shell to small?

[keeliaa]

My crab came up from a molt a day or two ago. he still hasn’t switched shells and it’s apparent that his is to small. it’s an oval opening and his body isn’t even all the way in. there’s one pair of his little legs sticking out as he walks and another pair when he climbs. is his shell to small? could he just like to hang out of it? he has about six shells that will fit him and he’s just uninterested. i’m just worried because it’s a painted shell and bits have been flaked and i just want him out of it asap. oh yeah when he tried to curl in to hide, he can’t, his head doesn’t even fit into the shell. why isn’t he switching?!?!


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[curlysister]

Is he a PP? Do you have all oval openings, or some shells with round openings too?

[keeliaa]

yes he is a PP i have one oval opening that will fit him and the rest are turbos. i know they prefer turbos but i’m starting to think he wants another oval opening maybe.
edit: he came in the oval opening

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[Motörcrab]

Some crabs actually like tight fitting shells. Our E's seem to prefer their shells where their legs and claws stick out when they tuck inside. They prefer to try and run away rather than tuck and hide.

Crabs can be extremely picky with shells too. 3-5 extra shells is recommended per crab. We offer a larger variety of similar sized shells, more like 5-10 shells per crab. Shells appear to be identical to us in size and weight. They may have slightly different shape inside or be a tiny bit lighter. Crabs really investigate new shells inside and out before moving in. We have had some ponder shells for 45 minutes only to turn it down. Some try them on for a minute or two if no crabs are near them. That way they won't loose their old shell.

We have found rinsing shells in dechlorinated salt water seems to spark a new interest in shells too.

[keeliaa]

i also realized this being a problem before he molted, he wouldn’t stay in the shell like my other crab did, he always seemed to be falling out of it a little bit or he would hang out half way out of it when he was alone. i don’t see how he could like his shell and hasn’t switched. i haven’t even seen him looking at a lot of shells. i know they’re nocturnal but he is active all day almost so i dont know what he does at night

edit: i don’t believe he is super glued to his shell either. the store i bought them from us family owned and the crabs are as ethically sold as possible.(i know it’s hard but they get them safely and didn’t know about painted shell danger. they have not got painted shells since. they are also kept in ideal conditions at the pet store and taken great care of.) i also see his body move all the time considering he’s hanging on by a thread

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[curlysister]

Show us what he looks like in his Tight Pants!
Post a photo if you can get one please.

[keeliaa]

his favorite spot is to sit inside one of the food bowls. but this is how far he ever goes into his shell
also he’s a big guy lol bigger than a golf ball


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[keeliaa]

kind of creepy!! only picked him up for the photo btw


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[keeliaa]

now he’s laying out of his shell sideways please respond this is weird
i’m going to run by the pet store in an hour or so and look if they have any shells that will fit him #veryworried

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[keeliaa]

i misted the crabitat and over him and didn’t see much movement this is so weird what is happening

from my search it seems like he ate some of the paint on his shell and is sick

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[keeliaa]

update: he’s more limp than before and i don’t think he’s going to make it. my other crab should come up soon and i don’t want her to be alone but i feel awful replacing him so fast


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[curlysister]

Oh dear. I'm not sure that shell is too small, I don't think he was in it properly in the first picture. Like maybe he was too weak to be able to stay in it far enough.

[crabbycasey]

How is he doing today? Hope he’s ok...


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[keeliaa]

there’s still no movement but he doesn’t look dead. there’s no smell, no list color, and he isn’t shriveled up or anything.


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[crabbycasey]

Have you filled out the emergency form on here? Just thinking maybe one of the experts can help more once they understand your tank conditions/set up...hopefully!


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