HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hey guys, just wondering about one of my hermies' shell swapping behavior. I bought him about 3 weeks ago, and he had this ugly old shell. He switched out of it right after getting him home, so I put it outside the tank. Recently i reintroduced him to it, as he switched from his second shell, a green turbo, to a pretty murex shell he seemed to have trouble moving in. I put the ugly shell back in, and he jumped right into it. Since then he has switched between the green turbo and the ugly shell at least 15 times. It's becoming a common occurrence to see him in a different shell since the last time I checked on him. I'm not really worried about it, and I don't want to limit his options; I was just wondering why he would be doing that, or if anyone else has had a hermie with similar behavior. Thanks!

I have one that thinks it's a diva, has the same 3 shells it likes to go back and forth to. I feel like maybe it's because there's so many good options that they can't decide which one they like best. Or they like to have crabby fashion shows lol


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He may be returning to his "ugly" shell because it's comfortable -- crabs do modify their shells for the best fit. Two of my PPs pretty much swap shells with one another, always from among three favorite green turbos.

When given the choice between murex and turbo shells, 9/10 times, the crabs will choose the turbos. They just seem to like them better. I have had a couple of oddballs in murexes, but out of over 50 some odd crabs, most of them like turbo fluctuosos or tapestry turbos the best.

We have Diva Mike (currently molting) who would do the same thing! Lol! Totally fun to watch. I try to change shells out almost weekly to see if maybe they want to try others on and find a better fit.