HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Today when I came up to go to bed I was going to measure the size of whatever hermie was above ground. When I went to look in, I realized that one of my tinies, Nugget, had dug down without the shell he was in earlier. I don't know if he has dug down naked to molt or he chose a shell much too big for him to dig down and molt in. All the shells that are his size are above ground but I think one of the shells I have for one of my larger crabs in gone. I'm not sure however. Help anyone as to what might have happened? I'm not worried, just a little confused!


Proud owner of 5 PPs,Twinkie, Tweedles, Tiny, Nugget, and Squidgy.
R.I.P Bumbie

If you are missing both a shell and a crab it is very likely that he switched before going down to molt.

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Awww...you have a Nugget too? That's what I named my newest and teeniest adoptee...seemed so perfect


Lover of all things critter (except bugs and birds )

meg_and_the_zoo wrote:Awww...you have a Nugget too? That's what I named my newest and teeniest adoptee...seemed so perfect


Lover of all things critter (except bugs and birds )

Yes I do. His little legs seemed so skinny and small that I thought the name Nugget fit him perfectly!


Proud owner of 5 PPs,Twinkie, Tweedles, Tiny, Nugget, and Squidgy.
R.I.P Bumbie

I swear if I could find all midget crabs I would...they're so cute! Here's my Nugget. For a little dude he's awfully brave and has been everywhere in the tank even if it means going up and over the other guys in his way




Lover of all things critter (except bugs and birds )

Awe! So cute! I will show you a pic of my Nugget once he comes back up!!


Proud owner of 5 PPs,Twinkie, Tweedles, Tiny, Nugget, and Squidgy.
R.I.P Bumbie

soilentgringa wrote:If you are missing both a shell and a crab it is very likely that he switched before going down to molt.

I agree. It's not unusual for them to switch into a too large (or sometimes even too small) shell just before digging down to molt. I've had crabs put on ridiculously too big shells only to dig down a few days later. They come up fitting in that shell really well. So the too big shell may be in preparation for a growth spurt.

CallaLily wrote: I agree. It's not unusual for them to switch into a too large (or sometimes even too small) shell just before digging down to molt. I've had crabs put on ridiculously too big shells only to dig down a few days later. They come up fitting in that shell really well. So the too big shell may be in preparation for a growth spurt.

Thank you. I have identified the shell he took with him. I was thinking about it all night and it just popped into my head! I was like, "aaaah! That's the one!" It's a mother of pearl turbo shell that my crab Bumbie was using when he passed away on Tuesday. It was boiled and everything! Just put it into the tank actually.


Proud owner of 5 PPs,Twinkie, Tweedles, Tiny, Nugget, and Squidgy.
R.I.P Bumbie