Shell Opinions
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Topic author - Posts: 385
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Shell Opinions
Hey everyone, I had a few questions about shells and would love your opinions and experiences on them.
1) About how many empty shells do you keep in your tank for your crabs to pick from?
2) Do you use a shell shop or put the shells on the substrate?
3) If a shell shop do you manually rotate the shells (bottom to top, top to bottom)?
4) Also, if a shell shop, do you have the shop on the substrate or is it elevated like a second level is?
Thanks in advance! Just trying to get ideas!
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1) About how many empty shells do you keep in your tank for your crabs to pick from?
2) Do you use a shell shop or put the shells on the substrate?
3) If a shell shop do you manually rotate the shells (bottom to top, top to bottom)?
4) Also, if a shell shop, do you have the shop on the substrate or is it elevated like a second level is?
Thanks in advance! Just trying to get ideas!
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Re: Shell Opinions
It's recommended 3-5 shells per crab. Doesn't hurt to have more.LeeHasCrabs wrote:Hey everyone, I had a few questions about shells and would love your opinions and experiences on them.
1) About how many empty shells do you keep in your tank for your crabs to pick from?
2) Do you use a shell shop or put the shells on the substrate?
3) If a shell shop do you manually rotate the shells (bottom to top, top to bottom)?
4) Also, if a shell shop, do you have the shop on the substrate or is it elevated like a second level is?
Thanks in advance! Just trying to get ideas!
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I started with shells on the ground. But they got so dirty and the crabs bury them! So I tried a shell shop on the ground. They seemed to just walk through to the other side. So I put some on 2nd level. And the rest on the ground again. Much more interest. I just have to clean them more often and consider the buried lost. Unless they actually pick shells that are buried. Lol.
I just have them scattered around.
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
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Topic author - Posts: 385
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2018 6:06 pm
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Re: Shell Opinions
So you tried having them on a second-level shop but found they are more likely to shop and swap when they’re on the substrate?Hermiesguardian wrote:It's recommended 3-5 shells per crab. Doesn't hurt to have more.LeeHasCrabs wrote:Hey everyone, I had a few questions about shells and would love your opinions and experiences on them.
1) About how many empty shells do you keep in your tank for your crabs to pick from?
2) Do you use a shell shop or put the shells on the substrate?
3) If a shell shop do you manually rotate the shells (bottom to top, top to bottom)?
4) Also, if a shell shop, do you have the shop on the substrate or is it elevated like a second level is?
Thanks in advance! Just trying to get ideas!
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I started with shells on the ground. But they got so dirty and the crabs bury them! So I tried a shell shop on the ground. They seemed to just walk through to the other side. So I put some on 2nd level. And the rest on the ground again. Much more interest. I just have to clean them more often and consider the buried lost. Unless they actually pick shells that are buried. Lol.
I just have them scattered around.
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Topic author - Posts: 385
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- Location: Pennsylvania
Re: Shell Opinions
I also ask because I’m anxious for my crabs to pick new shells. I have 5 crabs and 3 of them have the same natural green turbo shell and I can’t tell them apart! LOL
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Re: Shell Opinions
Oh, once they start swapping you'll never tell them apart. I wish there was a way but there's not. Unless you have only 2 crabs, different sizes. Just the life of a crabby parent.LeeHasCrabs wrote:I also ask because I’m anxious for my crabs to pick new shells. I have 5 crabs and 3 of them have the same natural green turbo shell and I can’t tell them apart! LOL
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raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
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Topic author - Posts: 385
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2018 6:06 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania
Re: Shell Opinions
I realize that lol. Every crab is different. I see a bunch of folks on here calling their crabs by name and I can’t tell who’s who. LOL.Hermiesguardian wrote:Oh, once they start swapping you'll never tell them apart. I wish there was a way but there's not. Unless you have only 2 crabs, different sizes. Just the life of a crabby parent.LeeHasCrabs wrote:I also ask because I’m anxious for my crabs to pick new shells. I have 5 crabs and 3 of them have the same natural green turbo shell and I can’t tell them apart! LOL
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Re: Shell Opinions
Yes but others may have experienced something different.LeeHasCrabs wrote:Hermiesguardian wrote:LeeHasCrabs wrote:Hey everyone, I had a few questions about shells and would love your opinions and experiences on them.
1) About how many empty shells do you keep in your tank for your crabs to pick from?
2) Do you use a shell shop or put the shells on the substrate?
3) If a shell shop do you manually rotate the shells (bottom to top, top to bottom)?
4) Also, if a shell shop, do you have the shop on the substrate or is it elevated like a second level is?
Thanks in advance! Just trying to get ideas!
So you tried having them on a second-level shop but found they are more likely to shop and swap when they’re on the substrate?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
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- Posts: 3029
- Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:41 pm
Re: Shell Opinions
Maybe it's wishful thinking on their part. Lol. I think it's sad because we love them and can't handle them, at least we should be able to call them by name.LeeHasCrabs wrote:I realize that lol. Every crab is different. I see a bunch of folks on here calling their crabs by name and I can’t tell who’s who. LOL.Hermiesguardian wrote:Oh, once they start swapping you'll never tell them apart. I wish there was a way but there's not. Unless you have only 2 crabs, different sizes. Just the life of a crabby parent.LeeHasCrabs wrote:I also ask because I’m anxious for my crabs to pick new shells. I have 5 crabs and 3 of them have the same natural green turbo shell and I can’t tell them apart! LOL
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
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Re: Shell Opinions
I have 12 or so shells for my 8 crabs. I think that number is ok for more crabs. I figure all 8 won't shop around at the same time. They will now that I said that. If I did the 3-5 shells per crab that would be 24-40 shells in the tank! There would be no room for anything else.
Every few weeks I will rinse them out in saltwater and move them around.
I thought about doing a shell shop in a large shower caddy so they stay clean. But with all my guys needing 1 1/8" openings and up that doesn't leave much room for many shells.
The other day I put them on my fish net second story. So far they haven't had any interest in them yet. I don't think they know where they are yet.
Every few weeks I will rinse them out in saltwater and move them around.
I thought about doing a shell shop in a large shower caddy so they stay clean. But with all my guys needing 1 1/8" openings and up that doesn't leave much room for many shells.
The other day I put them on my fish net second story. So far they haven't had any interest in them yet. I don't think they know where they are yet.
Coenobita Curiosities offering crabby decor
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CoenobitaCuriosities
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CoenobitaCuriosities
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Topic author - Posts: 385
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2018 6:06 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania
Re: Shell Opinions
I had mine up top in my moss pit and they had more interest in them up there than they do now on the ground. I guess it's good to switch it up once in a while to help them explore and make it new for them. I just ordered a bunch of shells so I'm hoping I get some usable ones this time.
Re: Shell Opinions
I always have 20+ shells of different sizes in my 30 gal tank. I soak them in salt water and the crabs always act like they are new! Something about the salt water attracts the crabs to them. My isopods use them as shelter much to my dismay!
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6 babies, 4 Es and 15 PPs.
Re: Shell Opinions
I have striped turbos but they’re not favorites with my crabs, neither are spotted turbos. My guys are content with the shells they have on: a fluctuosus (a normal shell choice for a PP) and an oddball, an apple murex. They’re both molting right now so that could change in a few weeks when they’ve both come up.