Shell Measurement Help

Kaleighshermies · Post by **Kaleighshermies** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 2:20 pm

Looking to place in an order for new shells with Naples Seashell Company. Most of my guys are buried currently and I just want some advice on what measurements to go with for my hermit crabs. I also have some potential adoptees coming in and want to make sure I am stocked up for them when they come home with me. I am super bad at estimating measurements and need some basic knowledge and help.
I want to order shells for medium, large and jumbo sized crabs. What would be the recommended size/measurement to order for those sizes? For example for medium sized crab do I go with a 3/8 or 1/2 inch sized shell? All PPs so I will be investing in a bunch of the turbos. I just got a Jumbo and will possibly be getting a few more so their measurements I am very unfamiliar with. I have ordered from Naples before and was very happy with what I got but I did find I was off on some of the sizes that I ordered so someone with more experience with ordering shells online would be super helpful.

Kaleighshermies · Post by **Kaleighshermies** » Fri Nov 03, 2017 7:31 pm

BUMPING
Still need some help with this... My guys are going to need shells soon and I really don't want to spend money on the wrong sizes...

ROSIEonFIRE · Post by **ROSIEonFIRE** » Fri Nov 03, 2017 10:20 pm

Hi! I am fairly new To keeping hermit crabs myself but I have recently gone through this same issue. I would describe all of my crabs as a medium to perhaps medium large. I ended up getting shells with openings of 1", One and a quarter inches, Half an inch, and 3/4 of an Inch. The shells with that half an inch opening and 3/4 inch opening seem to be too small for anyone in my Tank. If I were you I would get a few shells with openings of 7/8 of an inch, an inch, and one and a quarter inches.. The upside is that if these shells and up being too large eventually your crabs will take them and also a crab can use the shell that is a bit too big and I think that's generally preferred by them to a shell that's a bit too small. That's my experience so far anyways!

On that note if You're set on getting shells with openings of a 1/2 an inch and 3/4 of an inch I do have some shells that you may be intrested in since it seems like these are too small for all of My crabs!

Kaleighshermies · Post by **Kaleighshermies** » Fri Nov 03, 2017 10:42 pm

ROSIEonFIRE wrote:Hi! I am fairly new To keeping hermit crabs myself but I have recently gone through this same issue. I would describe all of my crabs as a medium to perhaps medium large. I ended up getting shells with openings of 1", One and a quarter inches, Half an inch, and 3/4 of an Inch. The shells with that half an inch opening and 3/4 inch opening seem to be too small for anyone in my Tank. If I were you I would get a few shells with openings of 7/8 of an inch, an inch, and one and a quarter inches.. The upside is that if these shells and up being too large eventually your crabs will take them and also a crab can use the shell that is a bit too big and I think that's generally preferred by them to a shell that's a bit too small. That's my experience so far anyways!

On that note if You're set on getting shells with openings of a 1/2 an inch and 3/4 of an inch I do have some shells that you may be intrested in since it seems like these are too small for all of My crabs!

Hello! Thanks for responding and welcome to the world of crabbing!
I would describe mine as medium/large as well. Of course every time they come up from a molt they are getting bigger so I really am having a hard time judging size. I was thinking around the same measurements you provided so that deff helps clarify I was about right with measurements.

As for the shells you have available I would be interested. I have been contacted by a few people for adopting more crabs in need of a home and I am sure at least one of them has a couple small hermits. Feel free to PM me about them and we can probably work something out. Thanks so much again!

leah610 · Post by **leah610** » Sun Nov 05, 2017 6:37 pm

Hi there! I just recently bought shells from Naples (and Esty!), and I was really pleased with the shells I ordered. My largest crab is about medium sized, and I have two tiny crabs. I went through the same issue of being unsure of what measurements to order- what helped me figure out what sizes to get was measuring my largest crabs shell opening, and then looking for shells with openings 1/4th an inch or more than that. Even if you buy shells far too big for your smallest crabs, they will eventually grow into it with proper conditions.

Since your crabs are medium to jumbo, I would think that having anything larger than an inch opening would be good, so maybe 1'', 1.25", 1.5" would be suitable. You may want to get 7/8ths an inch too, if some of your crabs like snug shells. The largest shells I have in my tank have about 1.5" openings, which seems too big for my medium, but it's always a good idea to provide a varied assortment. As for your jumbo, I would assume an opening 2" or more, but I'm not 100%...hopefully someone with more experience on jumbo shells can chime in!

