HCA: Hermit Crab Association

How necessary is the 3-5 shells per crab rule?

It is very important. Without that many your crabs may try to steal shells from other crabs. Or even attack the crab and sometimes kill them. Some people on here have ten, twenty crabs and sixty shells, so, you know! I hope I helped! Good luck!

I don't go per crab, but by size of crab. So 3 to 5 shells for small crabs, 3 to 5 for medium crabs, etc. They need valid options to change into, but you don't have to go crazy buying stuff and have a dozen shells for three same sized crabs unless you want to. The more valid options you have the less likely they will be to attack each other, but honestly shell jackings when there are good shell choices tend to be the crabs getting agitated and aren't always related to how many shells are available.

That said, having the RIGHT kind of shells is super important. I see so many photos of people with shells in their tank that are either totally useless because the crabs will never ever wear that species. Or shells that are so much the wrong size that the crabs will never look at them. Or the crabber spends an obscene amount on shells that the crabs might wear if they have no other choice, which can lead to attacks if their buddy has something more comfortable on. Stick with turbos, watch sizing but don't panic if it's not a "perfect" fit.

Yes I def agree wosesorel. I probably should've gone more in-depth but thanks for clearing some things up!

I know the 3 of my small PPs that are up and active have switched shells several times. I even got to see one switch. They all chose natural green turbo shells that they can tuck so far into, you really have to look to know there's a crab in there, yet when they're out and about, the shell looks like a good fit for them.

I ordered the shells from "pepperlonely" on amazon. Great outfit, just beware they don't necessarily go by the size of the opening and use the overall size of the shell in some of their products.

wodesorel wrote:I don't go per crab, but by size of crab. So 3 to 5 shells for small crabs, 3 to 5 for medium crabs, etc. They need valid options to change into, but you don't have to go crazy buying stuff and have a dozen shells for three same sized crabs unless you want to. The more valid options you have the less likely they will be to attack each other, but honestly shell jackings when there are good shell choices tend to be the crabs getting agitated and aren't always related to how many shells are available.

That said, having the RIGHT kind of shells is super important. I see so many photos of people with shells in their tank that are either totally useless because the crabs will never ever wear that species. Or shells that are so much the wrong size that the crabs will never look at them. Or the crabber spends an obscene amount on shells that the crabs might wear if they have no other choice, which can lead to attacks if their buddy has something more comfortable on. Stick with turbos, watch sizing but don't panic if it's not a "perfect" fit.

Thanks for the clarification, I now have three crabs in jumbo (2.5-3 inch opening) shells and it's really hard to come across those shells.

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