HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Do you think it is possible for a hermie to be stuck in one shell? Or do they completely exit their shell for a moult? My hermie Jupiter (who goes by the name pinchy lately.... painful story...!) has never changed shells since I have owned him. Im not sure how long I have had him, maybe a year, and he has had 3 or so moults. He is close to large in size and his shell only covers his abdomen with his exo area completely outside and impossible to pull into his tiny shell. I have purposely purchased several shells just for him, but he doesnt even explore them. He is unlike any other hermie I have had experience with. His non-interest in new shells is quite bizarre. What do you all think about him?

Did he perhaps have a distance relative that was an E? ............or, perhaps............could he be..................is he a mutant ......V? :smt028

Well, he may have a long distant relative, but I don't think he is much of a mutant. He certainly is odd though, and has a truly mighty pinch!

aaaahhhhh.....She throws the back of her hand to her forehead.....and swoons onto her elegant yet stately boudoir....does this mean I am.... could it possibly mean I am.......Oh darling Derrick, please tell me it's not true......that I possibly could....be.....could I be.... a V in an E's body?...as she sobs into her dainty handkerchief.... which carries the same faint smell of persimmon.....on her arms as dainty......as....so dainty....as a ballerina performing her first plie.......




....or not :smt028

Whatever you are on, where did you get it, and how can I get some? Lol, joke!

Is she in a painted shell? I've seen pictures of them stuck in painted shells, it was very sad.

Well some hermies are found to be suited with one shell for a whole lifetime. Likewise, the hermie feels that no other shell can compete with his. So...sometimes large sized hermies tend to let their legs out of the shell, only his abdomen is inside...

personally, i had a lot of trouble getting my aussie crabs to change shells, even if their current shell was painted. here, the PPs and Es i get in painted shells almost always change within an hour, but i couldn't get Darwin or Macca to ditch their painted shells for anything. i had more shell trouble with the aussies than the couple dozen Es ive had!

Caroline

None of my previous Aussies have been so attached to one shell like Jupiter. But as long as he is happy I guess. And no, he is not in a painted shell, so at least that is a plus.

Well, that's interesting to read.

Oh, by the way...

Alas, the computer has contracted a virus! I can not do pics until I get it fixed

Krusty wrote:Alas, the computer has contracted a virus! I can not do pics until I get it fixed

Aw, nuts...

I will get them eventually, but for now they must wait. Everyone is going to wonder why he is so crazy when they see just how small his shell is :roll:

Good luck! Hopefully he wouldn't when you take a photo of him...

We'll :close eyes: while waiting.

Oh my, Krusty. Has he grown again? What is up with Jupiter? Such a weird little crabbie.

I thought Seb had swapped shells at one point until I realized that another teenie had just come up as a small with very dark colouring and then swapped shells... Jerk... I got all excited until I took the little booger out and got a better look.