Only change shells in salt water

Where we discuss the behavior of our hermit crabs, as in fights, pecking orders, shell swaps, etc. Please post all naked-crab posts in the Emergency forum.
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Topic author
CrabKate
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Location: San Diego

Only change shells in salt water

Post by CrabKate » Sat Jan 09, 2021 11:23 am

My crabs only change shells when the shells are in the salt water pool. Is this common.
As background: I’ve only had my small crabs For 6 months and 1 has just come up from his 2nd molt. The second is currently down for his second molt. They wear < 1/2” shells.


jonathon1989
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Re: Only change shells in salt water

Post by jonathon1989 » Sat Jan 09, 2021 11:36 am

Ive never encountered this myself but maybe others have. Perhaps anyone else can shed some lignt on the subject. Id be very interested to see if this had occurred with other crabbers


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JoeHermits
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Re: Only change shells in salt water

Post by JoeHermits » Sat Jan 09, 2021 1:46 pm

Some crabs seem more receptive to shells when they’re salty. I don’t know why.


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Topic author
CrabKate
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Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:14 am
Location: San Diego

Re: Only change shells in salt water

Post by CrabKate » Sun Jan 10, 2021 11:04 am

I thought it might be the slipperyness of salt water. Oddly enough my first shell change was into a petrified shell I was using as a water ladder. I moved all of the purchased shells into the water and Boom they went on a change spree. Rocky wears others for awhile but always goes back to that heavy petrified shell and seems happy and active.
Thanks for the responses.

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crabbycasey
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Re: Only change shells in salt water

Post by crabbycasey » Sun Jan 10, 2021 6:00 pm

This is so interesting to me! If saltwater makes shells more enticing to some, I wonder if it could be used as a possible tool to re-shell a naked crab...


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Topic author
CrabKate
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Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:14 am
Location: San Diego

Re: Only change shells in salt water

Post by CrabKate » Sun Jan 10, 2021 7:06 pm

I plan to experiment:
Shells in fresh water and salt water then switch them etc.


Topic author
CrabKate
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:14 am
Location: San Diego

Re: Only change shells in salt water

Post by CrabKate » Sun Jan 10, 2021 7:06 pm

I plan to experiment:
Shells in fresh water and salt water then switch them etc.

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crabbycasey
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Location: NC

Re: Only change shells in salt water

Post by crabbycasey » Sun Jan 10, 2021 7:42 pm

I’ll be curious how it turns out, keep us posted!


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SilverHermits
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Re: Only change shells in salt water

Post by SilverHermits » Sun Jan 10, 2021 9:01 pm

My crabs sometime switch in the saltwater pool, I even recorded it.
Crabber for over 11 years
16 hermit crabs
13 Purple Pinchers, 2 Straws and a Brevi
Tanks: 100g, 75g, 29g+ a bunch of smaller ones

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