hermie lost BOTH claws and I think was attacked by other cra

[crabbyabby]

Please help ASAP! I have 3 hermit crabs in one crabitat, and today found one of them without BOTH its claws. They were sort of buried underneath him in the sand. We moved him into an isolation tank and immediately saw one of my other crabs attacking the other crab. It has just dawned on us that possibly the aggressive one was fighting for a shell. Is there anything we can do for the crab that lost his claws or is he going to die? I hope that he can regenerate his claws but I am worried for him. We have since separated all 3 crabs into individual tanks so they will not fight until we can get more larger shells for them to go into. I would mainly like to know what we can do for the injured crab and if he will regenerate his claws. I've read he can but also read he will die. Any advice would be most useful. Please help!

[crabbyabby]

I know I will be asked, all 3 crabs were purchased at a beach side store and I have had them for about 2 years. About 2 weeks ago I noticed in the middle of the night that they were all 3 stacked on top of each other like a triple scoop of ice cream on a cone. I'm positive it was a crab fight now, so I am just wanting info on if his claws will grow back and what I need to do for him while he is injured. I am worried he can't eat w/out his claws and how in the world will he be able to move around carrying his shell w/out claws????

[emmac350]

Your crab can regenerate his claws if you help him through this time in his life. Until the crab's next molt, you are going to have to (most likely) feed him by hand, though, as without any claws it'd be hard for him to do it himself. Before you try hand-feeding (especially if he isn't very trusting), try offering ground up/small pieces of food. Lots of protein and calcium and honey for some extra energy. For protein, try dried or steamed shrimp and other shellfish, krill, bloodworms, etc. All of those also are a source of calcium and chitin to help regenerate the limbs. I'd also recommend honey with spirulina powder and powdered cuttlebone on top.

Also, as an answer to your question of whether the crab can live, here are two sites that say he can:

http://hermit-crabs.com/myths.html

http://www.crabstreetjournal.com/caresh ... mites.html (it's about 2/3 down the page)

Good luck, and I hope to hear good news from you about your crabs.

Edit: as for your worry about your crab's ability to move around without claws...I doubt he'll be climbing anywhere, but walking won't be a problem. Our crabs are very good at adapting to whatever physical impairments they have. There is one member on here whose name escapes me who has a hermit crab whose eyes somehow didn't make a molt. A blind hermit crab who's just as active, if a little more clumsy, than her other crabs. Somewhere I have seen several pictures of crabs who only had claws and no legs who survived just fine. If you are very careful with your crab and give him the care he will need, you will be fine and so will he.

[crabcrazygal]

did you remove the crab that you said you saw fighting, with the other?

[emmac350]

Crabcrazygal, she said that she separated all 3 crabs to avoid future fighting for now.

[ladybug15057]

Please do as Emma has suggested, but if your hermie is not use to being handled you can grind all the food offered into a powder, or a mush type consistency. He will be able to eat with his mouth parts if the food is served this way. I would still suggest too, to grind the food up and have some in the tank at all times for if and when he wants to eat himself. With the stress he has just under gone the less handling the better.

[crabbyabby]

Many thanks to all who've replied so quickly!! I am very happy to report that upon further examination of Sheldon (crabby #1 w/out claw) thru his iso tank that he is now moving around, eating, and drinking on his own. ((No worries gang, I haven't picked him up since moving him into his iso tank, only closely observing him thru his tank with much supervision.)) I'll be getting him the dried shrimp & bloodworms, etc. I've looked closely and he appears to have his tiny claw still, I had thought that he was w/out it but he appears to have it after all which is good news to us. He is moving around and although he is a bit quick to retreat into his shell when he sees us (for good reason as he's been thru alot!) he is out and about as usual. Hopefully he will be ok now, and I am a bit less worried. Diego (crabby #2, aggressive) has in fact been moved to another tank, so now all 3 crabbies are separated but are side by side by side so they can see each other. Leonard(crabby #3) is in middle and Sheldon is on furthest end so we can see him from almost all sides of tank to keep our eyes on him every minute. I am so very grateful for all your helpful responses! I will keep you all posted on Sheldon's recovery. At moment, Diego is attempting to try on other shells, and we have put new larger shells in each crabitat for them to try on. Sheldon and Leonard have no interest in other shells so far, but that is expected I suppose, since they were being upset by Diego's badboy behaviour! With a little love and luck, Sheldon will recover and hopefully begin regenerating his claw(s) & limb(s). THANK YOU ALL!!

[emmac350]

Slightly off-topic question - did you name Leonard and Sheldon after the characters on the CBS show "The Big Bang Theory"?

Also, I'm very glad that things are going well and that your crab is only without one claw, not both. Best of luck with claw regeneration!

[crabbyabby]

"Slightly off-topic question - did you name Leonard and Sheldon after the characters on the CBS show "The Big Bang Theory"? "

LOL, yes we did!! The first one we got we named Sheldon, shell pun intended, after the zany character from the show! He's my fave character on tv currently, and the name just fit. The 2nd one we got had same type of shell so Leonard he was! I guess on 2nd thought we should have named Diego one of the remaining characters, Penny would have been good since his shell is penny-copper colored. LOL. We love that show and love those crabbies!