HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hey everyone, one of my new Aussie hermit crabs is in a shell WAY too small for his size. He can barely retain into his shell and he won't change! I have a large variety of shells his size but that won't cut it.... Any advice or tips would help, Thanks

As long as you offer a large variety of shells, he will change when he wants to

ViiT wrote:As long as you offer a large variety of shells, he will change when he wants to

Ok thanks I'll be sure to keep adding more shells

Shell changes are a bit of a taboo subject. My E, Tappity, had an ill-placed worn-down spot on his shell, and it looked like he had a moldy butt. All the other crabs were lookin' stylish in their new shiny turbos and [non babylonias], struttin their crabby selves all over the tat. The other very fashion forward Es snubbed Tappity and left him out of their tunnel game. Tappity was left to make friends with a PP who wanted nothing to do with him. Poor misunderstood Tappity. Nobody understood why he wanted to hang onto this wacky nerite. Perhaps he just liked the way it hugged his bottom. I believe it was the weight, balancing on his booty just right, for he moves with a totally different bouncing swag from the other Es. Alas he ditched it in the end, for some football shaped, speckled shell. He looks cool as ever, but no longer walks in that cool way that really distinguished him from others.
I had almost renamed him Strobe. That's how cool he was.


Crabbers unite!!!

YYWW wrote:Shell changes are a bit of a taboo subject. My E, Tappity, had an ill-placed worn-down spot on his shell, and it looked like he had a moldy butt. All the other crabs were lookin' stylish in their new shiny turbos and [non babylonias], struttin their crabby selves all over the tat. The other very fashion forward Es snubbed Tappity and left him out of their tunnel game. Tappity was left to make friends with a PP who wanted nothing to do with him. Poor misunderstood Tappity. Nobody understood why he wanted to hang onto this wacky nerite. Perhaps he just liked the way it hugged his bottom. I believe it was the weight, balancing on his booty just right, for he moves with a totally different bouncing swag from the other Es. Alas he ditched it in the end, for some football shaped, speckled shell. He looks cool as ever, but no longer walks in that cool way that really distinguished him from others.
I had almost renamed him Strobe. That's how cool he was.


Crabbers unite!!!

Haha such a funny story, lol

Aussies can be a bit stubborn, just keep offering shells and hope he changes. I suggest getting a few new shells if he is showing no interest after a while, as it is likely he never will! Maybe boil the existing shells in salt water or rubbing olive oil around the opening - not inside - and see if he becomes a bit more interested?

aussieJJDude wrote:Aussies can be a bit stubborn, just keep offering shells and hope he changes. I suggest getting a few new shells if he is showing no interest after a while, as it is likely he never will! Maybe boil the existing shells in salt water or rubbing olive oil around the opening - not inside - and see if he becomes a bit more interested?

Yeah I think I'll try that.... I think he prefers a really tight fit and probably won't change untill his next molt