The Puffer Forum

Well last week when I went to my LFS to buy some Japonica shrimp there was this crab in another tank that caught my eye, a little red crab. The poor thing had no legs, just the two front claws. I knew that it would not live out the night because it was in a tank with a much bigger, healthier crab, and they seem to attack at night. So I asked the employee if he would sell me the crab for half price (it would have been nice if he had offered it for free, but they are a bit tight at that location). Anyway, I got the little legless crab and took it home. The only tank I could put him in is the tank that I've got my irrubesco and dwarf puffers in. My irrubesco used to live in a tank with another crab, and they never bothered it so I was hoping they would continue to ignore this one.

I hadn't seen the little crab for a few days and thought it must have been eaten, and felt a little saddened.

And then, I was sitting here the other night and I noticed in a different tank, my Fahaka tank, that Obie was getting after something. I knew there wasn't anything else in that tank, so I had a closer look and lo and behold, there was a crab that used to be in that tank from when BeeBoo was living there, but I thought BeeBoo had eaten it. I think it must have been living in the mangrove root ornament, became hungry and came out looking for something to eat. And that's when Obie got it! I quickly ran to get a net and got it out of the tank, but it had lost both claws and most of it's appendages. So I had another legless crab!!

I went ahead and put that one in the same tank as I had put the other one, and hoped that it would live too.

Anyway, I just thought I'd let it be known that just yesterday I seen both crabs, alive and well. Still legless, but eating and living, and hopefully they will get the chance to moult and regain their limbs again. I know most people who own puffers buy crabs as food for their puffs, but I just can't bring myself to feed them to my puffers. I enjoy watching the crabs, I find them very interesting and entertaining.

At this rate you'll no longer be known as the crazy puffer lady but as the crazy leggless crab lady

Ah, well what do they say in Hollywood, any publicity is good publicity?

Oh definitely. Now I know what to do if I ever find a legless crab

It's very kind of you though, I hope they all pull through.

Thanks Flutter. I just hate to think of anything suffering or dying a slow death. I realise that death is part of life, but if I can prevent a premature death, then I am going to do so, or give it a try. I felt that I could give both of these crabs a bit of care and get them back to optimum health -- and then worry about them terrorising my fish!

Nah, I'm actually thinking about setting up my spare 30-gallon tank as a crab/crayfish tank. But then there's the issue of where to put this other tank! Hmm.

Flutter wrote:At this rate you'll no longer be known as the crazy puffer lady but as the crazy leggless crab lady

Hey, here's an update on one of my legless crabs, which is no longer legless.

I was just looking in my tank and I seen the little red crab in a different part of the tank than he usually hangs out in, and then I noticed that he has all his legs! Then I spotted his old shell, so he's molted and gotten all his legs back. I am so happy. I am convinced that had he stayed at the LFS that day we bought him, he wouldn't have lived. He would have surely been cannibalised by the other crabs that were in with him. So another success story!

I am hoping that my Matano crab can get to molt as well and get all his limbs back, especially seeing as the Matano lost his claws too. Of course, once he gets his claws back, I may have to move him out of that tank, as he may prey upon my puffers.

It's good to see things go right though, and at least I know I was successful in saving one of them!

If I see anything of the Matano I will do another update. I think he's got himself hidden in one of the half coconut shells in the tank, and hopefully he will molt and become whole again.