hermit shells...

smspring · 02/14/2008, 04:38 PM

Which online stores sell empty shells for hermits? What's the best ratio for hermits/empty shells? Are there specific shells for different kinds of hermits?

Thanks in advance.

HumanIMDB · 02/14/2008, 04:41 PM

Tagging along...anyone know of Canadian sites?

jet fixer · 02/14/2008, 04:42 PM

live aquaria has them
don't know the ratio I only have snails

Packersfan21 · 02/14/2008, 05:10 PM

You can by them from liveaquaria.com or saltwaterfish.com. Hermit crabs move in to abandon snail shells so there aren't any specific shells for diffirent kinds of hermits.

robojet · 02/14/2008, 06:32 PM

I've been having problems getting shells for them to move into also. I was able to pick up several larger shells at my LFS and they were free, but they were not always available. Maybe you can call around and see if any of your LFSs have any.

Xiaan42 · 02/18/2008, 10:30 AM

If you need to get shells in Canada go to your nearest dollarama I got a nice sized (about 50) bag of shells for $1. they have lots of different shapes and sizes to chose from.

macronut · 02/18/2008, 10:43 AM

Check with your lfs first. Most places have them if they carry an assortment of clean up crew. My only concern about purchasing shells from a dollarama would be that you are contributing to the curio trade and the shells could be polished.

kzooreefer · 02/18/2008, 12:15 PM

i've gotten the empty shells from drsfosterandsmith.com (liveaquaria.com) in the past. not happy with them as they were very long shells but the hermits still moved into them. they did ditch the store bought shells once i put new astrea snails in which they seem to favor. probabbly because astreas fall off the glass a lot and cannot turn themselves over making them easy target for the hermits. i do have a hermit in a margaritta shell too so i guess pretty much any snail will do. also could go to the lfs and just ask them for their empty snail shells in the display tanks.

IslandCrow · 02/18/2008, 12:24 PM

Arts and crafts stores will often times have bags of shells. Not all of them will be suitable for your hermits, but they're usually very cheap. I'd avoid any that are varnished, though.

mikecc · 02/18/2008, 12:33 PM

+1 Arts and crafts stores will often times have bags of shells.

thats what I did

nancymccall · 02/18/2008, 02:48 PM

I would check with your lfs first, you know they will be the right shells. also I'm sure the store will be happy to sell them and you could get a good price.

epstein · 02/18/2008, 03:21 PM

I purchasedshells from arts and craft as well.......Just make sure you sift through the ones you want then Boil em in hot water for several minutes before adding em .
I had several hermits move right in that night

IslandCrow · 02/19/2008, 01:50 AM

The reason I like hitting the arts and crafts stores is because of the variety of shells. A hermit crab isn't all that picky about the shell he uses, as long as it can physically fit its body in it. I once saw a coconut crab (it was huge by the way) using half a hollowed out coconut as a shell.

Anyway, not to say the LFS is not a good choice. They are. Good point on the boiling too. I forgot to mention that.

ken123 · 02/19/2008, 08:12 AM

I bought a small bag at Walmart in the craft section. Just picked through them to find the size hermits would like. Some where pretty colorful so they looked funny moving around with such colorful shells. Eventually the shells got covered with coraline and dulled up. Worked out well. Boiled them for a few minutes.

Ricky1066 · 02/19/2008, 09:06 AM

Yes me too I just bought two bags at michaels Boiled them Put them in on their sides so the crabs can get in. The bigger ones look nice for decoration also

It is funny to see these big colorful shells moving across your tank

smspring · 02/19/2008, 12:19 PM

Thanks to everyone who has responded. I'll check out Michaels. I also saw on salterfish.com that I could get 50 or 100 shells per bag, at a reasonable price... any one ever bought some from them?

02/14/2008, 04:38 PM	#1
smspring Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 356	hermit shells... Which online stores sell empty shells for hermits? What's the best ratio for hermits/empty shells? Are there specific shells for different kinds of hermits? Thanks in advance.

02/14/2008, 04:41 PM	#2
HumanIMDB Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 1,556	Tagging along...anyone know of Canadian sites? __________________ Chris Rivers Will do computer support for frags. :) Click on the Red House to see our AGA92 Corner Reef Tank Build thread. Current Tank Info: 10 Gal (Aqualight 96W Quad 50/50, AquaClear Power Filter 70 with Chaeto lit by 6500K Bulb, AquaClear Power Head 20, 50w Tronic Heater), 92 Gal All-Glass Corner (Cycling)

02/14/2008, 05:10 PM	#4
Packersfan21 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wabash, IN Posts: 920	You can by them from liveaquaria.com or saltwaterfish.com. Hermit crabs move in to abandon snail shells so there aren't any specific shells for diffirent kinds of hermits. __________________ 90 gallon reef: 1 black ocellaris clown, 1 kole tang, 1 hippo tang, 1 mimic tang,1 leopard wrasse, 1 chromis, 75 gallon FOWLR: 1 blue-spotted puffer, 1 flame angel, 1 snowflake eel Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef and 75 gallon FOWLR