Kaleighshermies · Post by **Kaleighshermies** » Mon Nov 06, 2017 6:37 pm

leah610 wrote:Hi there! I just recently bought shells from Naples (and Esty!), and I was really pleased with the shells I ordered. My largest crab is about medium sized, and I have two tiny crabs. I went through the same issue of being unsure of what measurements to order- what helped me figure out what sizes to get was measuring my largest crabs shell opening, and then looking for shells with openings 1/4th an inch or more than that. Even if you buy shells far too big for your smallest crabs, they will eventually grow into it with proper conditions. Since your crabs are medium to jumbo, I would think that having anything larger than an inch opening would be good, so maybe 1'', 1.25", 1.5" would be suitable. You may want to get 7/8ths an inch too, if some of your crabs like snug shells. The largest shells I have in my tank have about 1.5" openings, which seems too big for my medium, but it's always a good idea to provide a varied assortment. As for your jumbo, I would assume an opening 2" or more, but I'm not 100%...hopefully someone with more experience on jumbo shells can chime in!

Thank you, you have been very helpful.

Kaleighshermies · Post by **Kaleighshermies** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 6:44 pm

I am the absolute worst when it comes to ordering shells online. As you can see I can have my crab right next to a ruler and I’m still clueless. I also want to get the right sizes because I’m the type of person that buys the wrong stuff and then never returns it for some reason. Can I get some help?

My Es need more D shape shell selections and I’m looking at ordering from Naples again. If there’s a better place to buy shells let me know. Any who here is one of my Es. All three are generally the same size. What would you recommend? 1/4, 1/2 and 3/8 look like they might actually be too small? But these are small crabs and I ordered those sizes before (I think) and they seemed bigger but once I actually printed out a ruler (bored at work lol) those measurements seemed way too small. Should I be looking more towards an inch or 5/8?

I’m not good with measurement heeeeelp

hahaha it’s sad how bad I am at this.

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Post by **wodesorel** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 6:48 pm

I'd do between 1 and 1 1/2 inch D shapes. The only reason why they are in such tiny shells is because there is no insides to it - it's like a ball cap from being modified. They have a huge rear end so they end up needing a shell with about double to triple the volume or their butts don't fit. It's not incremental when Es go bigger, they just go bigger.

They will wear lightweight turbos. Many of my Es liked those the best.

Kaleighshermies · Post by **Kaleighshermies** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:11 pm

Very interesting, I read that today that they will modify their shells and basically take the whole "spiral" out of their shells.... I have a bunch of turbos, I have to check to see what I have that they might fit into.. Pretty much whatever I have is already in the tank though. I want to get some Neritidae shells. Honestly I don't think I have any except for the ones my Es are currently wearing. I would like to give both species that option to choose from. My PPs used to love them years ago but those were all painted shells before I knew they were bad. So I should't get any 3/8" shells? If they like their shells tight should I make sure I have at least 2 in that size? Just in case?

Post by **wodesorel** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:13 pm

They are in 3/4 inch now and they would not go smaller. They wouldn't even be able to fit into non-modified 3/4.

Kaleighshermies · Post by **Kaleighshermies** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:17 pm

Okay thank you so much! I really don't understand why I have such a hard time judging measurements lol my brain just doesn't work lol. Okay so if I get Neritidae shells I should shoot for an inch to an inch and a half. Correct?

Kaleighshermies · Post by **Kaleighshermies** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:21 pm

Looks like I am out of luck with Naples.com. They don't have any Neritidae shells at an inch or over. Any suggestions where to get those shells at that size?

Post by **wodesorel** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:23 pm

The kind that they are wearing now don't grow much bigger. I haven't found them commercially, and unaltered they have tiny and toothy openings!

Kaleighshermies · Post by **Kaleighshermies** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 10:34 pm

Boo okay that stinks! Now that I think of it all the of those types of shells I have only had for tiny and small hermies. If they will be okay with turbos then I did by job and I am set

Moonlightdreams · Post by **Moonlightdreams** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 10:56 pm

I've also heard they like nautica lineata, I bought a pack of 25 off of Amazon for my PP, Peanut. He hasn't switched, but maybe when he comes up from molting. They were $12.99, but I think the largest opening size I got was around an inch. I really need some more shells for my largest, so I think I'll break down and buy more apple snail shells, like the one he's in. I hope you find some good shells!

HCA: Hermit Crab Association