HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi everyone, I've been looking around for some new shells for my hermit crabs. While browsing, I went onto Sea Shell Shop and their description for their shells says this: "We will send (Assorted Natural and Dyed) for your hermit and send at least 2 shell styles so they have a choice... The color dyed shells do not hurt them. It is natural and they do not mind." Is this true? I'm not even sure what they mean by dyed, anyway. The pictures of the shells all look normal and natural. What do you folks think? I would rather buy from Naples, but shipping is crazy high.

Dyed is just as bad as paint since both contaon chemicals that are harmful to crabs. The problem arises when they chip away at their own shells and when they go into the water pools and the paint leaks into the water.


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I'd recommend dying the shells with natural stains like berries. A couple of years back, a member stained some shells using blackberries and blueberries, which will eventually wash out but does stain the shell for a number of weeks. This is crab safe, so may be what your looking for?


(I recommend mulberries, I picked some recently and my hands were stained for a good couple of days afterwards!)

jonathon1989 wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 17, 2020 9:47 pm

Dyed is just as bad as paint since both contaon chemicals that are harmful to crabs. The problem arises when they chip away at their own shells and when they go into the water pools and the paint leaks into the water.


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I figured that was the case, thank you for your input! I know well the toxicity of painted shells, kind of sad that a big supplier is selling shells that are just as bad as painted and telling people that it's okay for crabs. I definitely won't be buying them.

aussieJJDude wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 18, 2020 6:12 am

I'd recommend dying the shells with natural stains like berries. A couple of years back, a member stained some shells using blackberries and blueberries, which will eventually wash out but does stain the shell for a number of weeks. This is crab safe, so may be what your looking for?


(I recommend mulberries, I picked some recently and my hands were stained for a good couple of days afterwards!)

That's actually a really cute idea! It never even occurred to me to use fruit juice to change shell colors.