Crab keeps changing between the same two shells

[AndyCrabby]

So I decided to boil shells today and clean up part of the tank. My most active/newest crabs decided to explore the cleaned up tank and even look at the now clean shells. My crab Dwebble has changed between the same two shells 5 times in the past few hours(that I have noticed maybe more). Is there something wrong with him? Do I just leave the shell in there. I know they sometimes change back to there old shells but 5 times in a row? It looks like he may switch again and mane all night long. What do I do?

[Hermias_mom]

Enjoy the show! See if you can get a good look at his white parts- they usually look pretty weird and are neat to see out of the shell.

Seriously, don't worry about it. Sounds like he's having a lot of fun! As long as both shells are good shells (no paint, etc), I don't see a problem here. I would remove any painted shells from the crabitat as soon as he gets out of them. Also maybe later, look into getting more shells similar to the two he likes. I have one small/medium PP that changes several times a week and sometimes several times a day. She has up to eight or nine favorite shells now. I think some crabs are obsessed and enjoy changing shells a lot. I rotate out my shells every few days/ once a week so she thinks they're new, and the fun begins again. My other female has changed three times in two months and my male is still wearing the one he came in (it's been a month or so, and his shell is super big). Every crab is different.

[Hermias_mom]

Also, if he's switching shells, that means he likes what he sees, and his need to change shells is being satisfied by the empty ones in the tank. He is not trying to take another crabs shell. Him not trying to take anyone else's shell is a good thing.

[LadyJinglyJones]

A) Dwebble is the best crab name ever.

B) I agree with above. When shells seem new, cabs get curious.... and, amusingly, often end right back in the one they started with after a bazillion experiments.

I think it's a good sign, if they're feeling safe enough to expose their soft bits that often in a short period - but that is pure conjecture.

Also, picking the right shell has major implications for crabby well bein' in the wild, so you gots to figure that your crab takes this decision verr seriously! Sometimes, to find a pair of jeans that make my butt look precisely as I need it to look, I will go back and forth between two pairs til the sales people are so board that they don't even care about the commission any more. (This is why my sister, who loves clothes more than life itself, will no longer buy apparel with me.)

[AndyCrabby]

Enjoy the show! See if you can get a good look at his white parts- they usually look pretty weird and are neat to see out of the shell.

Seriously, don't worry about it. Sounds like he's having a lot of fun! As long as both shells are good shells (no paint, etc), I don't see a problem here. I would remove any painted shells from the crabitat as soon as he gets out of them. Also maybe later, look into getting more shells similar to the two he likes. I have one small/medium PP that changes several times a week and sometimes several times a day. She has up to eight or nine favorite shells now. I think some crabs are obsessed and enjoy changing shells a lot. I rotate out my shells every few days/ once a week so she thinks they're new, and the fun begins again. My other female has changed three times in two months and my male is still wearing the one he came in (it's been a month or so, and his shell is super big). Every crab is different.

They have all natural shells I was just concerned that he may be going a bit insane lol. And it was pretty cool to watch him change out in the open. My mom watched a shell change too, she is now scarred for life lol. I've ordered some shells from Naples so it should be fun to see them explore those! Thanks so much

[AndyCrabby]

A) Dwebble is the best crab name ever.

B) I agree with above. When shells seem new, cabs get curious.... and, amusingly, often end right back in the one they started with after a bazillion experiments.

I think it's a good sign, if they're feeling safe enough to expose their soft bits that often in a short period - but that is pure conjecture.

Also, picking the right shell has major implications for crabby well bein' in the wild, so you gots to figure that your crab takes this decision verr seriously! Sometimes, to find a pair of jeans that make my butt look precisely as I need it to look, I will go back and forth between two pairs til the sales people are so board that they don't even care about the commission any more. (This is why my sister, who loves clothes more than life itself, will no longer buy apparel with me.)

A) Thank you, my bf named hima and I thought it was the cutest name ever

B)Good to know! It was entertaining to watch lol

I know about the jean situation except with shirts! My chest has to have just enough coverage but still look good, needs to be form fitting but not tight and my underarms MUST be comfortable enough to strech all the way up

[Hermias_mom]

Yea, I agree about the shirts AND pants actually. That's why one of my hobbies is clothing alteration, eventually I give up and get the closest available that I can fix. But then I have this thing where I feel I have to try on all the available options before I make a decision - literally. My husband is a grab-n-go guy, so it's been a bit painful for him. And I need his honest opinion (yes, really!) of everything I try on, because if we wait for me to make up my mind, we will never go home.

I came to a realization a while back. There are entire stores worth of clothes that do not and will never fit me. Like, what are they thinking???

Glad you're not worried anymore about the shell shopping. My super shell-changer loves it when I give her new shells.

[DGreen94]

I have a video of one my crabs looking at the new shells i put in their tank. It was so funny he walked up to one grabbed it turned it around and it was to small so he left went to another one he came half way out but then came back to the smaller one. I have 2 and they both changed shells as soon as they seen them but my smaller one has went back to his old shell he only stayed in the new one for a day so I think he is still exploring. My 3 year old named them so please be nice lol. The smaller one is crocodator its a mix of crocodile and alligator (idk ) and my bigger one name is Missy because we got them from Mississippi. Lol my babies have a wild imagination and i asked him over and over about that first name and he jus said thats what he want to name it so we kept it.