Pom Pom-less Pom Pom Crab

[hobokendude]

One of my friends picked out a neat crab over the weekend and we threw it into my tank. I've identified it as a pom pom crab, who seems to be peaceful. But this one does not have the anemones on his arms (the pom poms). Can they survive without their "pom poms"?

 

[reefman23]

I have heard that sometimes they lose their anemones when they shed, and often times die without them. Do you have a picture of it? Does it look like this minus the anemones?

Jesse

 

[drty811]

my pom-pom only has one anenome, and my other one that died during the crash, didnt have any and it did fine for about four months. but i dont anything to bother him in the tanks.

 

[reefman23]

Erik... I have heard that if they lose an anemone, they can split the one they have and make a second one...

Jesse

 

[hobokendude]

Yes Jesse, mine looks like your picture, but...less the anemones and some legs. Mine only has 3 legs on one side and 2 on the other, not counting the arms with pinchers. So he has 5 legs and 2 arms. Maybe he is missing a few, but he seems to be ok. I've seen him crawl out in the evening and stroll along the sand and rocks. I don't think I have anyone that will bother him in the tank, so hope he can find things to eat and stay alive.

Is there a way to get their pom poms back? I guess once the anemone is gone, there is no way to get it back. OH well, we'll see how he does.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Chris