HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I rescued 2 crabs about 4 days ago. Got their humidity up, got them on a better diet and both seemed more active. This morning when I checked on them one of my hermies was on the opposite side of the tank and on the other side I found pieces of a crab. The one crab that is out and about seems to have all his pieces, im too scared to look at the other one. They were both fine last night. What could have happened? They are pps by the way

Are they similar sized?
Hopefully the pieces are not of a complete crab. If it is not incompletr you can try locating, isolating, and nursing the pieced out crab. But it will ne hard work with slim chance of survival. Wode, among othe crabbers, have nursed injured crabs back to health. I think there are stickies in the Emergency section you can read up on. The general premise is: ideal conditions, dark and calm environment, protein/sugar/calcium rich foods (pb, powdered cuttlebone, honey, calcium supplements), both waters, hand feeding, patience, hope, etc.


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Here's Wode's thread
viewtopic.php?t=82507


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So far all I have found it one leg and a big claw. Have to go to work cant miss today. Seems to be alive as of now. Barely hanging on though. Neither one of them werr molting. The crab that attacked my other hermie almost seems to be feeling bad. Just sitting up against the glass. Getting an iso tank tonight. They are both the similar sizes. Both have been eating and drinking. What could have.caused this? Edit: looks like the crab that attack the other one may be getting ready to molt. Digging all over the tank.

Dropped limbs dont have to be a direct result from attack. It can be a sign of struggle or stress. Hopefully they both molt and resolve their individual issues
They might just be stressed from being rescued, or from having needed to be rescued But a good tat and a nice molt should really help!


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My bf checked on them and he thinks he died. Should I get another buddy for the live one or will this just happen again? What could have caused it?

If the dropped limbs were a result of stress from prior bad conditions, I don't think there was much you could have done. I lost 2 crabs shortly after I got them, and dropped limbs were the first sign that something was wrong. I had them in ideal conditions, offered yummy safe foods, and they still didn't make it.

You can go ahead and get another buddy for the living one, but if you purchase him from a pet store just realize they're most likely extremely stressed from being caught, shipped, etc. so there is always a chance it can happen again. The best thing to do to keep the stress level down is don't handle them until they molt, keep their conditions ideal, and offer healthy foods for them.

Good luck! I'm sorry that it happened.

Hes still alive. Just got home and was gonna get rid of him but hes still.alive he lost 3 legs and part of his big claw:-(. I need to move him to change his.cage. rescued him and not sure.of the sand that is in there now. How should I go about doing.that?

What's going on since? Did you get your crabitat upgraded for the best living conditions? Your guy could use a good molt, I'm sure. Hoping it's going better

Make for real sure that your conditions are right before adding buddies, i advise. That way if you have other issues you will know its cause did not come from your tat.


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Im not sure of the sand that is in there going to change it once my crabie comes up from molting. I feed fresh food nightly. I have salt and fesh water always available. I mix the salt water with instant ocean. All my water is dechlorinated. My humidity never drops below 60. Averages around 73_78.