HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I waited to get a third companion crab until my first two crabs had successfully molted and were active in their new home. After getting their third companion and a surprise, fourth, rescue crab, my first two crabs, Roberta and Calcifer seem to have doubled in size. But neither have disappeared for more than a few days. Their initial molt after moving them from the plastic 3 gallon to the ten gallon was about two weeks each.

Can a crab on the smaller side of medium get to the larger end of medium in a two or three day molt?

I don't know if it's related, but Roberta has suddenly started seeking out a new shell again. She changed shells during the shell cascade when I introduced Sophie, the third companion crab. Sophie is borderline medium/large. I've added new shells since she's unhappy with all of her choices right now. It's driving me insane because she's rather aggressive, picking up the other crabs and turning them around and such. I don't know how to handle this. I am snapping up shells like crazy, hoping to find one to make her happy, but none have so far. Any advice? I can't spend a ton of money on shells. The others are all happy with their current shells. Even with the additions I've put in, they haven't changed again.

Have they possibly changed shells before Roberta's current shell crazy? Molts tend to take weeks & months, not days, so it seems unlikely that they did a full molt in only a few days. But a shell change can make them look a lot different.

With the shells you have, make sure they're preferred types (there's a guide in the FAQ section if you need to double check) and make sure they're sizes at, below, and above what she currently has. If you have those, then she has plenty of choices. If she becomes actively aggressive to the others (tries to force them out of their shells), it might not hurt to isolate her with a selection of shells until she calms back down.

I didn't think it could be a matter of days. She just looked so much bigger it surprised me. Her and Calcifer. I'm not used to their post molt from the last one.

I've got the favorite shell in all sizes & plenty of other choices. But maybe I'll get more of the green turbo. Maybe it's a texture thing inside. The others may be rough or something inside.

I'll keep watching. She hasn't tried to force anyone out so far. But I worry. I'm new at this.


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If they can fit on a Quarter - shell and all - molts can be finished within a few days and they can be up and running around in under a week. They can also remolt every month. Every molt takes a bit longer and a bit more spaced out as they get older.

They can triple in size in one molt. I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it in person. I also had a medium-large remolt after just 10 days on the surface. But yeah, doubling in size and quick back to back molts are common. Their goal is to get big as fast as possible so they can survive.

Then I'm not going insane. Lol. They have molted quite a bit. They fit on a quarter a few short weeks ago, she'll and all. Now though, they are huge. How big can they get? I want to plan if I'll need that 55g in six months or so. Lol.


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They have very variable growth rates. Some of mine had exploded in size in just a few years, while others have plodded along slowly. It's almost impossible to predict, but plan on them doubling in mass every year at least.

Thank you for all your replies wodesorel. They've all been helpful & interesting.

It's good to know about them doubling. If my biggest one, Sophie, truly doubles next by next year she'll be huge. I'll need that 55 gallon sooner. Lol.

My husbands fallen in love with them too. E want to get a webcam on them so we can watch them anywhere and not disturb them.


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