If a hermit crab leg came off can it live?

Answer 1

It will grow back during the next molting period. (Pretty cool!)

More information: Actually, it is a sign that your hermit crab is very stressed. If he survives, the leg will grow back during the next molting period. If you've had him a while, you need to check yoru tank conditions and think about whether he's been dealing with a lot of extra stressors lately, such as being roughly handled, or if his living conditions are not as he needs them to be. Hermit crabs are wild caught animals, so the stress of being taken from their home environment and shipped to pet stores is stressful. Also, many pet stores do not keep their own crabs in proper environments with regulated temperature and humidity, and are often in enclosures where people can actually reach in and pick them up and touch them and they are often not careful with the poor things, causing more stress. You didnt say how long you've had your crab.

When you bring home a hermit crab, he needs a terrarium type cage with a regulated temperature between 70 degress minimum and 85 degrees max. More importantly, the humidity needs to be kept near 70%. Hermit crabs breathe through modified gills, which need moisture to work properly. Too dry for too long and their gills dry out and eventually they suffocate over time. Your hermit crab will be sluggish and slow moving because he's not getting enough air.

He also needs to be left alone for about 2 weeks when you bring him home, so he can de-stress. Picking him up a lot after bringing him home can add more stress after the ride home, and he can lose legs or die. As long as you have enough substrate for him to burrow into and mellow out, hopefully he will be okay.

Answer 2

There is many reason why it could happen and here they are.....

1: it might if its too cold and it starting o die....

2: it might be stressed out....

3: it might have gotten in a fight with other hermit crabs.....

4: leg could have gotten caught.

5: it shedding its old claws.....

6: it sick and is dieing........

All you can do and wait too see what's going to happen leave it alone for a day so it can rest. The next day see if its ok or not and if it is dead usually you can shake it out of its shell. but that's only if you want to keep the shell though. DONT SHAKE IT IF IT IS ALIVE BECAUSE YOU WILL KILL IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! any questions at all call a pet store or pet doctor for some more information.

Answer 3

Well i really don't kno wat 2 say cuz i had 1 that his claw fell off if ur crab wont move , rattles wen you shake him ,and stinks its probably dead. im sorry but if it just happened that his claw fell off keep him in a separate tank away from ur other crabz and just watch him he might grow a new claw or ready 2 molt

Answer 4

This is not to be confused with molting. Occasionally hermit crabs will lose a leg or claw, and while it isn't a death sentence, it is a sign that you need to carefully evaluate your crab care techniques and tank conditions. Dropping a leg is a natural defense for a crab - they do this to escape if something (e.g. another crab) has a hold on one of their legs, or if a leg gets injured. It is also thought to happen with illness and stress. It sometimes happens when a new crab comes home from the store, since the whole collection/transport/pet store experience is pretty stressful. Anyway, there are a number of things you need to evaluate if your crab loses a leg (or legs -- the loss of multiple legs is more serious). And don't despair - a healthy crab living in good conditions will be able to regenerate a lost leg or claw.

Answer 5

yes. the leg will grow back after the crab molts.

Answer 6

If your hermit crabs leg comes off and smells unusal than he is dieing call your local pet store on how to care for him

Answer 7

Yes, a hermit crab can regrow a lost leg (or any limb) within it's next couple of molts if conditions are good for molting. However, dropping legs is a sign of stress for hermit crabs.

Answer 8

Inevitably, the hermit crab or crabs will die. They wouldn't possibly be able to defend themselves, and they would, obviously, not be able to move either.