HCA: Hermit Crab Association

When putting new shells for the hermies to pick from in the tank, do they need water in them?

Someone on HCA recommended rinsing shells with water, that crabbies absolutely love wet shells. We did that and, bam!, they were all over them! We now regularly rinse ours with dechlorinated salt or fresh water. Most of the time they check them out each time the shells are reintroduced.

Thanks for the tip. Maybe this time they won't just bury them!

I always dry the shells after rinsing and cleaning them. However, I do add a few drops of saltwater in them and place them in the tank with the opening facing up. The crabs go wild for the shells when I do this!

I usually add a litle bit of salt water to freshly boiled shells and I really don't think it has made a difference. I don't know, but my hermies seem to switch shells randomly. I noticed my hermies seem to actually switch shell like crazy every time I clean the tank. I'm not sure how that triggers shell switching, but my hermies are quite silly!!