Emergency!!! Crab with only 2 claws!!!

[Mr.Crab]

My crab has suffered from a very bad moult and he only has 2 claws! his small pincher and a walking foot. I found his exo and all the other legs are pure meat! Yes he is alive , I provided him with grapes and a banana but I don't know what he will eat it with? the small pincher?

this is a big emergence becuase this crab cannot get out of his shell or walk, it has been poking in and out for 2 days now and survived on nothing (except for I think he ate today.)

QUESTIONS:
1. How do I provide him with food?
2. How do I provide him with water?
3. Will he grow his limbs back and how? He isn't going to be able to dig so how?
4. I don't think I am able to take care of my crabs anymore because I really don't want to see them die again, how will I be able to give him out? I live in Boston, MA

Thanks everyone : ( and I'm sticking with the quote - "Things happen" im still holding on. thanks!

[ladybug15057]

"1. How do I provide him with food?"

It is important for now (and a couple days) to offer him food high in chitin, protein, spirulina, and calcium. (in a week offer all the other foods and nutrients hermies need to remain healthy) Either ground into a powder form, or extremely small pieces as in a mush type food. About every 3 days offer him some 100% pure honey. With his small feeder claw, he will be able to eat if the food is small enough.

"2. How do I provide him with water?"

Get a small flatter type dish for ocean and fresh water. Something that is easy to climb down into. To make it easier for him to climb in, it can be pushed down into the substrate as well.
Is your hermie use to being handled by you?
If so, depending on his size you can help him with his shell water. If he is in a shell about the size of a quarter, every 4-5 days put 1 drop ocean water and 2 drops fresh water within his shell.


"3. Will he grow his limbs back and how? He isn't going to be able to dig so how?"

Diet is very important and yes if he pulls through this he will regenerate his missing limbs. But a properly balanced diet is needed so he can grow healthy gel limbs. As for needing to dig, he doesn't HAVE to dig to molt, but for now he should have a hut or something he can seek shelter in. Place the water and food right outside the door of the hut and leave him be.
Smooth the substrate so you can see if he ventures to the food and water bowls.
But severely handicapped hermies CAN survive with a little extra TLC, I had both a Straw and E hermie both survive after being brutally mutilated during surprise molts in the main tanks.

http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... Formed.jpg

http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... l-view.jpg

Yes, with TLC they recovered to molt into whole, healthy, happy hermies

http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... enails.jpg

http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... o-stan.jpg

[Mr.Crab]

Awesome info, may I ask what TLC is?

[CrabbyJo]

TLC is Tender Loving Care.

[stEveY13]

Oman the situations Suck!!!! I have a crab with one leg missing, but heres wat you do: isolate him from other crabs. be sure to keep everything CLOSE to the crab. not to close, but so he can move around a little. Feed the crab veggies, fill/clean water bowl when ever its dirty. I use pure water from petsmart, i would get some. its 2.49 a bottle. last hope that the crab legs grow back!! (which they will)

[emmac350]

Stevey, some of your advice isn't actually what the crab in that situation needs. Crabs need much more nutrition that they can get from vegetables if they are missing body parts, and even just normally need more than that. They need protein, calcium, chitin, carbohydrates, and seaweeds and algaes if they are to regain the nutrition to successfully molt soon. They also need both salt and fresh water - you didn't mention any of that. Also, the water you can buy pre-mixed at the pet store for your crabs is not good for them - it has bad chemicals in it that can and will harm them.

Please check out our crab care section as it has a lot of information about how to best take care of your crabs!

[ladybug15057]

I agree with Emma, and one can buy almost 3 bottles of distilled water at Walmart for what the 1 small (quart maybe?) bottle at PetSmart costs. For a hermie to grow healthy gel limbs to regenerate his lost limbs it is a must that he has a proper well balanced diet, proper water sources as well as proper tank conditions.