The Gang
- Thread starter Cian McLiam
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Feline
Fish Herder
Big thanks Ken! 
I just scooped him out using my hand (!) - yeah it got no claws pheww... so I handfed him some brineshrimp paste. He just moulted 3 weeks ago with a new arm n now it's lost again! 
Ok so I'll handfeed him like a baby everyday for now! 
Oh but will I kill him if he's upside down when out of water? He flipped over by accident when trying to escape from my hand today!
I just scooped him out using my hand (!) - yeah it got no claws pheww... so I handfed him some brineshrimp paste. He just moulted 3 weeks ago with a new arm n now it's lost again! Ok so I'll handfeed him like a baby everyday for now! Oh but will I kill him if he's upside down when out of water? He flipped over by accident when trying to escape from my hand today!
No worries Feline! It wont kill him if he flips upside down, he may panic if he is left like that tho, so he will be much more comfortable right side up.
If you really want to help him you could add the dust of 'cuttlefish' like you give to birds to the paste, its pure calcium and is great for regenerating new limbs. Leave a small piece in the aquarium if its just crabs and brackish fish.
One great help to the crabs is old beech tree leaves, from last autumn if you can find some, they must be fully brown and you can boil them to kill fungus. They are a great boost to their immune system.
Unfortunately most crabs that lose both claws die because they cant eat, so its important that your water isnt too soft or acidic, or too warm either, their respiratory system breaks down over 29 degrees Celcius and they wont be able to regenerate missing claws and may die, best temp is between 22 and 24. not sure in Farenheit.
Good Luck!
If you really want to help him you could add the dust of 'cuttlefish' like you give to birds to the paste, its pure calcium and is great for regenerating new limbs. Leave a small piece in the aquarium if its just crabs and brackish fish.
One great help to the crabs is old beech tree leaves, from last autumn if you can find some, they must be fully brown and you can boil them to kill fungus. They are a great boost to their immune system.
Unfortunately most crabs that lose both claws die because they cant eat, so its important that your water isnt too soft or acidic, or too warm either, their respiratory system breaks down over 29 degrees Celcius and they wont be able to regenerate missing claws and may die, best temp is between 22 and 24. not sure in Farenheit.
Good Luck!
Cheers Stix!
Feline
Fish Herder
Very informative Ken, thanks a lot!! No wonder my crabs stayed out of the water during those crazy summer months a couple of months ago!
No wonder my crabs stayed out of the water during those crazy summer months a couple of months ago! Heres a new pic of The Gob, out for a scavenge:
i know NOTHING about crabs, but how did they lose claws/legs? other crabs or fish do it to them?
They will lose claws and legs by physical damage, like from climbing bushy hard plastic plants, fights with other crabs (mine) or if the water is too hot.
They do grow them back usually at the next moult, when they crack the rear of their shell and various fracture points in the limbs and pull themselves out of the old shell, or 'carapace'.
They continuously grow a new skin layer under the shell and when the leave the old shell this skin is soft so they can expand body size. The skin then hardens over some hours into a new shell. Its really amazing to watch but they will usually hide for a few days before hand. The old shells look exactly like the old crab, the first time it happened I thought I was seeing things, first two crabs then THREE!
Crabs are most vulnerable at this stage cos they are soft and any damage will lead to limb loss, my male was attacked by the female crab while his carapace was soft. Maybe it was revenge as he was a bit of a wife beater!
Ken
They do grow them back usually at the next moult, when they crack the rear of their shell and various fracture points in the limbs and pull themselves out of the old shell, or 'carapace'.
They continuously grow a new skin layer under the shell and when the leave the old shell this skin is soft so they can expand body size. The skin then hardens over some hours into a new shell. Its really amazing to watch but they will usually hide for a few days before hand. The old shells look exactly like the old crab, the first time it happened I thought I was seeing things, first two crabs then THREE!
Crabs are most vulnerable at this stage cos they are soft and any damage will lead to limb loss, my male was attacked by the female crab while his carapace was soft. Maybe it was revenge as he was a bit of a wife beater!
Ken
Feline
Fish Herder
LOL, that's what happened to me as well!Ken_g_w said:
Mine lost his arms through a fight as well, and the winner crab ate the loser crab's arm afterwards!!
Edit: by the way, a very cool looking plec Ken!!
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