HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So I know that hermit crabs will change shells when they need to, and so it's not really a concern, just more of a curiosity. Mrs. Robinson is a crab I adopted from in town an hour away from people who had her for 3 years. They had adequate substrate, and food and water, but barely any shells, and she had been alone for 2 years(she has a best friend is strawberry now, they love see cuddles..yay) ...so I'm assuming the shell she has has been with her a really long time, its soooo modified, is that why she holds on to it though? Even with several options (multiple types of turbos) and it's been months..thoughts?

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I wasn't aware of the fact that hermies could modify their shells! I hope that when you get your answer, I can get some more information on the subject because this is neat to find out about! haha

Yes, they pick at and modifiy their shells to fit them better. They eat the extra bits for calcium. The crabs will even pick in shells they aren't wearing.

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Rawrgeous wrote:Yes, they pick at and modifiy their shells to fit them better. They eat the extra bits for calcium. The crabs will even pick in shells they aren't wearing.

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I think you may have just explained why my crabs dig through the shell shop "checking out" the goods but not actually walking away with a new shell hahaha

Lol yeah I remember another crabber had an expensive shell that they had the crabs tear apart before anyone wore it. I can't remember who though.

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Rawrgeous wrote:Lol yeah I remember another crabber had an expensive shell that they had the crabs tear apart before anyone wore it. I can't remember who though.

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If I'm not the person your thinking of then I'm another victim of it. I had bought a very nice large tapestry turbo and my crabs started devouring it, even with the corals, barnacles, oyster shells, cuttle bone and many other minerals and calcium sources provided at all times.

rainbow_crab wrote: I had bought a very nice large tapestry turbo and my crabs started devouring it, even with the corals, barnacles, oyster shells, cuttle bone and many other minerals and calcium sources provided at all times.

Oh man, crabs are cruel! I did not know what I was getting in to... :roll:

LJJ