Preferred Shell Guide

[MacandHunter]

Posted by MacandHunter on Sat Apr 14, 2007
Edited, updated, and condensed by wolfnipplechips on Sunday May 27, 2012

This Preferred Shell Guide was created from the feedback of members from the hermit crab forums. The info was collected by myself but would not be able to be done without the input of you all. Thank you!

Every crab is different, however I've collected information on how many crabs are in certain kinds of shells, to conclude what shells are a favorite with certain species, and what are not. I hope this guide will help you having a better idea in what types of shells your crabs would like. Your one crab might hate one of these shells, but another of your same species might love it. Some species have more data collected then others, but you should still be able to find what you are looking for.

So without any further waiting, the shells under each species heading are the shells that the certain species of land hermit crab seems to like, most popular are listed first however all the shells listed have made the cut to be considered a preferred shell of that species.

Coenobita clypeatus (Purple Pincher, PP)
-Generally prefer turbos and round openings

Turbo petholatus (tapestry turbo, spotted tapestry, banded tapestry, carved tapestry)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties




Turbo fluctuosus (striped turbo, Mexican turbo)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties



Cittarium pica (magpie, Indian top)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties
-Are a bit heavier compared to other shells of the same opening size


Turbo argyrostomus, T.setosus, T.sparverius, T.tumidulus (green turbo, silvermouth/goldmouth/calico turbo)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties



Turbo imperialis, T. marmoratus, T. militaris (jade turbo, camo turbo)
-Good for large-jumbo crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties



Phyllonotus pomum (apple murex)
-Good for tiny-medium crabs
-Large ones are a bit heavier compared to turbos of the same opening size
-Commercially sold ones often do not possess the super smooth interior


Liguus virgineus (Haitian tree snail, candy snail)
-Good for tiny-small crabs


Coenobita compressus (Ecuadorian, E)
-Generally prefer short shells and D-shaped openings

Nerita scabricosta (black nerite)
-Good for tiny-medium crabs
-Likely to move into them only if they have been previously warn and modified (inner spiral removed)



Zebra littorina (zebra periwinkle)
-Good for tiny-small crabs
-Prefer pre-worn/modified


Thais biserialis, T. orbita, T. haemastoma, T. melones, T. speciosa, T. mutabilis (various thais species)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Prefer pre-worn/modified shells, but may move into a new one



Babylonia areolata, B. spirata (Babylonia shell)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Will move into un-modified ones



Nautica lineata, Euspira lewisii, Natica stellata, Polinices duplicatus, Neverita didyma (striped moon snail, tiger moon snail, starry moon snail, California moon snail, lewis moon snail, whale's eye, sharks eye)
-Good for tiny-jumbo crabs depending on shell species
-Will move into un-modified ones





Melongena melongena (fiber conch, king crown, Florida crown)
-Good for small-large crabs
-Prefer pre-worn/modified, but may move into a new one



Cantharus melanostomus
-Good for small-medium
-Prefer pre-worm/modified


Coenobita brevimanus (Indoneasian, Indo)
-Generally prefer turbos and round openings

Turbo petholatus (tapestry turbo, spotted tapestry, banded tapestry, carved tapestry)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties




Turbo fluctuosus (striped turbo, Mexican turbo)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties



Turbo argyrostomus, T.setosus, T.sparverius, T.tumidulus (green turbo, silvermouth/goldmouth/calico turbo)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties



Turbo imperialis, T. marmoratus, T. militaris (jade turbo, camo turbo)
-Good for large-jumbo crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties



Coenobita rugosus (ruggie)
-Generally prefer turbos and round openings

Turbo argyrostomus, T.setosus, T.sparverius, T.tumidulus (green turbo, silvermouth/goldmouth/calico turbo)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties



Turbo petholatus (tapestry turbo, spotted tapestry, banded tapestry, carved tapestry)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties




Coenobita perlatus (Strawberry, straw)
-Generally prefer turbos and round openings

Turbo petholatus (tapestry turbo, spotted tapestry, banded tapestry, carved tapestry)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties




Turbo fluctuosus (striped turbo, Mexican turbo)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties



Turbo argyrostomus, T.setosus, T.sparverius, T.tumidulus (green turbo, silvermouth/goldmouth/calico turbo)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties



Coenobita violascens (viola)
-Generally prefer long shells with siphon canals and oval, ()-like openings

Pleuroploca trapezium (horse conch, striped fox)
-Good for small-jumbo crabs


Pugilina cochlidium, P. tuba
-Good for small-medium crabs



Cantharus melanostomus
-Good for small-large crabs


Phyllonotus pomum (apple murex)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Larger shells can be a bit heavy


