HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Probably a dumb question, but I really don't know where to find any! I'm pretty new to this crabbing thing. I'm doing good so far, but I cannot find the right shells. I have two PP's I'm pretty sure. Petco or Petsmart don't sell the right kinds of shells for them, and if they do it's pretty small. One of my crabs is pretty big. I don't have an exact measurement but he's on the large side. I made the mistake of getting a big shell I saw, thinking he'd like it, but I read that hermies don't like spiked shells and it has little spikes. I feel bad. He's showing signs of molting, and I figure he'll need a new one soon. Any advice?

Joannes can be a great place to buy bags of green turbos for around 5 bucks. Naples and Richards sea shells are great online stores to check out. I also suggest checking out the preferred shell guide stickied to the top of the shell section, it's pretty helpful. Purple pinchers like round opening shells like turbos. I would say in my experience green, silvermouthed, and pearled/ polished turbos seem to be the most popular. Mygann is another popular vender on etsy some buy larger shells from, but I haven't tried them yet.


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Rawrgeous wrote:Joannes can be a great place to buy bags of green turbos for around 5 bucks. Naples and Richards sea shells are great online stores to check out. I also suggest checking out the preferred shell guide stickied to the top of the shell section, it's pretty helpful. Purple pinchers like round opening shells like turbos. I would say in my experience green, silvermouthed, and pearled/ polished turbos seem to be the most popular. Mygann is another popular vender on etsy some buy larger shells from, but I haven't tried them yet.


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Okay cool. Thank you so much! I'll look into those places.

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Rawrgeous wrote:Joannes can be a great place to buy bags of green turbos for around 5 bucks. Naples and Richards sea shells are great online stores to check out. I also suggest checking out the preferred shell guide stickied to the top of the shell section, it's pretty helpful. Purple pinchers like round opening shells like turbos. I would say in my experience green, silvermouthed, and pearled/ polished turbos seem to be the most popular. Mygann is another popular vender on etsy some buy larger shells from, but I haven't tried them yet.


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Sorry for double posting, but where in Joanne's would shells be?

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Hershozz wrote: Sorry for double posting, but where in Joanne's would shells be?

Look for the aisle with nautical/beach decor. Shells are usually hanging from hooks in net bags. Sometimes you can find a bag that is over half green turbos. If you have a coupon, you can't beat that deal!

I was at Richard's recently and saw he had baggies of turbos for $3.95, and kilo bags for $8.95. I don't know what the shipping is, but at least you'd be getting all turbos.


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joannas is great! ive also gotten bags from michales and dollar general (go figure)!

I just ordered off eBay from Mygann and the item was easy to see what you were getting as far as size and it was fast shipping


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I order a lot from Richard's and Florida shells & gifts off etsy. Just got new orders yesterday and today. Maybe it's just me, but all the shells I order end up being too big or too small. Even when I try to get exact measurements. Always get beautiful shells from both places though and I do get some that are correct sizes.

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kieagcarm wrote:I order a lot from Richard's and Florida shells & gifts off etsy. Just got new orders yesterday and today. Maybe it's just me, but all the shells I order end up being too big or too small. Even when I try to get exact measurements. Always get beautiful shells from both places though and I do get some that are correct sizes.

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There is a special way to measure shells, usually measured with a caliper like the one from the Hermit Crab Patch.

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=84333
This is a guide I find very helpful to reference while buying shells. It correlates opening size with length for shops that don't list opening, and it also explains how to properly measure shell openings . A caliper is very helpful, but it can be done without just slightly less accurate.

A really inexpensive alternative to calipers is a sewing gauge, aka seam gauge. It has a little slider so you can use it just like calipers and measure to the nearest 1/8" (or millimeter, if you choose). You can get one for under $2 at any chain fabric store. I'm a sewing teacher, so I sacrificed one of my gauges to the crabs.

Thats such a great idea! Thank you hprmom!

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Not sure if anyone has suggested Mygann on eBay...I've ordered from them a few times and each time they are reasonable priced and ship very fast...and most importantly they are accurately measured


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