Shell advice/crabs made it thru another molt

jenok · Post by **jenok** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 9:12 am

Well, I am so glad to see all my crabs up again. This makes their 2nd (maybe 3rd for a couple) molt with me. My largest crab actually came up and I thought it was a different one at first cuz it came to me a light orangish color and its first molt stayed that color only prettier/ more vibrant. This time it is orange and purple splotched a very odd looking color. I also noticed that one of his legs has an unusual looking crinkle in it so I guess he had a little bit of trouble and may go down again. Anyways I had to get them all out to look at them to see who was who because the others aren't much smaller and are purple in color. After getting them out and inspecting them I realize his shell is way too small and I don't have any big enough that is a type he'll wear. Upon looking through our listed shell websites it seems that Deltona shells is the best priced for large shells with a 1 1/2" - 2" opening. Does anyone know of any other place that might have them cheaper?

Shelbykay246 · Post by **Shelbykay246** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 12:19 am

Naples? Hermit crab Patch?

jenok · Post by **jenok** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 2:50 am

Thanks but I checked these and Naples was more expensive unless I bought the 8pk for $60 which I can't afford and the others didn't have shells big enough or were out of stock.

Post by **JediMasterThrash** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 3:52 pm

I've found large 1-2" shells at craft stores like michaels, jo-ann and hobby-lobby.Sometimes the larger shells are in bags on the bottom shelves in weird places, like by all the fake plants. But other one's I've bought individually prices around the other shell based crafts.

jenok · Post by **jenok** » Fri Feb 14, 2014 6:32 am

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately the nearest one of those is Hobby Lobby and its about 35 miles the others are about double. I have looked in Hobby Lobby and Wal-Mart only to find 1" shells or smaller in the type they prefer which are the turbos. I don't think I looked in other areas though I just looked in 1 spot that had bags/baskets of them. I will try again but I guess I'm going to order a few from Deltona this weekend. I knew they were going to need bigger shells I just didn't realize the one it was in was so small, it has about a 1" opening. One of the others could change to some different ones that I have but it came to me in a tapestry shell and refuses to even look at the other turbos so I am going to get a couple of tapestry ones to see if it will change though its original shell still fits 'ok' but it will need to change soon.

jenok · Post by **jenok** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 5:46 am

Well I finally decided to bite the bullet and placed a order with Deltona today. Hopefully everything works out fine. I'll let ya'll know later. Thanks for all the help.

jenok · Post by **jenok** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 4:08 am

Well I got my shells from Detona and they arrived Saturday March 1st. They were waiting on some of my shells so it took about 2 weeks to get. I'm pleased to say that I am very happy with the order. However do too my poor judgment I now have 2 shells that are way too big. I boiled all the shells in some salt water and put them in for the crabs. The biggest one was the first to change but to my surprise he put on a shell similar in size to the one he had on already which to me is too small. Then my smallest one (which was in a shell way too big) and my medium size decide they want too switch only they fight over the same shell which is actually too big for both of them. The funny part is the smaller one won and put it on which was wayyyyyy to big. A short while later it decides to put a different one on but it still is too big for it. If I had realized that it would want the bigger shells too I would've order a few more and not the smaller ones that I ordered for it which would've been the right size still giving it a little xtra room by being a smidge too big. Oh well can't win for losing.