HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I am so sure that I read that pp's prefer round shell openings and ee's like oval openings...is this true?

There are some 'general' preferences... but like everything else in life, its not a "rule". Most times PP's do like a round opening, and E's like an oval or what we call a "D" shaped opeing. But... I have 1 E in a turbo (round opening) right now, and a couple of PPs in D shaped opening shells. Go figure. They're like kids that way, always out to prove us wrong! lol... just teasin'.These are the only 2 species I have, so someone else will have to comment on the others.

Christa's site http://www.hermit-crabs.com/shells.html has a great example of shells. Then click to go to the next page at the bottom and there is even more shell info. Sandra

Precisely why I said there is no definite "rule". They certainly have minds of their own, with their own little personalities and preferences. I think it sometimes has to do with the temperature of your tank too, if its real warm, I notice some of mine switch to a lighter weight shell.Anyways, just for informational purposes, here is what my crabbies are currently wearing...At least 1 E in each of the following: Golden Tunn, Tiger Moon Snail (big fav in my tank), Natica Lineata, Tapestry Turbo (even though it has a round opening), and another that I cant find the name of.At least 1 PP in each of the following: Babylon Spirata, Green Jade Turbo, Silver Mouth Turbo, Pica Shell and Japanese Land Sail.Others that have been worn before are: Steel Mouth Top, Silver Turbo, Yellow Banded Snails and Candy Striped Snails.Shells that have never been touched in my tank: King Conch, Florida King Crown, Cancellaria, Dark Cancellaria, Rock Shell, Thias Mutabilis, Gold Mouth Turbo, African Turbo, Tiger Land Snail and Muffin Snail.And here is where you can see all of these shells: http://www.naplesseashellcompany.com/he ... shells.htm

Interesting, all my E's but 2 are in round openings, all but 1 of my PP's are in round openings, all of my Ruggies but 1 are in round openings, all of my Staws are in round openings and all of my Cavvies are in D shapes. And that's 56 Hermit Crabs, I agree with Ren about the temp and all Hermies are different.Sandra

The one shell that I have found that all my crabs love is the tiger moon shells. Right now I have 6 crabs in them. 3 PP's, 2 E's and a ruggie. The small guys really seem to love them. They all abandoned their turbos for them. I don't have a single small guy in a turbo right now. I am not sure if it qualifies as a round or a D shaped shell. It is kind of in between.

He He All 11 of my PP crabbies are in brown turbo peths. It seems to be the favorite as I have all kinds of other shells and they ignore them. When they were babies, most were in cancellaria, king conch shells, and babylon shells. They looked so cute then, and were much easier to tell apart. Now that they are older they are a boring bunch.Other shells that they have used less frequently in the past are silver mouth turbos, gold mouth turbos, banded turbos, tulip shells, and rock shells. When I had my two Es they both came in nerite shells.