Where we discuss the behavior of our hermit crabs, as in fights, pecking orders, shell swaps, etc. Please post all naked-crab posts in the Emergency forum.
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Topic author
Julsie
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- Location: Texas
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by Julsie » Tue Feb 04, 2020 6:56 am
I bought a hermit crab from a local petco while out Christmas shopping and couldn’t resist how active and friendly this crab was so I bought him. He’s currently in a painted shell and I recently bought around 50 shells and all of my other crabs except 1 have switched shells immediately. Why is he choosing to stay in the painted shell? Ive attached a picture of him + my shell shop


my shells range from small all the way up to huge
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angelbear
- Posts: 318
- Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2014 10:28 am
- Location: Huffman, Texas
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by angelbear » Tue Feb 04, 2020 7:55 am
They tend to cjange they're shells when they are ready.
You can try giving them a rinse in saltwater to make them more intresting
Hi, I have been crabbing about 7 now, and these guys have put up alot with my growing pains.
Proud mama of 2 shell babies:
1 e, and 1pp
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Crabby7Crabber
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- Location: US
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by Crabby7Crabber » Tue Feb 04, 2020 9:04 am
Aw, so sweet!
Three PPs (Hoodini, Aaron Burr, and Jubali)
Love my deceased baby crabs George Washington, Zero, Domino, Billy, Eduardo, and Shelly too 🥺
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CrabbyLover77
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by CrabbyLover77 » Tue Feb 04, 2020 6:26 pm
My rescue crab June Bug came in painted shell, but she didn't change for about 2 or 3 days after I got her home. Sometimes they take a while to decide which one they like best lol.
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Crabby7Crabber
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by Crabby7Crabber » Tue Feb 04, 2020 6:54 pm
Yeah, I forgot to add that my first E came in a painted shell. It took him awhile but he eventually changed even though the show he changed into was way smaller, lol!
Three PPs (Hoodini, Aaron Burr, and Jubali)
Love my deceased baby crabs George Washington, Zero, Domino, Billy, Eduardo, and Shelly too 🥺
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Motörcrab
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- Location: Coal Region in Pennsylvania
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by Motörcrab » Wed Feb 05, 2020 8:36 pm
E's are the most stubborn to change shells. Ours tend to wait until their butts don't fit their shells anymore!
Xenocrab rescued a crab in a painted shell when we first started dating. Figgy took about a year to ditch the yellow shell! Then someone else would take it! it took us a month or two until they got bored aggravating us with it!
Figgy used to be called "Yellow Guy", when he changed it was "Former Yellow Guy", or FYG, "Figgy"!
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Crabby7Crabber
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by Crabby7Crabber » Wed Feb 05, 2020 9:17 pm
Motörcrab wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2020 8:36 pm
E's are the most stubborn to change shells. Ours tend to wait until their butts don't fit their shells anymore!
Xenocrab rescued a crab in a painted shell when we first started dating. Figgy took about a year to ditch the yellow shell! Then someone else would take it! it took us a month or two until they got bored aggravating us with it!
Figgy used to be called "Yellow Guy", when he changed it was "Former Yellow Guy", or FYG, "Figgy"!
Agreed! My profile picture is my E- he chose a super tiny shell over his large painted ones. I've given up trying to understand them. Nice story on your one crabby thought!

Three PPs (Hoodini, Aaron Burr, and Jubali)
Love my deceased baby crabs George Washington, Zero, Domino, Billy, Eduardo, and Shelly too 🥺
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PattyJ4437
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- Location: Cincinnati Ohio
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by PattyJ4437 » Thu Feb 06, 2020 1:13 pm
He could also be destressing before changing. Unfortunately he was most likely forced into that shell to begin with. Such a sad industry for our little guys.
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Crabby7Crabber
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by Crabby7Crabber » Thu Feb 06, 2020 1:46 pm
PattyJ4437 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 06, 2020 1:13 pm
He could also be destressing before changing. Unfortunately he was most likely forced into that shell to begin with. Such a sad industry for our little guys.
Agreed!
Three PPs (Hoodini, Aaron Burr, and Jubali)
Love my deceased baby crabs George Washington, Zero, Domino, Billy, Eduardo, and Shelly too 🥺