Naked crab

[TXcrabby022]

Hi all,

We have a recently emerged jumbo naked PP that seems to be confused and not getting into the shells I've been offering. Another jumbo has gotten interested and the naked crab seems to be nervous, so I moved the other away. Do I need to separate them? And what else? We have a good range of shell sizes, tat is well-misted, humid and warm. TIA for any pointers!

Elena

[TXcrabby022]

Update: I've rinsed her/him and shell with fresh crabitat water, gently uncurled ab and attempted to reintroduce to shell but crab was too upset and squirmed away. Now ab is partially in a larger shell, with three more available, including old shell. Will fill out form later.

[wodesorel]

Generally, if they are being fussy the best thing is to separate for safety, make sure the crab and the shells are rinsed clean, and then confine them to a clean substrate-free space just large enough to fit everything so that the crab has no choice but to look at what is being offered. It takes the distraction away, and being clean makes it less likely that there will be irritations that chase them out of a new shell. Good luck! I hope it's a temporary thing. If they really refuse to wear a shell it means something very serious is happening and it usually cannot be reversed.

[TXcrabby022]

Thanks, Wodesorel! Things are looking up--he/she has moved into a new shell. Fingers crossed it works for a while and all's well. Wish I'd gotten a better look to determine whether male or female while I had the chance!

[myllkti]

Update: I've rinsed her/him and shell with fresh crabitat water, gently uncurled ab and attempted to reintroduce to shell but crab was too upset and squirmed away. Now ab is partially in a larger shell, with three more available, including old shell. Will fill out form later.

Hi,
Maybe you know his already and uncurling ab was what seemed best at the time, but touching a hermit crab’s body will be excruciating for the hermie no matter how gentle you are. Maybe your hermie’s shell had something inside, because hermit crabs will leave shells if they become uncomfortable and something is lodged inside or there is an infection. You could check your crabs shell and boil the empty ones every once in a while to try preventing this situation again. Just be extra sure the ones you boil are empty, because hermies can change shells very fast.

Hope this helps!

[curlysister]

Crabs will leave their shells for reasons other than infection or something inside. It is often a sign of stress, which can sometimes be determined from the answers to the emergency template. While it is generally not a good idea to touch crabs, the moderators on this site do recommend gently uncurling the abdomen to re-shell a crab. A naked crab will die, and one moderator said that 'sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures', LOL!

[GotButterflies]

Hi,
Maybe you know his already and uncurling ab was what seemed best at the time, but touching a hermit crab’s body will be excruciating for the hermie no matter how gentle you are. Maybe your hermie’s shell had something inside, because hermit crabs will leave shells if they become uncomfortable and something is lodged inside or there is an infection. You could check your crabs shell and boil the empty ones every once in a while to try preventing this situation again. Just be extra sure the ones you boil are empty, because hermies can change shells very fast.

Hope this helps!

It is necessary to uncurl a hermit crab's abdomen when they have abandoned their shell. We recommend this method after their shell has been rinsed in the freshwater of the crabitat, showing that there is nothing in the shell. The hermit crab's abdomen should also be very gently dipped in the fw of the crabitat so that it is not dirty. A hermit crab cannot live without a shell. The shell is the hermit crab's protection at keeping their abdomen moist and protected.

[TXcrabby022]

Crabby is still in the large shell but is very limp, with some legs sticking out slightly. Does not smell bad and did move slightly when I touched the legs. Perhaps this is just a surface molt? I made a little cave in a sand bowl with shells and moist moss for a roof. I'll add a soda bottle top when I get my hands on one.

[TXcrabby022]

P.S. Thanks for the help and clarification re abdominal uncurling! <3<3<3

[soilentgringa]

Update: I've rinsed her/him and shell with fresh crabitat water, gently uncurled ab and attempted to reintroduce to shell but crab was too upset and squirmed away. Now ab is partially in a larger shell, with three more available, including old shell. Will fill out form later.

Hi,
Maybe you know his already and uncurling ab was what seemed best at the time, but touching a hermit crab’s body will be excruciating for the hermie no matter how gentle you are. Maybe your hermie’s shell had something inside, because hermit crabs will leave shells if they become uncomfortable and something is lodged inside or there is an infection. You could check your crabs shell and boil the empty ones every once in a while to try preventing this situation again. Just be extra sure the ones you boil are empty, because hermies can change shells very fast.

Hope this helps!

Hermit crabs are quite adept at cleaning debris from their shells, as they do live and dig in all types of leaf litter, bark, and sand.



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[myllkti]

Hi,
Maybe you know his already and uncurling ab was what seemed best at the time, but touching a hermit crab’s body will be excruciating for the hermie no matter how gentle you are. Maybe your hermie’s shell had something inside, because hermit crabs will leave shells if they become uncomfortable and something is lodged inside or there is an infection. You could check your crabs shell and boil the empty ones every once in a while to try preventing this situation again. Just be extra sure the ones you boil are empty, because hermies can change shells very fast.

Hope this helps!

It is necessary to uncurl a hermit crab's abdomen when they have abandoned their shell. We recommend this method after their shell has been rinsed in the freshwater of the crabitat, showing that there is nothing in the shell. The hermit crab's abdomen should also be very gently dipped in the fw of the crabitat so that it is not dirty. A hermit crab cannot live without a shell. The shell is the hermit crab's protection at keeping their abdomen moist and protected.

I wasn’t saying uncurling the abdomen isn’t necessary, I was just trying to stress that it is painful for them, and I’m really sorry for any misunderstanding, I’ll try to be clearer in the future