HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi, I have been seeing a lot of people putting shells in a bowl instead of scattering them around the tank. I wonder whether that method is better for the hermit crabs? Or does it really matter? Just trying to figure out whether I should make space in my tank for a new bowl or not.

It’s your choice really! I keep mine in a bin for the most part to keep them from being buried in the sand. I do have some on the substrate though.

Thanks!

I used to keep the shells in a little square dish with low sides, I thought it looked really cute. The hermies, on the other hand, preferred to throw the shells all over the tank willy nilly! So I gave up on my little dish and just put them where ever now! LOL!

I like them in a basket. When I had them scattered the hermits used to bury them, plus they got dirtier quicker.

I had mine in a basket on the floor. They just walked through it to the other side. I put them on the ground, they started shopping. I even tried on a 2nd level shelf, but the shells got knocked off. So they're on the ground, dirty, buried, half buried. Ungrateful crabs. Lol.

Hermiesguardian wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 02, 2019 1:57 pm

I had mine in a basket on the floor. They just walked through it to the other side. I put them on the ground, they started shopping. I even tried on a 2nd level shelf, but the shells got knocked off. So they're on the ground, dirty, buried, half buried. Ungrateful crabs. Lol.

LOL!

I like the idea of a shell shop, but I worry he won't be able to get the shells he wants out.

I like to hang baskets for "shell shops," keeps the shells cleaner and less likely to get buried; also provides upper-level hangout space and activity areas. It does seem kind of weird, I don't suppose the crabs would find many shells "up in the trees" in nature, but they didn't seem to mind and I got shell changes on a regular basis.

I have a shower caddy with shells in and i have some just sitting on the substrate


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk