Peeling Painted Shell

[soilentgringa]

I just wanted to clarify that it is okay to boil the shells in salt water, it just can dull the polish. The crabs prefer "salty" shells as that is what they would have access to in the wild, as shells wash up on shore from the ocean.

Thank you, people have tried to correct me for doing this but the crabs seem to prefer them after I boil with saltwater. They check out every single one. I don't really mind the shells being dull.

It's not really necessary. You can boil them in tap water then dip them in dechlorinated IO water (or whatever marine salt you use). I find that less salt is used that way.

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[Krabby_Mommie78]

I just wanted to clarify that it is okay to boil the shells in salt water, it just can dull the polish. The crabs prefer "salty" shells as that is what they would have access to in the wild, as shells wash up on shore from the ocean.

Thank you, people have tried to correct me for doing this but the crabs seem to prefer them after I boil with saltwater. They check out every single one. I don't really mind the shells being dull.

It's not really necessary. You can boil them in tap water then dip them in dechlorinated IO water (or whatever marine salt you use). I find that less salt is used that way.

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I boiled in tap water then dipped in my IO water. . But for some reason, my 2 crabs have not molted, they seem perfectly content crawling all around and simply trying to drag shells into their little hut....would there be a reason they are not tempting to dig yet?


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[soilentgringa]

Thank you, people have tried to correct me for doing this but the crabs seem to prefer them after I boil with saltwater. They check out every single one. I don't really mind the shells being dull.

It's not really necessary. You can boil them in tap water then dip them in dechlorinated IO water (or whatever marine salt you use). I find that less salt is used that way.

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I boiled in tap water then dipped in my IO water. . But for some reason, my 2 crabs have not molted, they seem perfectly content crawling all around and simply trying to drag shells into their little hut....would there be a reason they are not tempting to dig yet?


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They will dig and molt when they are ready to. Not all new crabs bury immediately. One of mine waited 8 months to molt.

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[LadyJinglyJones]

The two in my (sort of) care haven't dug down & its nearly a month in their new digs (i'm punny )... crabs are unpredictable .

[CrabMater]

Hi, i know this post is old but I'd like to add that as well as boiling in salty water, i will rotate available shells. I put 2-4 shells on the floor. 1 in the "changing booth" an elevated suctioned cup soap dish. And a few in the "balcony" another very high up suction cup soap caddy. I find if i rotate shells in all 3 locations. The crabs take turns climbing up and didcovering new shells. Every week or so I reboil so they are always fresh. This is the system I've implemented in Krabbyville snd knock on wood its working.
The dollar store has a wide array of suction cup plastic waterproof/mold resistant shower accessories. They really are unobtrusive (clear) and the crabs love scaling the ones up high. To prevent falls I buttress anything up high/over ricks with a branch, so the weight is borne by the stick and the suction cups keep it in place.