I was giving my hermit crab a warm bath when suddenly he came all the way out of his shell. He won't go to another shell. He is still moving slightly, but one of his legs fell off! Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-11-25 10:54:00 · 8 answers · asked by Barbara C 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
I hate to be negative but I believe hermit crabs are a fake. As a child my mother brought them for me over and over again they always came out of shell then died. I know its sad but I would just let it go and try a new pet. Sorry
2007-11-25 10:59:08 · answer #1 · answered by Tina A 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Leaving a shell is not a normal behavior. They leave their shell if they are stressed, sick, very hungry or thirsty, etc.
If they are going to molt, they bury themselves for protection and do not come out until they have finished molting and have let their exoskel harden. If he wanted a bigger shell, they find a shell before they abandon the one they already have. They do not just leave their shell to look for a new one.
Without a shell he will die within 48 hours. They cannot hold in heat, can be attacked by other hermit crabs, and their abdomen is extremely sensitive and can be ripped open or severely damaged from being exposed.
I have had this happen a couple times and this is what I have done and it always works.
Take a large flat bottomed bowl, 4 plastic bags, a tall cup, a small dark colored towel, and a few damp paper towels. Lay the paper towels flat on the bottom of the bowl. Place the hermit crab with his original shell and a couple other shells around the size it should fit in (you know what size a shell is appropriate by looking at its crusher claw. The opening should be about the size of the crusher claw) into the center of the bowl. Put the cup over the hermit and shells upside down so the hermit is quarantined from any outside air.
Fill the plastic bags about half way with relatively warm water. It shouldn't be scalding, but definately warm enough to heat up air around it. Place these bags around the cup inside the bowl. This will create a non invasive way to keep the air inside the cup warm. Place the dark towel over the entire contraption and place it in a warm, quiet part of the house. Check on him only as often as you need to change the water (every 6 to 8 hours or so). Only when the bags get cold.
If he hasn't gone into a shell yet, don't touch him. Human oils make it harder for them to recover. After he has moved into a shell, place him in an isolation tank (which you should have for them to molt in) for a week to make sure he has recovered fully before putting him back into the tank with the others. If he is placed in the tank with the others right away he could be attacked.
You can e-mail me if you have any questions.
2007-11-25 16:33:05 · answer #2 · answered by Stephanie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hate 2 break the bad news but he prolly going 2 die. They can only live a short while outside of their shell.
2007-11-25 12:45:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is NOT molting. This is a reaction to stress and poor living conditions, and can be deadly. Please read the info on this site and make whatever changes you can. It may be possible to save him.
http://www.hermit-crabs.com/FAQ.html
2007-11-25 12:45:34 · answer #4 · answered by KimbeeJ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
HE IS NOOOTTT DYING. he's just ready to come out of his exoskeleton and he needs to been in soil and darkness. do not bother him. his legs falling off is normal. it takes a long time to do that.
2007-11-25 11:02:45 · answer #5 · answered by kim 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Look here:
http://hermitcrabassociation.com/pages/
It has info on these problems.
2007-11-25 11:17:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol hes ded
2007-11-29 10:58:58 · answer #7 · answered by HOLYCRAPBABBY 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Please read my link about hermit crabs!
http://www.petakids.com/hermitcrab.asp
2007-11-25 18:35:18 · answer #8 · answered by XO 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