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Is this normal?

Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 10:53 am
by Shaddeh
Hello! I'm a brand new crab mom ((absolutely love my babies!)) and one of them recently passed! I'm pretty sure I know what caused it as he and his brother were shipped to me in the mail - but my question is... Is this normal?

When I discovered that he passed he was laying outside of his shell partially, and all of his claws and feet had fallen off! Is that normal for a crab when they die or did one of the other crabs dissemble him?

I did check for a fishy smell - which I've been told is the indicator for death and it was present!

If it helps - my crabs are all Purple Pinchers :D

Re: Is this normal?

Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 11:06 am
by CrabbyLover77
It sounds like your crab was under severe stress being shipped. That could definitely cause his limbs to fall off and his death. Sorry for your loss!

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Re: Is this normal?

Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 11:16 am
by Shaddeh
That's what we're assuming, but I wasn't sure if the legs falling off was normal!

It makes me sad that she - apparently I can't sex them correctly haha - passed but she's no longer under stress :D

Re: Is this normal?

Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 11:24 am
by CrabbyLover77
Shaddeh wrote:That's what we're assuming, but I wasn't sure if the legs falling off was normal!

It makes me sad that she - apparently I can't sex them correctly haha - passed but she's no longer under stress :D
Yeah, they can definitely drop limbs when stressed. Image

I have no idea if my crabs are boys or girls but I just assign them a name and sex that looks like them lol. Image

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Re: Is this normal?

Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 11:47 am
by wodesorel
If another crab was involved it would look like a murder scene with scattered limbs. They are not neat killers. It's common for them to drop limbs preceding death, unfortunately.

I'm so sorry he didn't make it.

Re: Is this normal?

Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 9:43 pm
by Shaddeh
Thank you for confirming and the kind words guys, I really appreciate it :) I'm very new to owning these guys and I'm sad that she passed but I also understand it's a common thing, especially when it's stress related.

Re: Is this normal?

Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 7:23 am
by scuttlecrusty22
So sorry for the loss of your little crab At least you tried to give him a good life.

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