Scrappy is changing shells constantly

Where we discuss the behavior of our hermit crabs, as in fights, pecking orders, shell swaps, etc. Please post all naked-crab posts in the Emergency forum.
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AshAnne1994
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Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2016 10:46 pm

Scrappy is changing shells constantly

Post by AshAnne1994 » Wed Sep 28, 2016 7:27 am

Hello I am sure this is probably normal and I am just being paranoid but I am a new crab owner and I want to make sure my hermies are happy healthy and crabby :D But my medium sized crab scrappy has changed shells 5 times today! And 3 times yesterday. Do you think he is getting ready to molt or just bored?

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LadyJinglyJones
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Location: The 6ix, Ontario, Canada

Re: Scrappy is changing shells constantly

Post by LadyJinglyJones » Wed Sep 28, 2016 8:22 am

I put money on him going back to his original shell... it seems like a lot of posts like this end with the human being baffled as to what the crab was looking for and the crab scuttling about in its old (often too small shell)! :lol:
"Gaze upon the rolling deep..."
Quince the fat tailed gecko; Amazonian minnows; and now Harry & Luis, Bede & Aster, Chandra & Jace, Pax, & Piccolo, my adopted PPs.
RIP Vegita :(


Topic author
AshAnne1994
Posts: 29
Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2016 10:46 pm

Re: Scrappy is changing shells constantly

Post by AshAnne1994 » Wed Sep 28, 2016 8:25 am

Well his original shell was painted and had holes in it. Dang Petco :( He also has little nubs and falls over a lot from where they had him in a 10 gallon tank with 30 other crabs!! :(

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LadyJinglyJones
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Location: The 6ix, Ontario, Canada

Re: Scrappy is changing shells constantly

Post by LadyJinglyJones » Sat Oct 01, 2016 1:00 am

:( :x :(
"Gaze upon the rolling deep..."
Quince the fat tailed gecko; Amazonian minnows; and now Harry & Luis, Bede & Aster, Chandra & Jace, Pax, & Piccolo, my adopted PPs.
RIP Vegita :(

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Rawrgeous
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Location: Nebraska

Re: Scrappy is changing shells constantly

Post by Rawrgeous » Sat Oct 01, 2016 1:08 am

He's probably just overwhelmed by the fact that he has choices. Mine did the same when they were new. I wouldn't worry.

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kieagcarm
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Location: Pittsburgh PA

Re: Scrappy is changing shells constantly

Post by kieagcarm » Sun Oct 09, 2016 6:02 pm

I'm a new crabber too and mine did this for a few days when I added shells. Now one is back in his original shell, the other in one that's way too big for him. Both are now not moving at all and I'm stressed out

"Judge a man not by his answers, but by his questions"
"Judge a man not by his answers, but by his questions."


CrabMater
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Location: NYC

Re: Scrappy is changing shells constantly

Post by CrabMater » Tue Oct 11, 2016 6:47 pm

Hello, Scrappy sounds like my PP John Cena (long story) JC will change his shell sometimes 3x in 1 day. Been doing it for months. I keep a wide variety for him and his tankmate. I would worry if he was shelless. You could try boiling the shells in salt water. Sometimes the crab wil be uncomfortable in sandy/gritty shell.
These guys are weird, but fun to watch them hop shells tho. :)
CM
CrabMater to 2PPs : John & Diana (formerly Cherry Bomb)
Crabbin' since June '16 (RIP Pinchy 7/16 / RIP Dean )

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Kermie16
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Re: Scrappy is changing shells constantly

Post by Kermie16 » Fri Oct 21, 2016 8:34 pm

One of our crabs we used to call "Diva Mike" because he would LOVE to keep changing shells on a daily basis. There was one time when one of his buddies was just sitting there watching him almost as if to say "for real, Mike? Again?!"


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