HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I got a new guy yesterday and he is a large.

His shell was way too small but my jumbo assortment of turbos from Naples didn't arrive until today.

I know that most are eager to get out of the pet store shell but there weren't any larger ones in there just yet. He decided that instead of going into one slightly smaller than what he came, he was going to cram himself into one that was probably only 3/4 the size of what he came in. Now he looks like this.

I put him in iso with a assortment of larger shells and he is oblivious.

I've seen worse. He'll change when he finds a shell he likes. No need to ISO but putting in freshly washed shells that are still a bit wet, placed opening up usually gets them looking. Good luck!

We humans tend to think that a hermit crab should be wearing something that is the "right" size all the time, but to a hermit crab there is no right size. So long as there are other multiple options available, then he's in the shell he likes best at the moment. There's a reason they have armor plated legs, and the majority of my own hermit have chosen to stay in shells that fit like the one yours is wearing.

I put him in Iso so he would be in closer proximity to the shells. I am gonna put him back in the main tank in a few hours. We are leaving to go pick up the rest of my tank build supplies. I figure if he doesn't change by then he probably isn't going to. I put my first large in and she changed out of her pet store shell immediately. My other large from yesterday changed overnight and dug down. I am almost positive she is in a land snail shell. Too small as well. Why do they hate the pet store shells so much that they change into something too small to escape? They aren't painted.

He changed lol. Back in the main tank now. He seems so much more comfortable.

I try to not bother myself with their shell size. I giggle about their choices.. I assume they are only following their natural instincts.

I've noticed, like posted above, if I freshly wash them and put them opening side up they get checked out a lot quicker!

I do the washed and opening up method too. Today my favorite crab finally moved from his fox conch to a turbo. He can fit in places he couldn't before and he is happy now.

Here the crab that I thought might have been stupid in the shell he ultimately chose.

Ruling the kingdom.

He looks fantastic and that is a shell worth waiting for. They do make some very funny choices. my almost large changed into a very small shell (for her) last night, she can't even "coil" he legs properly they hang out so far FYI: there are many better choices for her including the one she came out of. I also have a little guy that walks using his claws and front two walking lags and holds his shell on with his rear walking legs, I assume because the shell is too big for him, he looks so funny and makes me laugh. I call him my treasure hunter because he just HAD TO HAVE the shell with the mother of pearl accents, even if it doesn't fit. Goof balls!

They crack me up.

I love that comic! So cute! Do you have website?

Wait! Just saw website bottom! Will check out!

Especially as they get bigger I think they choose comfortable and being able to move around easily over a bigger, heavier shell that they can pull themselves completely into. I have one crab that has a "goldilocks" fit (not too huge but able to pull completely in and seal off with BP and sheild leg) in a 1.5“ jade turbo, but he never stays in them and insists on going back to his 1 1/16" opening mexican turbo instead of even a slightly roomier tapestry turbo. At this point I don't think that he can even pull his eyes back into it but he thinks he's comfy so it's good enough for me.

KellyCrabbieLove wrote: Why do they hate the pet store shells so much that they change into something too small to escape? They aren't painted.

I think that hermit crabs have rather limited choices of shells to choose from in the wild, so they grab whatever shell is big enough to protect their abdomen. Sometimes it is a great fit, sometimes it is too big, sometimes it is too small. And I don't think most pet stores keep a large enough variety of extra shells for them to choose from. They look, when they have opportunities to, and when something they like in a shell comes along, whether it is a certain shape, a specific smoothness, etc., they do not hesitate to snatch it up. How many of us growing up, or even still, kept wearing some clothes well after we should have stopped? You know, that favorite shirt, pair of pants, jacket, etc. I'm talking about.

I still do that. Lol my poor jeans...