Call him Lefty

I don't know how he did it, but 2 weeks ago Jaques, my large Banded Coral Shrimp, pulled off his right claw-arm. It looks like he got it caught in some macro-algae. I don't think the Arrow Crab was involved, because I found the arm stuck in the algae.

The good news is that "Lefty" shed his carapice 10 days later and he has grown a new arm. It's little and much skinnier than his regular claw-arm. Also, it seems to be somewhat twisted. I haven't seen him use the claw to hold or manipulate food.

I've had him for over a year, and his behavior and eating seem normal.
Does anyone have experience with a BCS losing a limb? Will it eventually grow to regular size?

 

Eventually it has to. The fact that he is able to pull it off or "disconnect" it gives a hint that he can "grow" another one. Just like stars, when they lose one arm, they grow another. The loose arm can grow a body, it's incredible!

 

I had a harlequin lose a claw once and, although it had one dinky claw for a few weeks, it eventually got as large as the other one

PS: "Jaques" should be spelled "Jacques".......sorry.......I'm half French and it's my brother's name so I couldn't help but notice

 

it's the little things that count

 

I hope I didn't come across as obnoxious with that?

 

No, not at all. Spelling is my personal daemon.
I previously spelled his name incorrectly when I posted pictures of him last year.

 

just giving you a hard time... by the way...i've noticed i'm not on your buddy list yet...;D

 

To get back to Lefty (Jacques) ... If I understand you, Rickzter and Amcarrig, his missing right arm will eventually grow back to normal size, but it might take two or three molts before it happens?
Right?

 

Correct. Jacques will eventually become the shrimp he used to be before the "claw incident"

 

Postscript: Jacques is dead.
He molted Monday and apparently had a problem -- the old skin was half on, half off. The arrow crab saw an opportunity and grabbed Jacques.