HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Today I rescued two crabs from the pet store. One with a hole in its shell and one with a chipped shell.

I have them home now in a ISO tank now and they are doing much better but I'm concerned about the one with the hole in its shell.

He keeps going to the water dish but Im concerned he will lose any water he has. Is there anything I can do? Is there a way to cover the hole in the shell?

I have plenty of shells in the tank.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0NBXKrV ... Ru5kJyVDqw

Yikes! That is a pretty rough looking shell. Your best bet is to supply a bunch of shell options like you are doing and give him plenty of quiet time to destress.

It's hard to tell from your pictures, it appears as if the shells you are offering may be a bit to large for this Crab. Perhaps offering similar shell sizes that it's currently wearing. The crab may also be weak from just coming from the store and may be more inclined to choose a smaller shell because it would be lighter. I have found crabs pick what they pick and you can only give them options.

Making sure the shells are sand free also seems to entice crabs too! I think a rinse in saltwater seems to draw their attention too.

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I've had crabs with similar holes keep them longer than I expected, a few even molted before they gave the holey shell up. I agree that the sizes of thr spares shown in your photo are probably a bit too big. Crabs who came wearing this species of land shell all ended up taking Turbo fluctuosus for me.

wodesorel wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 19, 2021 10:41 pm

I've had crabs with similar holes keep them longer than I expected, a few even molted before they gave the holey shell up. I agree that the sizes of thr spares shown in your photo are probably a bit too big. Crabs who came wearing this species of land shell all ended up taking Turbo fluctuosus for me.

That's what I have in there. The other with the chipped shell changed into another shell, the turbo fluctuosus.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0_mBgAa ... onet_Point

Motörcrab wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 19, 2021 9:02 pm

Yikes! That is a pretty rough looking shell. Your best bet is to supply a bunch of shell options like you are doing and give him plenty of quiet time to destress.

It's hard to tell from your pictures, it appears as if the shells you are offering may be a bit to large for this Crab. Perhaps offering similar shell sizes that it's currently wearing. The crab may also be weak from just coming from the store and may be more inclined to choose a smaller shell because it would be lighter. I have found crabs pick what they pick and you can only give them options.

Making sure the shells are sand free also seems to entice crabs too! I think a rinse in saltwater seems to draw their attention too.

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The picture makes them look larger than they actually are. One of them did change into a bigger shell not the holey crab, though.

The crab with the hole in the shell dropped his large pincher. This is definitely Post Purchase Syndrome. I've placed him under a hut with a decorative tree in front of the entrance of the hut to give him darkness. I'm hoping he will molt.

Crabs can often drop limbs due to stress and/or lack of a proper dietary needs. Dropping a pincher may be a way to conserve some energy. If they don't have enough energy to fully molt they won't survive.


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Update: Named the hole shell crab (Nemo) The other on, Turbo.

I still have Nemo under the hut. Turbo has also moved into the hut but is staying by the entrance. He also placed an empty shell identical to his in the entrance of the log. Has anyone encountered crab behavior like this before?

Jonathon

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0I_omvV ... onet_Point

Nemo has a slight smell to him buts it not fishy. It smells like sauerkraut. Also, unlike my past two crabs who past away, he does not fall out of the shell.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Jonathon

Update: Nemo passed away.