Might have accidently killed one of my hermits

VanJuarez · May 9, 2021

So I was looking at my tank after getting home from work to see how everything was doing, and a saw one of my nassarius way up up the top of the tank near the lid. Confused, I went to take him off to put him back down by the sand. There was a little resistance when I was trying to take him off, but it seemed no more than usual when picking up a snail.

Turns out, it was not a nassarius, but a hermit that got ahold of a nassarius shell, and I accidently ripped off one of his arms trying to get him down. Whoops. I think it got stuck between the rim and the overflow. I put him on top of a rock, and he is still alive, but I'm not sure if he will make it or not. My fish started freaking out and the cuc all started coming out looking for food, I'm guessing they smelled the blood. I feel pretty bad, I liked that hermit he was a little trouble maker, but funny to watch.

Has anyone experienced something similar to this? Is he likely to die from losing his leg? It wasn't the main claw, just a side leg.

Reefing_addiction · May 9, 2021

VanJuarez said:
So I was looking at my tank after getting home from work to see how everything was doing, and a saw one of my nassarius way up up the top of the tank near the lid. Confused, I went to take him off to put him back down by the sand. There was a little resistance when I was trying to take him off, but it seemed no more than usual when picking up a snail.

Turns out, it was not a nassarius, but a hermit that got ahold of a nassarius shell, and I accidently ripped off one of his arms trying to get him down. Whoops. I think it got stuck between the rim and the overflow. I put him on top of a rock, and he is still alive, but I'm not sure if he will make it or not. My fish started freaking out and the cuc all started coming out looking for food, I'm guessing they smelled the blood. I feel pretty bad, I liked that hermit he was a little trouble maker, but funny to watch.

Has anyone experienced something similar to this? Is he likely to die from losing his leg? It wasn't the main claw, just a side leg.

I would imagine he would be ok. I mean they can regrow claws. Might take a bit.

lukefish · May 9, 2021

I find loads of little hermit legs around the tank and I only have 2 hermits.
Im sure it will grow back

Powahfull · Jun 4, 2021

How did your hermit crawl up the glass?

Uncle99 · Jun 4, 2021

Trying to eat the snail.
Kinda, lunch to go....

Sharkbait19 · Jun 4, 2021

Powahfull said:
How did your hermit crawl up the glass?

Mine do it all the time. They wedge themselves in the corner and and Spider-Man themselves up.
To the Op, it will be fine. Crustaceans are very good at regrowing limbs. They have multiple because they are expendable and grow back. It will be back to normal in a few molts.