(Possible Emergency?) Hermit Crab has Green/Lime Body?

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SpearmintConure
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(Possible Emergency?) Hermit Crab has Green/Lime Body?

Post by SpearmintConure » Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:09 am

Hi all,
have hardly been on this forum, but i’m quite concerned.
I was just watching my 10 year old Aussie Hermit Crab want to change shells, he has hardly ever changed, but picked a new one for the second time a few weeks ago. When he took his ‘body’ out of the shell, it’s green? I’ve never seen this before, typically it’s a pale tan. Is he ill? Maybe an age issue? He ended up not swapping into the new shell, despite it being the proper size for him.
I’m not sure how to add a photo from my phone, help with that would be appreciated.

Thanks :)


Topic author
SpearmintConure
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Location: Australia

Re: (Possible Emergency?) Hermit Crab has Green/Lime Body?

Post by SpearmintConure » Sun Feb 11, 2024 4:35 am

omg did i accidentally post this thread twice three times?
I am severely struggling with this layout forgive me :lol:

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JoeHermits
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Re: (Possible Emergency?) Hermit Crab has Green/Lime Body?

Post by JoeHermits » Sun Feb 11, 2024 9:19 am

It’s not your fault, the forum software has been bugging out for years. It’s due for an update.

I also don’t know what it means for the abdomen to be green


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wodesorel
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Re: (Possible Emergency?) Hermit Crab has Green/Lime Body?

Post by wodesorel » Sun Feb 11, 2024 11:05 am

Did he molt recently? I've had purple pinchers change shells and show florescent yellow on their abdomens before, have also had joints show up bright orange. It tends to be a temporary pigment burst that fades before their next molt.
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Topic author
SpearmintConure
Posts: 21
Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2022 3:23 am
Location: Australia

Re: (Possible Emergency?) Hermit Crab has Green/Lime Body?

Post by SpearmintConure » Sun Feb 11, 2024 5:14 pm

wodesorel wrote:
Sun Feb 11, 2024 11:05 am
Did he molt recently? I've had purple pinchers change shells and show florescent yellow on their abdomens before, have also had joints show up bright orange. It tends to be a temporary pigment burst that fades before their next molt.
Not that i'm aware of. He did go down for about 4 days but typically he takes 2 weeks at least to moult, usually a month or more.
He swapped into a new shell this morning by the way.
I read something that said hermit crabs can be a bit green from lack of carotene? So i've increased that in his diet.

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