Fasciolaria filamentosa (fusi) (often confused with fox shells)
-Good for tiny-medium crabs



Bursa rubeta, B. rana, B. bobo (frog)
Good for medium-jumbo crabs




Chicoreus virgineus (virgin murex)
-Good for small-large crabs
-larger shells can be a bit heavy


Hexaplex (Muricanthus) erythrostomus (pink murex)
-Good for medium-jumbo crabs


Fasciolaria tulipa (tulip)
-Good for small-large crabs



Babylonia areolata, B. spirata (Babylonia shell)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Will move into un-modified ones



Coenobita purpureus (blueberries, blues)
-Generally prefer turbos, round openings, and D-shaped openings
-This info and last photo from from Mokulele_Hawai'i

Turbo argyrostomus, T.setosus, T.sparverius, T.tumidulus (green turbo, silvermouth/goldmouth/calico turbo)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties



Turbo petholatus (tapestry turbo, spotted tapestry, banded tapestry, carved tapestry)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties




Pugilina cochlidium, P. tuba
-Good for small-medium crabs



Bufonaria echinata , B.crumena , B.elegans, B.margaritula (frog, maple leaf)
Good for medium-jumbo crabs

[MacandHunter]

The guide is now done! Woot! Hope it helps anyone who needs it.

[Guest]

Awesome job, and beautiful pictures. Very helpful guide. I just learned what some shells look like to match the names of shells I have heard mentioned on posts here. Thank you...your hard work is appreciated. [smilie=clap.gif]

[Guest]

Awesome! This was very much needed! Thanks Mac!

[Guest]

Thanks so much! That is really nice, i identified a lot of my shells from that! ^_^

[Guest]

Thanks for the beautiful pics and shell guide! All my PP's love Turbo shells. I actually have one PP that is still in the Haition Tree Snail Shell that he came in from the pet store, and he seems to have some balance problems with it. It's kind of funny because he just tumbles backward so easily, but I think he might be happier in a turbo. I am always still amazed at how beautiful these natural shells though.

[crabcrew]

As a new crabber I am finding this guide extremely helpful for my crab-journal keeping. Thanks so much!

[Mokulele_Hawai'i]

Disliked by most hermit crabs ( they will move into another shell if such shell is more comfortable ) :

Dolphin turban (Angaria delphinus)


Fig shell (Ficus gracilis / F.subintermedia) & Harp shells (Harpa sp.)


Juvenile spider / scorpion conches (Lambis sp.)

[Guest]

WHERE WOULD YOU BUY THESE KIND OF SHELLS,,, I WENT TO SMITHVILLE NJ AND GOT ACOUPLE BUT THEY WERE PAINTED AND I WENT TO WILDWOOD AND THEY WERE ALL PAINTED I DID GET SOME THOUGH A COUPLE OF MY RESCUES DID GO IN THEM BUT SOME AND THE OTHER SHELLS ARE STILL EMPTY........ I HAVE PP"S ??????
AND THE SHELLS ARE EXSPENSIVE....

ANY CLUE PLEASE EMAIL ME...
THANK YOU FOR THE INFO THAT WAS HELPFUL

[MamaZelly]

Michael's arts and crafts, www.thecrabbagepatch.com , www.elsshells.com , http://thehappyhermitcrab.com , as well as many larger, commercial sites.

[Guest]

Mac,
you should keep this updated if you don't already!

[MacandHunter]

Mac,
you should keep this updated if you don't already!

How do you suggest to do this? This guide isn't perfect (never will be) but crab's tastes don't exactly change during trends.... or seasons....are thick heels or thin heels in this year? Know what I mean?

[MacandHunter]

On that note...added Zebra littorina shell for Es - pic from jesspark. It should be noted that these are pretty much impossible to find for sale. They are native to the E's home land though, and seem to be a popular choice. Your E might arive in such a shell.

[Guest]

How do you suggest to do this? This guide isn't perfect (never will be) but crab's tastes don't exactly change during trends.... or seasons....are thick heels or thin heels in this year? Know what I mean?

I meant, keep the data collected amounts higher instead of having the ones that have say 100 hermit crabs in that type of shell take the ones that have 1000 hermit crabs in that type of shell.

[MacandHunter]

I meant, keep the data collected amounts higher instead of having the ones that have say 100 hermit crabs in that type of shell take the ones that have 1000 hermit crabs in that type of shell.

I think the results would be generally the same, even if I did get more data. (which is no easy task btw, the information in this thread is the information members gave me.) Since this much interest was shown by the members, I am assuming that the amount of results here are also enough for the members. They are both equal - what was put into this by you, and what was put out by me.