HELP!!!!!

lilhermitgirl17 · Post by **lilhermitgirl17** » 13 Feb 2005, 05:30

K, one of my hermies started to molt, and I didn't get them separated quick enouph, cause I didn't realize it in time, and my other one attacked him, apparently after the molter had already shed his exo.
Now the molter has lost his Big claw leg. his exo is still with him, I found them soon enouph so that the other one didn't eat it. They are now separated and everything...
The molter is still alive... I know that, and he has everything he needs, but is there anything you suggest for me to do?? Will he be ok??
Do you think that he will grow the leg back this time? or next time he molts... Please help, I really feel bad and want to do everything I can for him.

Julia_Crab · Post by **Julia_Crab** » 13 Feb 2005, 15:06

It's OK, it's not the end of the world. Your crab will probably be fine.

If he lost a leg on this molt, it won't reappear until he molts again. He'll have to grow a gel limb first, which takes a bit of time, and then molt a second time to correct this. He'll do just fine without that leg, so don't worry, and when it grows back, it will be tiny and cute, not the same size as the other legs at all. It takes a few molts to get back to normal size.

Sometimes on molting, they have a hard time of it, especially if they haven't been able to molt for a long time and needed to. Sometimes they can't shed their exo all in one piece and they have to sacrifice a leg or claw to get free. This is a natural function, called autonomy. It is to protect a crab in case it gets an infection, or a bad wound, or is stuck in its exo while molting. So your other crab may not be the culprit at all. My very first molter was so fresh from the low humidity of the pet shop that she lost the same leg your crab has lost. She did a second molt about two months later, and the leg is back, and it is a tiny little toothpick leg. So cute. She gets around on it just like the other legs.

Your crab is doing what nature designed it to do, and you shouldn't worry too much. Just make sure it gets its calcium and some beta carotene now.

lilhermitgirl17 · Post by **lilhermitgirl17** » 13 Feb 2005, 15:48

Ok, thanks bunches. I just got scared. I guess its the new mommy syndrome.

I feel better.
What is beta carotene and where is the best place to get it?

Julia_Crab · Post by **Julia_Crab** » 14 Feb 2005, 09:04

Beta carotene is the phytochemical (that's a plant nutrient that they have no clear idea on what the minimum daily requirement is) that is responsible for color in hermit crabs. In order for their color to get dark and stay dark, they need access to beta carotene.

You can get it by feeding them foods that are orange, such as carrots, squash, pumpkin, mango and papaya. Also with dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach. If you feed them dark greens, though, they will need to be briefly cooked first. They have enzymes in them called oxalates, that bind to calcium, and are inactivated by cooking. Also, when cooking, use only dechlorinated water.

Also, seaweed and algaes such as spirulina are the most important foods you can give your crabs, as they are a natural part of the crab's diet and have all the nutrients they need for healthy molting.

I wrote an article on the importance of seaweed. It is at:

http://f2.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/0L8PQvkVUR ... %20Ordered

As far as a non-organic pet food version of seaweed that is safe, you can get Julian Sprung's Sea Veggies at Petco and other pet stores in the fish food section.