HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hey all! Hope you’re doing well!! I recently got my shipment of new shells in and I’m excited to get them in the tanks. I thought I would be getting more sizes that fit them but they sent a variety pack. That I’m not too happy about but whatever. Anyways. I saw somewhere before that you should soak them in something to clean them but I can’t find it again. How do I prepare them for my hermits?
Thanks in advance!!

I just boil my new shells in my well water, then rinse them with my RO water. I suppose you could boil them in dechlorinated water too.

Ok thanks!! RO water?

Reverse osmosis. We boil our shells in dechlorinated salt water, let them cool completely then add them to the tank. Inspect them for holes, cracks or anything else that my be unsafe for them.

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Thank you so much!!

Everyone has their own way of doing things. The bottom line is to kill anything in the shells that may be bad for the crabbies. We use salt water because we chose to believe that sanitizes and kills. Plus shells dipped in salt water attracts the crabs to them like crazy. I'm not saying it's the right way or the only way, just that it's what we choose to do. We haven't had any negative results from doing this.

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I hadn't thought of rinsing with salt water! I'm going to try that next time.

What do you guys use to boil shells? I've heard that using a metal pan can be unsafe for hermit crabs. Is that true? Or is it fine as long as I rinse the shells off afterwards

I put it in a pot. I haven't heard of the metal pot issue yet, but someone can correct me about that.

You could boil water then pour it into a bowl with shells.

Definetely recommend shells in dechlor saltwater before offering to crabs.


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I agree with Scarlet. I have always used metal pots. They actually have a pot just for them that doesn't get used for anything else. DC SW. They always go crazy for the "new" clean shells and usually do a few pants changes.

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I have never heard of a metal pot being harmful, it's what I have always used.

I have a question. Can you rebottle the dechlorinated saltwater after boiling the shells in it and let it cool and use it for your crabs still or no?

Why would you rebottle it after you boiled shells in it? I can't say yes or no, but I wouldn't do that for my crabbies. I boil to remove contaminants, dirt, etc. Then I dump it. I wouldn't give it to them to drink or swim in.

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Please be cautious using salt in the water. There have been cases where reactions occurred, and it stripped the shiney finish right off the shells. I sold a giant lot to a guy a while back and he ended up with the entire pot of brand new shells looking like they had been worn for years! It was rather devastating.

Also, there is no need to dechlor the water for boiling, the boiling process breaks down chlorine and chloramine.

Thanks for that info wodesorel! Next time I boil shells I will use regular tap to boil and then dip them in room temp decor salt water.