Devastated, Fiddler Crab Accident :-(

[sadcrabkeeper]

I just got two little fiddler crabs, a male and a female.
I made the mistake of starting to research them AFTER I had already bought them so I didn't realize they needed some outdoor space.
I was planning to build something in the tank for them, and didn't think they could get out of the tank as there didn't seem to be any way, but today, I was just walking across my hardwood floor in the living room when I heard a crunch and felt something under my slippered foot.
To my horror when I turned around, there was a creature. At first I thought it was a very odd insect and was a bit startled,....but then the horror set in when I realized in was my little male crab.
His body seemed ok and he was still trying to run about but I must have stepped on his big claw as it was completely detached.
I can not tell you the horror I felt at having hurt him like that. I know it was an accident, I didn't even see him, had no idea he could get out of the tank, but still I felt really really really terrible about it.
I caught him and put him back in the tank. He's alive, based on what I've read, I suspect he will live, but I feel so terrible.
I doubt there is anything anyone here can say to help me but I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask if there is anything at all I can do for him, and what I might expect.
On closer inspection, it seems that the entire leg just pulled right out of the socket where it connected to his little body.
His other claws seem fine.
I will try to come up with a solution for them to have a climbing rock or something so hopefully they won't try that again, but if I can't protect them, I will have to give them away to someone who can give them a safer home.
Hard because the minute I put them in the tank, they were instantly my favorites. I love love love my purple and pink Betta, and am fond of the other fish in my tank but these little crabs, just have so much personality and are so interesting to watch!
So, is there anything I can do for my little guy? It was so horrible to have to pick up that severed little claw leg ((

 

[Tom499]

Well first off, it sounds like you're keeping the crabs with fish? Crabs and fish won't keep the peace, nipping of fish will occur.

Secondly, I'm pretty sure fiddler crabs need a brackish set up, which if they're in with fish, they're probably in freshwater, so won't live too long there.

As long as they're kept in good conditions, the claw will regrow, though it may well be smaller and weaker.

 

[dh058977]

Firstly as above the crabs are going to be from brackish water so will need a certain amount of salt in the water (something i assume the currently dont have?). They are sometimes miss sold as freshwater crabs but they will not do well in freshwater at all.
If the claw has completely detached then a new one should appear over the next few time your crab molts (I think I remember in males it grows back on the other side for some reason, someone correct me if im wrong!). However to ensure that it does grow back you now need to give them the correct environment(brackish water, land area etc).

Hopefully this has taught you the valuable lesson of researching fully BEFORE adding anything to your tank.

 

[the_lock_man]

Any creature with big pincers will not mix with any creature with lovely long flowing fins.

I once saw, in a LFS with a decent reputation, a SFF (betta) in with a Blue Lobster. The SFF used to have a lovely long blue halfmoon tail. When I saw it, it was more of a quartermoon. I happened to go back the next day, the SFF had gone.

You will have problems in the future, unless either crabs (better option due to reasons posted previously by others) or the fish are rehomed.