HCA: Hermit Crab Association

My local PetCo just got a shipment of new crabs in.... and they are all Es! Es are by far my favorite BUT they are all in PAINTED SHELLS!
I really want another E but I am so torn because of the stupid shells!
What would you all do??

I think the more important question is....do you have room for them? IMO Es need 10 gallons per crab, and at least 10-12" of substrate. They do not tolerate overcrowding like PPs do.

I try to avoid any hermit crabs from stores just out of principle. If they can’t be bothered to take (or even properly educate) proper care, they’re not profiting off of me.

Have you considered adoption? That’s where I get my children. The HCA has an adoption forum, but you may also find some crabs on Craigslist or similar sites if you look.

E’s may be hard to find in the U.S., though, so adoption would require patience.

When you say another E, do you have some already that need buddies?

I have one E and 2 PP. At the moment they are all under an inch and live in a 10 gallon but when one of the PPs comes up from a molt they will be moving into a larger home!

wrswrs2 wrote:I have one E and 2 PP. At the moment they are all under an inch and live in a 10 gallon but when one of the PPs comes up from a molt they will be moving into a larger home!

How much larger? Two E’s need twenty gallons alone. Add in the PP’s and you could be looking at at least thirty gallons (likely more to meet the substrate depth requirements).

It’s a 20.