Shell change...a lot

[metfan]

My newly molted crab keeps changing shells. He/she seems restless. I have 10 shells in the tank of various sizes in a shell shop. Do you think I should get more? Is it possible that he/she can't find the right shell? Should I get more shells? Of note, the other 2 are down molting. Do crabs get lonely? I swear they used to cuddle. I've become an obsessed crab mom.


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[khs12]

I am a new crab mom so I may be blowing steam out of my rear here but I think its just adjusting. It is very possible though that your crabbie needs a bigger/smaller shell so to be on the safe side I'd get 2 or 3 of each size, plus your other 2 crabs are gonna probably want bigger shells when they come up from their molts.
And yes, they are social creatures but I think he/she will be fine! If you buy a new crab every time your others go down for a molt, you'd have a TON of crabbies after a while! Unless of course you want that, in which case, go for it!

[wodesorel]

There is no such thing as too many shells. However, as long as the shells are the right kind and right size (check out the shell guide here: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 25&t=92552 ) there is no reason to buy more for him. He's got a good selection and now he gets to make a choice. Keep in mind that in the wild, new shells are very hard to come by. I think sometimes they get a little shell crazy with the options we give them and some can't make up their minds right away. I had one crab at the start (Giggles) that changed shells nearly every day for close to two months before he finally settled down. Having a good number of shells is important though so they don't go after a tankmate's shell instead!

[rothers27]

I have this same question. I have two crabs that keep changing shells, sometimes over 3 or 4 times a day. Even though there are a lot of shells for them, they keep switching between the same three shells. They are so funny about it, too. But it makes me worry they don't have enough shell choices. Of course, they are hermit crabs, so they don't know that they keep changing into the same shell.

[Crabinski]

Even though there are a lot of shells for them, they keep switching between the same three shells...Of course, they are hermit crabs, so they don't know that they keep changing into the same shell.

So true! Two of my crabs are roughly the same size and rotate 3-4 green turbos between them. My large crab, Big Enzo, "shops" several times a day but only "tries on" shells at night: he slips into a new one while holding on to his usual shell, wears the new one for a minute or two, then slips back into his old shell (Preciousssss). They're all so goofy !

[rothers27]

I'm not sure if I'm posting in the right place, but I'm starting to see that shells are very important to my crabs. I went and got a new crab today who was in a shell that I thought my other two crabs would like. He was too big for it and obviously needing a bigger shell. I have a bigger shell at home that I knew he would fit into that is too large for the other crabs. So I bring him home and within an hour or so, my shell obsessed crabs are following the new crab all over the place. My new big crab is eyeing the large shell that I'm hoping he switching into.

This is all so exciting.

[vretallin]

I'd posted about this in my molting post, but I am in the same situation with Roberta. She is shell shopping like crazy, trying them on at any time of day, bullying the other crabs to check out their shells. I've bought many more shells for her to try. She prefers the turbos, actually three of them do. It's insane I have three crabs in three different sized green turbos. I almost can't tell them apart. With Robrta's current behavior, I've pretty much decided she is insane.

[Laurie LeAnn]

My crabs will change many times and go back to their same shell..crabby paddy was hanging out of his to small shell before he decided to change one day.