Hermit crab lost a fight...

JVH · Dec 30, 2015

I found a hermit crab (the oldest and biggest one in my tank) dragging its body along the sand naked!! I was shocked! At first I wasn't even sure what I was looking at but then I saw what I assume was his molt.
This guy was so pathetic looking I felt awful! He only had one large front leg. ALL other legs were gone and he was still alive! So I scooped him into a shell and put him in a Tupperware container and put that in the sump. I now feed him with tweezers! He tries to eat but the food floats away if I don't hold it over him which I do but it hard to not get sand on him and when I do I have to blow it off and I don't want to poke him! all that must be causing extra stress! (ON ME TOO!)

Does anyone know if there is a supplement I can put it the water so he gets nourishment to help grow his legs back? He was basically just laying in the shell looking but now I see if I lean the shell a tiny bit he will flip it over but he doesn't have the strength with no legs to flip back...
GEEEZE! I don't know what to do for him! So Now I spend about 1/2 hour nightly trying to feed him but I don't know if he is getting any.
I wanted to put in a few tigger pods but If they g into his shell he may not be able to move to get them out or eat them..
Any advice to help my patient?

runzwithscissors · Dec 30, 2015

Sinking pellets. They can grow claws back, but not so sure about legs. The pellets will sit in front of him.

human · Dec 30, 2015

It'll eventually grow it's legs back if it survives until it's next molt, they may not be as long, but they'll get back to normal size after a few molts. Maybe get some spirulina wafers and set one in front of him, that way it can eat at its leisure, good luck.

Hurst148 · Dec 30, 2015

They can grow all their legs and claws back, but sometimes it takes several molts for everything to be back all the way, and hopefully non deformed. Does he have several choices of empty shells to try to get his poor mangled body into? They're just very delicate and tend to perish if they go without a shell.

Sabellafella · Dec 30, 2015

Iodide iodine

JVH · Dec 30, 2015

Hurst148 said:
They can grow all their legs and claws back, but sometimes it takes several molts for everything to be back all the way, and hopefully non deformed. Does he have several choices of empty shells to try to get his poor mangled body into? They're just very delicate and tend to perish if they go without a shell.

Yes, I have 3 lite weight shells.

JVH · Dec 30, 2015

member: 55963"]Iodide iodine[/QUOTE]

I have an iodine supplement. He is in the sump in a cup and I don't necessarily think I want to treat the whole tank.. What do you think? Or should I try to add to his cup of water? Though I don't see how it will stay in it with the circulation..

JVH · Dec 30, 2015

runzwithscissors said:
Sinking pellets. They can grow claws back, but not so sure about legs. The pellets will sit in front of him.

OMG!! I have no idea why I did not think of that! I have sinking pellets! Thanks for helping me with my brain! LOL I will drop one or two in near him. They swell up 3 x's the size so he should easily get to it. Man I hated feeding him because I was always putting sand on him! This will work thanks again!

runzwithscissors · Dec 30, 2015

JVH said:
OMG!! I have no idea why I did not think of that! I have sinking pellets! Thanks for helping me with my brain! LOL I will drop one or two in near him. They swell up 3 x's the size so he should easily get to it. Man I hated feeding him because I was always putting sand on him! This will work thanks again!

You might try using a turkey baster to place them. Good luck! As an afterthought as Hurst stated they are fragile outside the shell. Whenever I've seen them change shells they usually use legs to slide body into shell. You might have to slide a shell on

Sabellafella · Dec 30, 2015

JVH said:
member: 55963"]Iodide iodine

I have an iodine supplement. He is in the sump in a cup and I don't necessarily think I want to treat the whole tank.. What do you think? Or should I try to add to his cup of water? Though I don't see how it will stay in it with the circulation..[/QUOTE]
Nooo dont add it to his cup lolol dose the tank, of your wiery, use iodide, i dose it sometimes when my shrimls and hermits dont molt in a while

JVH · Dec 30, 2015

lol ok. I have it but never really use it because I was told its hard to measure s your never sure if you need it or dosing too much but I will follow the instructions on bottle for amount..

JVH · Dec 30, 2015

runzwithscissors said:
You might try using a turkey baster to place them. Good luck! As an afterthought as Hurst stated they are fragile outside the shell. Whenever I've seen them change shells they usually use legs to slide body into shell. You might have to slide a shell on

Well I originally slid him into a "little" shell and that's the one he's been in. I put him in a small one so it would be light if he were to start moving around but when he had his legs it would have been considered a small shell! He was a BIG crab. His originally shell is now owned by a big fat maroom leg crab!
But I may try to coax him into a better shell.. Can't wait to feed him later! Ill try to post a pic.

Sabellafella · Dec 30, 2015

Dont follow intructions there all lethal, if you dont test for it ,it depeneds what iodine your using?

Sabellafella · Dec 30, 2015

I love my hermits as much as every one if my fish lol if you give him some time im pretty sure his legs will grow back, you have to force him to molt. It wll take sbout 2 to 4 molts before he gets better

Mrs. Crabs · Dec 30, 2015

All missing parts of a hermit crab will grow back.
I had one that lost all legs and even the eyes, after 4 months everything was back. The eyes took the longest time to regenerate, but the hermit was able to even see again.

JVH · Dec 30, 2015

Omg!!! Even the eyes? That is insane!! Well I am taking really good care of him so that's good to know !

JVH · Dec 30, 2015

Sabellafella said:
I love my hermits as much as every one if my fish lol if you give him some time im pretty sure his legs will grow back, you have to force him to molt. It wll take sbout 2 to 4 molts before he gets better

I am really glad to know that everything should grow back because I am definitely going to keep taking care of him! Once a day I make sure he tries to get food and now with the stinking pallets you'll have a better chance of actually getting it ! I too love my hermit crabs and my shrimp snails everything I love every living thing in my tank !i'm going to try and post a picture that I had when he was out of the sump yesterday

JVH · Dec 30, 2015

OK I think it's going to work here is the little guy when he is in his shell that I put him in . You can see the one big leg that's left though the claw portion is missing and there are no other legs.though there are little tentacles in the middle that he seems to hold onto food with

Sabellafella · Dec 30, 2015

JVH said:
OK I think it's going to work here is the little guy when he is in his shell that I put him in . You can see the one big leg that's left though the claw portion is missing and there are no other legs.though there are little tentacles in the middle that he seems to hold onto food with

Aw he lookslike hes alright. Just put a couple pieces of live rock nd nori in there for him to climb on an eat, also put holes in the cup so the water can vent