Can I save my Hermit Crab???

[Lynette]

I am a new owner and am just learning all there is to know about hermit crabs. One of my pets moulted, which I think was fine, but then I noticed she was not going back into her shell. She stayed out for almost two weeks - I didn't know I was supposed to separate her so I kept her in with the other three. When I asked at the pet store they told me to take her out of the tank with the others, and when I went back to do this I noticed she was missing several legs. I don't know if this happened during the moult or did the others eat them!!! She is now in hermit crab intensive care. I put her old shell right next to her and she has gone inside but there is little movement and I don't know if she will recover. Can anyone offer any ideas of what I can do for the poor little thing. I feel terrible that I kept her in too long with the other crabs. Hermit Crab owner on "L PLates".....

[Wai]

If she has dropped that many legs, there's a very slim chance that she'll make it through . Next time, isolate the moulter, or set up a barrier around them. Moulters a very vulnerable to attacks and cannabalism.

[Lynette]

Oh, I am sorry to hear that. I was hoping because she managed to get into a shell that she may manage to"grow" some more legs.

How can I tell if the hermit crab is moulting and not just hiding in the sand? Some of the crabs like to burrow down for a while. Thanks

[Wai]

Knowing when a hermit crab will moult exactly is one thing many crabbers want to master. If they dug all the way to the bottom of the tank or on the side, you'd be able to peek at their progress. The shed exoskeleton is hollow, so it will feel light and flexible when you poke it. Also, the area where the eyes used to be should be clear. Since hermit crabs don't have any exoskeleton on their abdomens, they don't shed it, so the shed skin should only have the frontal part of the hermit crab.

Hermit crabs can regenerate lost limbs, but it takes three or more moults to fully regrow the leg (assuming that they don't lose it again between moults). You'll see a small bud where the leg used to be if the hermit crab is trying to regenerate it.

[iluvhermies]

I had bought a hermit crab before for the simple reason that she had lost all her legs and even her large pincher and she lived and regrew all her legs and her large pincher. I still have her so it just depends on the crabbie. Do the best you can and keep food and water and the temp and humidity right and who knows it could make it.

[Lynette]

Thank you for the information. She is hanging in there. She is in our Hermit Crab Isolation Ward. In her own tank with heat mat. She has everything she needs to get better, and I am also keeping her tank quite dark as I heard that the less stress she has the better and dark is better for her. She has managed to get back into her shell but remains hiding. I have bought some little prawns as I hear they like them, so I am hoping this will tempt her to eat
Lynette

[iluvhermies]

Sounds like she has the perfect hospital there. Let us know how it goes please.

[Jaci]

yeah, i'm concerned for the little one. poor thing, i hope she pulls through