My "E" wont change out of his painted shell!

[PixelPlex22]

The other day I bought a new pacific crab. I was really excited, and he looked active and healthy. I thought I could get him to change out of his ugly painted shell, but no luck. Any ideas?
I have a selection of about 4 shells suited for Es and they are his size.


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[CallaLily]

Es can be very stubborn about switching shells. All you can do is provide him with a variety of clean shells to check out. Take a look at the Preferred Shell Guide. Good luck!

[cRABB3R&w[]FE]

I still have three E's in painted shells too, but I would also say that for me it has pretty much been a straight 50/50, half the crabs I have gotten were most concerned with molting first, and the other half are concerned with a new shell first.... As long as they stay eating and drinking I don't worry about it...

[landlubber]

Nothing you can do about it, but it sure is irritating. I have a PP in a painted shell that every day I check to see if he got out of it and everyday I am disappointed by him again. It makes you just want to run out and buy more shells.

[JulesRolyCrab]

Maybe throw a few shells that you think might be too big or small for him, sometimes crabs have their own weird preference... Good luck!

[Crabinski]

They can make you crazy with their reluctance to change shells -- I think it's a crabby plot to make us all keep buying more and more shells for them !

One of the two small PPs I adopted on craigslist last year refused to leave his hideous painted shell (it even had little goo-goo eyes glued on it); he'd check out green turbos and even jump into one for a few minutes before retreating to the old reliable paint job. He finally changed after he molted and was simply too large for the painted shell. You wouldn't believe how fast I snatched that old shell out of the tank! He's molted a few times since then and is still a smallish crab but at least he shops and switches among the turbos his size. I guess once he left that "security blanket" shell and realized that no harm befell him, he began to enjoy shopping and swapping!

[PixelPlex22]

My pp changes shells whenever I put a new one in. My largest one Mho seems to enjoy shells that look too big on him. He really likes his new shell, fit for a jumbo. Mho is a large though.

[PixelPlex22]

It's kind of sad, my little e thinks it a perfect little shell, he can't see himself. And we think of painted shells as horrible things. In reality he doesn't know it's a horrible man-made item. So I have to out-shell his shell!

[pixellator]

PixelPlex22:
When my son brought home our "E" it had a painted shell. I successfully peeled off the paint, though. This crab has never changed shells in the nine months I've been caring for him. I haven't seen him in over a month, though; I hope things are going ok where ever he burrowed.

[me n my hermikids]

My pp changes shells whenever I put a new one in. My largest one Mho seems to enjoy shells that look too big on him. He really likes his new shell, fit for a jumbo. Mho is a large though.

I have one PP that wears shells much too big for him. I have a colony that ranges from small to almost jumbo, so there are a full range of shell sizes to choose from in the tat, but it always seems he picks way too big. I have to check really closely when I remove shells because you almost cant see him way in there. I like baggie cloths, too.

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[cRABB3R&w[]FE]

I woke up to my new baby E up from his first molt with us, and he promptly dumped his painted shell for a new Babylon, and boy did the little guy come up a vivid orange hazelnut color, I'll go get a picture!

[cRABB3R&w[]FE]

Still have not come up with a name yet, but I'm thinking of

"Sir Cheeto Poquito"



I don't think the name will stick tho because the wifey doesn't like it lol...

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[Crabinski]

Fabulous vibrant coloring! From what I've heard (never having owned an E) is that their coloring changes quite drastically, i.e., pretty blue or green Es turning tan after a few molts. Although he's "Cheeto"-ish now, he may not stay anywhere near that color.

[Ljferg95]

PixelPlex22:
When my son brought home our "E" it had a painted shell. I successfully peeled off the paint, though. This crab has never changed shells in the nine months I've been caring for him. I haven't seen him in over a month, though; I hope things are going ok where ever he burrowed.

I have a PP with his original shell that I brought him home in. And of course its painted (complete with googly eyes) how did you get the paint off without irritating your e?

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[KellyCrabbieLove]

Lol I don't think it can be done without irritating them. I have angered many a crab on the way home from the store/adoption/rescue. I'm not allowed to drive because of my seizures so they get my full attention on the way home.

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