Preferred Shell Guide

This is where you discuss shells for your hermit crabs. Not for selling/swapping shells, use Classified Ads for that.
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MacandHunter
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Preferred Shell Guide

Post by MacandHunter » Sat Apr 14, 2007 3:29 pm

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
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Turbo fluctuosus (striped turbo, Mexican turbo)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties
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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
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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
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Turbo imperialis, T. marmoratus, T. militaris (jade turbo, camo turbo)
-Good for large-jumbo crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties
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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
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Liguus virgineus (Haitian tree snail, candy snail)
-Good for tiny-small crabs
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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)
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Zebra littorina (zebra periwinkle)
-Good for tiny-small crabs
-Prefer pre-worn/modified
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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
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Babylonia areolata, B. spirata (Babylonia shell)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Will move into un-modified ones
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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
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Melongena melongena (fiber conch, king crown, Florida crown)
-Good for small-large crabs
-Prefer pre-worn/modified, but may move into a new one
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Cantharus melanostomus
-Good for small-medium
-Prefer pre-worm/modified
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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
Image
Image
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Turbo fluctuosus (striped turbo, Mexican turbo)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Can come in carved or polished varieties
Image
Image

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
Image
Image

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

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

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
Image
Image
Image

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

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
Image
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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
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Pugilina cochlidium, P. tuba
-Good for small-medium crabs
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Cantharus melanostomus
-Good for small-large crabs
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Phyllonotus pomum (apple murex)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Larger shells can be a bit heavy
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Fasciolaria filamentosa (fusi) (often confused with fox shells)
-Good for tiny-medium crabs
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Bursa rubeta, B. rana, B. bobo (frog)
Good for medium-jumbo crabs
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Chicoreus virgineus (virgin murex)
-Good for small-large crabs
-larger shells can be a bit heavy
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Hexaplex (Muricanthus) erythrostomus (pink murex)
-Good for medium-jumbo crabs
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Fasciolaria tulipa (tulip)
-Good for small-large crabs
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Babylonia areolata, B. spirata (Babylonia shell)
-Good for tiny-large crabs
-Will move into un-modified ones
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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
Image
Image

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

Pugilina cochlidium, P. tuba
-Good for small-medium crabs
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Bufonaria echinata , B.crumena , B.elegans, B.margaritula (frog, maple leaf)
Good for medium-jumbo crabs
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Last edited by MacandHunter on Sat May 24, 2008 8:56 am, edited 3 times in total.
Crabbing since 7/4/04 - 10 years!
I'm not asking salvation from you - I'm just asking to be safe for a while
make it easy - make this easy
it's not as heavy as it seems
wrapped in metal -wrapped in ivy - painted in mint ice cream

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MacandHunter
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Post by MacandHunter » Sat Apr 14, 2007 3:40 pm

The guide is now done! Woot! :D Hope it helps anyone who needs it.
Crabbing since 7/4/04 - 10 years!
I'm not asking salvation from you - I'm just asking to be safe for a while
make it easy - make this easy
it's not as heavy as it seems
wrapped in metal -wrapped in ivy - painted in mint ice cream


Guest

Post by Guest » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:27 pm

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

Post by Guest » Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:49 pm

Awesome! This was very much needed! Thanks Mac!


Guest

Post by Guest » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:35 pm

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


Guest

Post by Guest » Sat Oct 27, 2007 5:30 am

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

Post by crabcrew » Fri May 23, 2008 9:19 pm

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

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Mokulele_Hawai'i
Posts: 142
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Post by Mokulele_Hawai'i » Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:47 pm

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

Dolphin turban (Angaria delphinus)
Image

Fig shell (Ficus gracilis / F.subintermedia) & Harp shells (Harpa sp.)
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Juvenile spider / scorpion conches (Lambis sp.)
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Hermit crab lover since 1981
Founder of "Blueberry land hermit crab" - common name for Coenobita purpureus, and "Zebra Sunset land hermit crab" for a new subspecies of Coenobita violascens


Guest

WHERE TO BUY THEM

Post by Guest » Sat Jul 05, 2008 9:50 am

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

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MamaZelly
Posts: 81
Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:14 pm
Location: Somewhere, Massachusetts

Post by MamaZelly » Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:08 am

Michael's arts and crafts, www.thecrabbagepatch.com , www.elsshells.com , http://thehappyhermitcrab.com , as well as many larger, commercial sites.
Last edited by MamaZelly on Thu Sep 18, 2008 6:29 pm, edited 2 times in total.
ZellyBelly, Mama to Sophie & Gus (the human babies).


Guest

Post by Guest » Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:33 pm

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

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MacandHunter
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Post by MacandHunter » Thu Sep 18, 2008 6:14 pm

Hermitcrazy wrote: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? :lol: Know what I mean?
Crabbing since 7/4/04 - 10 years!
I'm not asking salvation from you - I'm just asking to be safe for a while
make it easy - make this easy
it's not as heavy as it seems
wrapped in metal -wrapped in ivy - painted in mint ice cream

User avatar

Topic author
MacandHunter
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Founding Member
Posts: 1201
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2004 7:37 am
Location: NJ & PA

Post by MacandHunter » Fri Sep 19, 2008 8:42 pm

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.
Crabbing since 7/4/04 - 10 years!
I'm not asking salvation from you - I'm just asking to be safe for a while
make it easy - make this easy
it's not as heavy as it seems
wrapped in metal -wrapped in ivy - painted in mint ice cream


Guest

Post by Guest » Sun Sep 21, 2008 8:27 pm

MacandHunter wrote: 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? :lol: 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.

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MacandHunter
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Post by MacandHunter » Mon Sep 22, 2008 3:02 pm

Hermitcrazy wrote: 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.
Crabbing since 7/4/04 - 10 years!
I'm not asking salvation from you - I'm just asking to be safe for a while
make it easy - make this easy
it's not as heavy as it seems
wrapped in metal -wrapped in ivy - painted in mint ice cream

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