HCA: Hermit Crab Association

@Wode. These aren't all made the same. It depends on the country of manufacture, the quality of paint, and the type of paint etc. Typically these are made in China with a plastic-type polymer coating that breaks down and releases chemicals when it does. The rust itself isn't toxic, but I'd be cautio...

Nope.
When wet, this stuff produces rust. Also the plastic degrades and can be toxic to crabs. I own this and used it as a shower-shelf until it degraded. I wouldn't use it.

They are not good as pets. 1. If you think a pinch from a 3inch crab hurts, imagine what a full grown 3 foot monster could do. Risks of getting your fingers cut off more like... their claws are meant for breaking coconuts. If you don't think it could accidentally take off a finger, then you're dream...

I don't believe that they ship to Canada anymore.
They probably just forgot to change the list. :/

If you're worried, you can nuke the shells in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes.

Usually 1 minute is enough <3

Sometimes our crabs need a little boost. A change from their regular food that is both healthy, nutritious, but unnecessary to feed in large amounts every day. I didn't have time to run around and find individual ingredients for the health of my hermit crabs, and I wanted an easier solution. I made ...

Rinse the smell out of the tank if you want it to go faster But yes, good idea to let it dissipate!

Anything good takes time. Try to remember some things, and ask yourself some questions. 1. Am I touching them gently? 2. Do I pick them up too often? 3. Do I handle them in a secure way or a way that makes them feel secure? 5. What kind of animal are they and do these animals typically get held? 6. ...

Could you provide a picture please? It's hard to know without a pic. The film you described can be caused by a number of things. Crabs dragging food in, the porous surfaces of water containers can hold on to some pretty icky stuff, it might be something in your substrate, or just dust settling on th...

Its difficult to say, for a few reasons. I think #1 is most likely. 1. He might not like being picked up, but he doesn't see you as enough of a threat to use his big pincher. Sometimes crabs personalities are against your wants, which means that you just don't pick them up. As much as we like to thi...

Hey Wode, can I ask what is the longest you've been able to keep a hermie alive in captivity? I remember that you have excellent husbandry and the pics from your tanks were always top rate.

They will eat either, but I won't lie, I haven't heard of a crabber feeding crustacean meat to another crustacean before. They will prefer the eyes and the innards, but the crabs will eat everything if given the chance, including the tough shell (although cracking it would be a good idea to help the...

Tank size notwithstanding (let's assume we are in a fairy world where tanks are free and you can get the size you want!), what number do you find is ideal for a functional colony? Is a simple 2-4 crabs enough? Or do you find that having 12+ hermit crabs makes a difference? What are your experiences?...

Also changes in season mean changes in colour too! The extra UVB may have added to their distinct colour change as well!

They look healthy and great! So I wouldn't be worried

Are you sure it's the same crab? Sometimes we lose track of them in the moment, when one crab changes, sometimes a bunch of other crabs change too! What likely happened is that your crab is either adjusting to the new shell, or maybe he is no longer the "alpha" crab in your tank. Hermit crab dynamic...