Sometimes hermit crab can drop their limbs and regenerate them. The regenerated limbs will not be as strong as the original one but it will do the job. There can be many reasons to lose a claw or a leg; it is crucial to know how to care for a lost limb hermit crab. Here we’ll discuss the reasons and how you can help the crab in the regeneration process.
Autotomy
The ability to drop hermit crab limbs is called autotomy. Autotomy is the ability of certain animals to actively remove their limbs by themselves as a defense mechanism. When other animals attack or by anything the animal with the autotomy ability feels if it sheds a certain limb, it will get rid of the danger, it loses its limbs like a tail or a leg. Some animals with the autotomy ability are- lizards, some snakes, worms, salamanders, spiders, and some crabs including hermit crabs.
The reasons why hermit crabs remove their limbs
Predator Defense
We already know about the autotomy defense system that hermit crabs use to protect themselves. When conflict arises between two hermit crabs (it can be a territorial dispute or occupation of another crab’s shell) one attacks the other with the claw. When the attacker gets the leg or a claw with its stronger claw, the weaker one tries to lose the pinched limb and run away realizing it has no choice.
But when we keep hermit crabs in a captive environment, where they get a nice big enough enclosure, plenty of shell and food, they live in harmony without any dispute. So there can be other reasons why your hermit crab lost his limb.
Do hermit crabs lose legs when molting?
Yes, hermit crabs can lose legs in molting time. They become vulnerable in that process. So in molting time if another hermit crab attacks, a normal pinch is enough to easily shed a claw or a leg.
Hermit crabs become so weak at that time even a light bump against something inside the enclosure (stone or wood) can accidentally dislodge their legs.
Disease or Injury
Any kind of disease, infection, or injury can trigger the autotomy to prevent the spread of infection or to minimize further damage. Hermit crab may lose limbs ensure its health and prevent death.
Physical stress
Any kind of aggressive handling, changing the enclosure frequently, or re-setup the tank without holding the crabs gently and keeping them in isolation. These kinds of holding can be misunderstood as predators and can give them physical damage forcing the autotomy activation.
Poor crabitat condition
One of the common reasons for losing hermit crab limbs is poor habitat conditions. This includes an overcrowded enclosure (overcrowded enclosure can lead to disputes for resources, which can result in aggressive encounters and limb loss), unmaintained temperature and humidity, poor substrate choice, poor water and food choice, and dirty enclosure. These problems can stress a hermit crab, leading to health issues and potentially causing them to drop limbs.
Mites
Mite is a common problem for all hermit crab owners. Sometimes these pests can be a cause of losing limbs. The crab may look normal but if you see it closely sometimes you may notice tiny movements. These are called hermit crab mites. They can bother your crab so much that the crab forcefully loses its limb.
Can hermit crabs regrow limbs?
Hermit crab can regrow their limbs through a process called regeneration. After losing a limb, a nub-like transparent covering starts developing in the place of the lost limb. This will eventually develop the limb after a few molts.
My hermit crab leg fell off is he dead?
Yes, it can be possible, sometimes losing limbs can be a sign of illness which can lead to death. Hermit crab becomes weak after losing a leg, the crab can walk weakly, within a few days it will start to regrow the lost par and become strong again. Without proper care, the crab can die. If the crab doesn’t move, you need to check for odor to ensure it really is dead. Here is how you know if a hermit crab is dead.
If the crab is alive follow the instructions given below.
How to care for a limb loss hermit crab
- Isolation- Separate the hermit crab from other crabs. Take him in a separate container with maintained humidity (70%-80%) and temperature (75 to 85 degrees F). You can place the isolated crab in the old crabitat by covering it with a lid. This will ensure preventing contact with other crabs and you don’t have to set up a new enclosure for temperature, humidity, and light for only one crab. Give him shells as usual.
- Food- Give normal food as usual and make sure he gets a balanced diet. Give him more protein and calcium-rich foods such as crushed eggshells, shrimp, chicken breast, tuna, anchovy, eggs, crickets, mealworms and other insects, krill, fish flakes, and cuttlebone. These diets will ensure the crab is healthy and grows his limb quickly. If the crab doesn’t have a claw means he can’t eat using two claws as a hermit crab grabs the food with one claw and breaks it into small pieces with another. So this situation you have to give him sliced and chopped into little pieces so that he can eat with only one claw. Commercial food is not recommended.
- In the isolation container ensure there is nothing the crab can bumped into.
- In the molting period, ensure your crab doesn’t get hurt by anything and minimize every possible stress you can.
- If mite is bothering your crab, you have to remove all the substrate, clean the tank, and pour new substrate. Because these mites can spread easily from infected things. Boil or bake in the oven all the stone, wood, and shell of the infected enclosure. And set up your tank again. You have to fix this problem as soon as possible.
- When the injured crab had grown its limb properly it is time to take it back to the original tank.