02/14/2008, 06:32 PM	#5
robojet Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 1,222	I've been having problems getting shells for them to move into also. I was able to pick up several larger shells at my LFS and they were free, but they were not always available. Maybe you can call around and see if any of your LFSs have any. __________________ Member: SCMAS Current Tank Info: 90g LeeMar with Starphire front, coast-to-coast overflow, Vortechs, ATB 840 v1.5

02/18/2008, 12:24 PM	#9
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Arts and crafts stores will often times have bags of shells. Not all of them will be suitable for your hermits, but they're usually very cheap. I'd avoid any that are varnished, though. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

02/14/2008, 04:42 PM	#3
jet fixer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Litchfield Park, AZ Posts: 718	live aquaria has them don't know the ratio I only have snails

02/18/2008, 10:30 AM	#6
Xiaan42 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ottawa Canada Posts: 223	If you need to get shells in Canada go to your nearest dollarama I got a nice sized (about 50) bag of shells for $1. they have lots of different shapes and sizes to chose from.

02/18/2008, 10:43 AM	#7
macronut Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indianapolis IN Posts: 405	Check with your lfs first. Most places have them if they carry an assortment of clean up crew. My only concern about purchasing shells from a dollarama would be that you are contributing to the curio trade and the shells could be polished.

02/18/2008, 12:15 PM	#8
kzooreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 453	i've gotten the empty shells from drsfosterandsmith.com (liveaquaria.com) in the past. not happy with them as they were very long shells but the hermits still moved into them. they did ditch the store bought shells once i put new astrea snails in which they seem to favor. probabbly because astreas fall off the glass a lot and cannot turn themselves over making them easy target for the hermits. i do have a hermit in a margaritta shell too so i guess pretty much any snail will do. also could go to the lfs and just ask them for their empty snail shells in the display tanks.

02/18/2008, 12:33 PM	#10
mikecc Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ks. Posts: 129	+1 Arts and crafts stores will often times have bags of shells. thats what I did __________________ (+ 1 on post count) Current Tank Info: 125 gal, Prism Skimmer, 150 Lbs Live Rock, Sand enuff to not calling it barebottomed, 4'shop light, no sump or refuge, and some test kits

02/18/2008, 02:48 PM	#11
nancymccall Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: florida Posts: 64	I would check with your lfs first, you know they will be the right shells. also I'm sure the store will be happy to sell them and you could get a good price.

02/18/2008, 03:21 PM	#12
epstein Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NYC transplant now in CT Posts: 1,501	I purchasedshells from arts and craft as well.......Just make sure you sift through the ones you want then Boil em in hot water for several minutes before adding em . I had several hermits move right in that night __________________ I'd Rather be a failure at something I love , Than a sucess at something I hate . George Burns Current Tank Info: 150 DD Cube / 100 Gal Sump(basement) 30gal cube frag tank plumb Panworld 250ps return/ Reef Octopus SRO3000 Skimmer/ Bubble Magus Doser/Lumenmax reflector with 400 watt Radium bulb Ice Cap Ballast Apex Controller 2 MP40wes 2 gyre 150

02/19/2008, 01:50 AM	#13
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	The reason I like hitting the arts and crafts stores is because of the variety of shells. A hermit crab isn't all that picky about the shell he uses, as long as it can physically fit its body in it. I once saw a coconut crab (it was huge by the way) using half a hollowed out coconut as a shell. Anyway, not to say the LFS is not a good choice. They are. Good point on the boiling too. I forgot to mention that. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

02/19/2008, 08:12 AM	#14
ken123 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Lakewood, New Jersey Posts: 874	I bought a small bag at Walmart in the craft section. Just picked through them to find the size hermits would like. Some where pretty colorful so they looked funny moving around with such colorful shells. Eventually the shells got covered with coraline and dulled up. Worked out well. Boiled them for a few minutes. __________________ Ken Current Tank Info: 90 gal AGA, RemoraPro w/Mag3, Outer Orbit 2x150w HQI & 2x130w PC, sump (no fuge)

02/19/2008, 09:06 AM	#15
Ricky1066 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 1,029	Yes me too I just bought two bags at michaels Boiled them Put them in on their sides so the crabs can get in. The bigger ones look nice for decoration also It is funny to see these big colorful shells moving across your tank __________________ 75gallon,75lbslr 60pdls, clown,yellow tang.3 cardinals.royal gamma,3 chromis,blenny,torpedo,cleanershrimp Current Tank Info: 75 gallon salt water starter

02/19/2008, 12:19 PM	#16
smspring Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 356	Thanks to everyone who has responded. I'll check out Michaels. I also saw on salterfish.com that I could get 50 or 100 shells per bag, at a reasonable price... any one ever bought some from them?