Sick or Injured Hermit Crabs

By: Jessica Valderama

Bringing home a hermit crab from a pet store can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, especially when you realize that many pet stores don’t provide the proper care these delicate creatures need. If your new hermit crab seems lethargic, stressed, or drops limbs due to stress, don’t panic—there’s hope. With the right care and environment, you can give your hermit crab the best chance to recover and thrive. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you care for a sick or injured crab and give them a healthy, thriving life.

Common Signs of Stress or Illness in Hermit Crabs

Hermit crabs from pet stores experience extreme stress due to improper conditions like dry environments, lack of proper food, and rough handling. Look for these signs.

• Lethargy: A crab that is barely moving or not exploring.

• Missing claws or legs: This can result from stress, dehydration, or trauma.

• Lack of movement: This may indicate stress due to poor conditions.

• Fishy smell and a loose body in the shell: Unfortunately, this indicates the crab has passed.

• Black decaying spots on the exoskeleton: A sign of shell rot, which requires immediate attention and needs to be isolated.

Essential Tank Setup for Sick or Stressed Crabs

The first step to recovery is providing an ideal environment. Hermit crabs are very sensitive to their surroundings, and a proper setup can make all the difference.

• Temperature: Maintain a range of 75–85°F, with the ideal temperature in the low 80s. Use an under-tank heater (UTH) or heat mats placed on the outside back wall, 1 inch above the substrate.

• Humidity: Keep humidity at 80%, which is essential for their breathing. Use a calibrated hygrometer to monitor levels.

• Substrate: Use a mix of 5 parts play sand and 1 part eco earth (coconut fiber) for burrowing. The substrate should be moist enough to hold its shape with a poke test.

• Fresh and Saltwater Pools: Provide dechlorinated fresh water and marine-grade salt water in dishes deep enough for the crab to fully submerge. Use water conditioners to remove harmful chemicals.

• No Hiding Spots: Avoid providing hiding spots during this time. Hermit crabs instinctively hide when unwell, which can make it difficult to monitor their condition (Moist Moss can be added in a corner of the tank).

Isolation Tank for Critical Cases

For crabs that are lethargic, missing several limbs, or suffering from shell rot, set up a smaller isolation tank (hospital tank) to reduce stress and allow close monitoring.

Hydration: The First Step to Healing

Dehydration is a common cause of lethargy and limb loss in hermit crabs. Proper hydration can make a big difference.

• Pools: Provide dechlorinated fresh water and marine salt water with ramps for easy access (Add aquarium air stones to pools).

• Moss Pits: Add shallow pits of damp sphagnum moss to hold humidity and provide a resting place.

Nutrition: Providing Vital Nutrients

Recovering hermit crabs need nutrient-rich foods to rebuild strength and regenerate limbs and exoskeletons. Offer a variety of safe, natural options.

• Proteins: Cooked eggs, chicken, fish, or shrimp (unseasoned). Bug mixes like mealworms or crickets are excellent.

• Healthy Fats: Coconut oil, peanut-infused sunflower oil, or salmon oil.

• Calcium: Crushed eggshells, cuttlebone, oyster shell, or reptile calcium powder without D3 (These should be available at all times).

• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: Safe options like bananas, carrots, and cooked leafy greens.

• Avoid Commercial Foods: Many pet store foods contain harmful preservatives or additives. Stick to natural, unprocessed options.

Patience and Monitoring

Recovery takes time, especially if your crab has lost limbs. Hermit crabs regenerate limbs during molts, but this requires proper care and patience.

• Molting: Lethargy may indicate an upcoming molt. Ensure the substrate is at least 6 inches deep for burrowing.

• Avoid handling: Stress can slow recovery. Observe your crab from a distance.

• Daily Checks: Monitor activity, water levels, and food intake. Look for signs of improvement, such as increased movement or interest in food.

Medicinal Herbal Bath for Shell Rot

Shell rot is a bacterial infection that requires immediate attention. A medicinal herbal bath can fight infection, reduce inflammation, and promote healing.

Shell Rot: Causes and Prevention

Shell rot is a bacterial or fungal infection that can cause black, decaying spots on a hermit crab’s exoskeleton. This condition is highly contagious and can spread quickly if not addressed.

Causes of Shell Rot:

• Diet: Feeding raw shellfish can introduce harmful bacteria that may lead to shell rot. Always cook shellfish before offering it to your hermit crabs.

• Environment: Crabs from dirt-filled environments, such as poorly maintained pet shops, are more likely to carry bacteria or fungi that cause shell rot.

• Wild-Caught Crabs: Wild-caught hermit crabs can carry shell rot and unknowingly introduce it into an existing colony. It’s crucial to quarantine new crabs for at least 30 days to monitor for signs of illness or infection before introducing them to the main tank.

By maintaining a clean, stable environment and offering a proper diet, you can reduce the risk of shell rot. Regularly monitor your hermit crabs for any signs of infection and act quickly to isolate and treat affected crabs.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon marshmallow root

• 1 tablespoon myrrh powder

• 1 tablespoon calendula flowers (whole)

• 1 tablespoon chamomile flowers (whole)

• 1 quart (4 cups) of dechlorinated water

Preparation:

1. Make a decoction: Heat 1 quart of dechlorinated water until just below boiling. Add marshmallow root and myrrh powder. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

2. Add Delicate Herbs: Remove from heat and add calendula and chamomile flowers. Cover immediately to trap steam and essential oils.

3. Cooling and Storage: Let the mixture cool completely, then strain out the herbs. Store in a clean container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours.

How to Administer:

• Use a small, shallow dish to hold the herbal wash.

• Gently apply the treatment to affected areas. Avoid full submersion unless treating the abdomen or gills.

• Administer once daily until the infection decreases. If needed, increase to twice daily.

Herb Benefits:

• Marshmallow Root: Draws out infection and creates a protective slime layer.

• Myrrh Extract: A natural antibacterial agent.

• Calendula Flowers: Boosts immunity and reduces inflammation.

• Chamomile Flowers: Soothes irritation and promotes healing.

By following these steps, you can help your hermit crab recover from stress or injury. Remember, hermit crabs are resilient creatures capable of healing with proper care.

Credit: Recipe created by Gert Snicklegrove and Stacy Griffith

Share Your Success Stories

If you’ve nursed a hermit crab back to health, share your journey! Your story can inspire others to rescue and properly care for these amazing creatures. Together, we can advocate for better care and awareness for hermit crabs everywhere.

Credit: Original Energy Mix recipe is by Mary Akers for Captive Bred Babies

The recipe for the emergency energy mix, along with a video tutorial on how to make it, can be found below. This energy mix is designed to help boost energy levels in lethargic hermit crabs.

Energy Mix Recipe:

- 1 teaspoon of protein like (Dry Krill, Shrimp, Bloodworms)

- 1 teaspoon of calcium

- 1 teaspoon of fat like (Beef tallow or coconut oil)

- 1 teaspoon of crushed eggshells, cuttlebone

- 1 teaspoon of peanut butter (Single ingredient if possible)

- 1 teaspoon of mealworms or bug mix

-1 teaspoon of raw honey (Organic if possible)

- A small sprinkle of Himalayan or marine salt

- Crush all ingredients together and mix till you have a paste consistency.

Note:

These methods have been effective in the past, but for very sick hermit crabs, all we can do is provide the care outlined above and hope for the best. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee their recovery; it’s always difficult to determine the full extent of the stress and illness they may have endured.

Photos by: Daryl Ashley & Hunter Smith