Shell sizes

This is where you discuss shells for your hermit crabs. Not for selling/swapping shells, use Classified Ads for that.
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Riceyandspicy
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Shell sizes

Post by Riceyandspicy » Wed Nov 28, 2018 6:36 pm

Most of my crabs have a shell size of 1-1.5 inches what would be the next shell size up?
I have 3 PPs and 2 prefer D shaped shells while only one is using a turbo shell.


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Motörcrab
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Re: Shell sizes

Post by Motörcrab » Wed Nov 28, 2018 6:55 pm

I usually increase my shells by at least 1/8" up from the current largest shell. I also order a few shells 1/8" above that as well. Sometimes they go waaay bigger, sometime just a little bigger. Your smaller crabs can get the "crab me downs" from the larger ones.

To answer your question, your largest is a 1 1/2" opening. I would go with 1 5/8" for 1/8 over.
1 3/4" for 1/8 above that.

Those would be some pretty big crabs with 1 1/2" openings. I know a lot of people misjudge openings all the time when they order shells. It isn't so bad with smaller shells. Once you get to 1 1/8" openings and above shells can get pretty pricey.

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Riceyandspicy
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Re: Shell sizes

Post by Riceyandspicy » Wed Nov 28, 2018 7:18 pm

Maybe I measured incorrectly like you said i measured the length of the entire opening, should I have measured just the crab?


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Motörcrab
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Re: Shell sizes

Post by Motörcrab » Wed Nov 28, 2018 7:27 pm

Measure the widest area of the openings. Here's a link to the basic tutorial of how the Naples Sea Shell Company measures the hermit crab shells they sell.

http://naplesseashellcompany.com/sizematters.html

They say to measure the length of the big claw. I just do my best to measure the shell opening and go from there. I'm my experience you can have 10 what you think are ideal shells and 1 that doesn't seem the right shape or size. They will pick that odd ball most times. Crabs are weird.
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