My crab lost his pincher arm

[notpennysboat]

I have a crab ( my lfs said it was a sponge a sponge crab but dosnt look like all the pics that I have seen) that lost his pincher arm. I looked in the tank one day and saw it lying on my dsb.
My question is probably obvious, will it grow back

 

[BEASTIEPENDENT]

Hi there,

yes, with the next molting the pincer should grow back. It might be a little smaller and regenerate to 100 % with the next molting.

 

[EaZy DuZ iT]

Yes, it will grow back. All depends on its next molting. If you are really in love with that crab make sure to have the lights off when its molting, to make sure the molt is more successfull.

 

[notpennysboat]

When will I know when it's molting? What's it look like?

 

[BEASTIEPENDENT]

Hi there

It will most probably hide before it molts, maybe it builds a wall where it can hide behind. An ecdysis You can watch here: http://panzerwelten.de/forum/thread-88.html (although the text is German You can see some photos showing the process of molting). When it will molt depends on how old it is, when it molted the last time and at least some crab species can accelerate the next molting when they lost more than five appendages – this is of course not the case with Your crab so ithere is no need for haste.

 

[LIONFISH5740]

Every time my crabs molt I miss it. You will think that it died when you see it. They do like to be left alone for this process and will not eat or move around a lot. Try to be patient with it. This link should help you out some.
http://www.hermitcrabpatch.com/Hermit-Crab-Successful-Molting-a/138.htm
I personally never seen one bury itself like it says in the article. Good luck

 

[BEASTIEPENDENT]

Hi Lionfish,

did You notice that the article is about LAND hermit crabs? Coenobita spp. – which need a terrarium, not an aquarium where they would drown – always bury for molting, other than marine hermits do.