newby.

I'm sure it's not a chemical that she came into contact with in my care but could possibly be from the wild as in Central America they are considered an agricultural pest and may even be sprayed for like bugs...I did a search on "molt-deformed" in the HCA archives and discovered that all the references there are to Ecuadorian crabs with deformities. Hmm. Seems like the species may be susceptible to this sort of thing...

Can anyone relate?

Dawn

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 3:24 pm

I had a straw who was accidntly dug up/moved out of the way by another crab. It was very badly deformed. It was really weak, but eventually it got better. It molted once after that, dropped a leg that was twisted into a hook. Then the next time it molted it grew the leg back, then it molted again, but didn't pull through

He walked just fine on the deformed limbs though, while he had them. just be careful during the next molt because it nmay be difficult for him to get the exo off of his leg is twisted or hooked, and he may drop it

Good luck!

Dawn · Post by **Dawn** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:41 pm

I was thinking that if she looks like she might molt again soon that I could clip off the tip that's curved...I mean I wouldn't do it out of malice but so that she could have a better molt next time. She's a good sized crab, about golf ball size so it's not going to be for a while but....

Do you think I should bother with it or let it break or fall off on it's own.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 6:02 pm

Unless you took her to a Vet whose trained in amputation, I wouldn't do it, if it were me, an open wound could become infected, and then your little E would be in shape than he is now. I know that sounds a bit silly since vets aren't marine biologists, but they have more taining the we do.

I've read these kind of deformities are caused if a crab is disturbed during a molt, or molting crushed up agianst the glass, stuff like that.

Poor little E.

Dawn · Post by **Dawn** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 12:24 pm

I thought of Buttercup being cramped up against the glass but it's not really possible or probable. I know where she molted and it wasn't next to the glass. It was on the bottom, under the sand but I've had them up against the glass and on the bottom of the tank A LOT of times. I have 5-6 inches of sand in there and the same depth of moss...And I've had 80+ molts with only this one deformity...It's got to be something within her background, I'm thinking...something she was exposed to before I got her. It can't be something in the food because I've been feeding some of mine the same foods for three years and no deformities...

I didn't think about taking her to the vet but I might...I have a really good vet who works on reptiles and all sorts of birds and things. Maybe I'll give him a call and see what he says. But my first inclination is to leave it alone and see if it breaks off on it's own (which is possible since she wants to climb the choya wood and grapevines). She was shell shopping last night and hubby saw her tail end. It's getting fatter so she's getting enough to eat and drink. So she's doing well enough on her own.

We just worry too much, I guess.

Dawn · Post by **Dawn** » Mon May 01, 2006 1:55 pm

We were worried because she didn't seem to be getting enough food to eat but she was shell shopping and moved to another shell for a moment and hubby saw her tail. he says: It's getting fatter and less pale.

Hubby is a perpetual "tail watcher". He watches them shell shop and looks for naked tails. He says it's the only way to tell if they are doing well. A nice fat, healthy tail means a healthy hermie that's well fed.

And she's climbing around more..she's been parking next to Ronny up on the high spot.

So she's going to be just fine, we're thinking. I think we're out of the woods now.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 01, 2006 2:51 pm

YEAH! That's good news. Thanks for the update.

HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Molting deformities

Molting deformities

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