Hermit Crab and shells

Reiner · 06/14/2006, 12:19 PM

I'm new to this and in my tank I have 5 tiny hermit crabs and to my understanding that once they grow they need to move to a bigger shell. So do you guys just have empty bigger shells lying in the tank for the hermits to move when they need to or how do you know they need a bigger shell? Also can you buy those shells from an arts and crafts store where they sell whole bags for cheap or do you buy them at the LFS? Thanks for any answer

rodgod20 · 06/14/2006, 12:27 PM

yes, I have shells lying on the sand, what I did is went to walmart craft section and found a bag full of natural shells and boiled the crap out of them.

Basically boiled them for 2 hours in distill water and dropped them in the tank....no problems

some lfs will sell some, but mine didn't

Reiner · 06/14/2006, 12:29 PM

OK and thanks that's what I thought, just wanted to make sure

akrimmel · 06/14/2006, 01:18 PM

or if you have snails i.e, whatever species some will die, hermits will eat them and take over the shell. seems to happen all the time, if you have a selection of empties less chance of snailicide.

Reiner · 06/14/2006, 01:20 PM

I have a few very large turbo snails so it will be a while until those tiny crabs would be big enough to fit in those shells

akrimmel · 06/14/2006, 01:23 PM

well if they need to move doesn't mean they wont try to munch them if thye dont have anything to upgrade into

Reiner · 06/14/2006, 01:25 PM

I'll get empty shells ASAP

akrimmel · 06/14/2006, 01:28 PM

with the size difference prob wont happen, but remember they are scavengers for a reason.

schnell76 · 06/14/2006, 01:37 PM

you can get anything on ebay, including hermit crab shells

akrimmel · 06/14/2006, 01:39 PM

yeah even stolen property as well!!!!!!

06/14/2006, 12:19 PM	#1
Reiner Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 97	Hermit Crab and shells I'm new to this and in my tank I have 5 tiny hermit crabs and to my understanding that once they grow they need to move to a bigger shell. So do you guys just have empty bigger shells lying in the tank for the hermits to move when they need to or how do you know they need a bigger shell? Also can you buy those shells from an arts and crafts store where they sell whole bags for cheap or do you buy them at the LFS? Thanks for any answer

06/14/2006, 12:27 PM	#2
rodgod20 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 459	yes, I have shells lying on the sand, what I did is went to walmart craft section and found a bag full of natural shells and boiled the crap out of them. Basically boiled them for 2 hours in distill water and dropped them in the tank....no problems some lfs will sell some, but mine didn't __________________ "If your going through hell, Keep going" -Winston ChurchHill- Current Tank Info: 65G (90lbs of LR, CSS125, ATO,Oceans Motions, 33x turnover) LPS tank

06/14/2006, 12:29 PM	#3
Reiner Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 97	OK and thanks that's what I thought, just wanted to make sure

06/14/2006, 01:18 PM	#4
akrimmel Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: HAZELWOOD, MO Posts: 2,260	or if you have snails i.e, whatever species some will die, hermits will eat them and take over the shell. seems to happen all the time, if you have a selection of empties less chance of snailicide.

06/14/2006, 01:20 PM	#5
Reiner Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 97	I have a few very large turbo snails so it will be a while until those tiny crabs would be big enough to fit in those shells

06/14/2006, 01:23 PM	#6
akrimmel Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: HAZELWOOD, MO Posts: 2,260	well if they need to move doesn't mean they wont try to munch them if thye dont have anything to upgrade into

06/14/2006, 01:25 PM	#7
Reiner Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 97	I'll get empty shells ASAP

06/14/2006, 01:28 PM	#8
akrimmel Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: HAZELWOOD, MO Posts: 2,260	with the size difference prob wont happen, but remember they are scavengers for a reason.

06/14/2006, 01:37 PM	#9
schnell76 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Central FL Posts: 161	you can get anything on ebay, including hermit crab shells

06/14/2006, 01:39 PM	#10
akrimmel Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: HAZELWOOD, MO Posts: 2,260	yeah even stolen property as well!!!!!!