how come my hermit crab got out of its shell?

Question

and its in the nude?

but it went back in after a few seconds?

but its one of the little hermit crabs. where will i get another shell?

i have two other big ones. but my third one is a small hermit crab. how do i get another little shell?

Answer 1

Land Hermit Crabs are NOT reptiles!!! They are terrestrial Crustaceans, are invertabrates and also decapods.
They shed their Exo-skeleton like all crustaceans, reptiles have a skeleton internally and only shed their skins, hermit crabs shed their entire skeleton and then harden up the newly grown slightly larger one.

Since they are crustaceans and all the above they require very specific and special tank conditions inorder to thrive. They breathe with modified gills that require warm and humid air inorder to extract the oxygen out of the air properly wihtout those tank conditions within the proper ranges you will find dead, naked and sickly crabs because they are de-hydrated, soffacting and drying up. If the tank is too hot and dry then they are also getting pretty much cooked alive slowly.

Why did crab go naked?????

Could be many reasons, too hot, too dry, wrong type of substrate, shell fights or stress.

Make sure the tank is within the proper ranges first,
76-82 degrees F and 75%-85% relative humidity. Those levels are a MUST inorder to have healthy pet land hermit crabs.

Then check the substrate, you shloud only be using clean play sand , moist coco-fiber bedding or a mixture of the two and nothing else. Gravel, rocks, wood chips etc will irritate the crab's sensitive abdomen, marr it's exoskeleton and cause stress because it is unable to dig and tunnel within the substrate and also anyother substrate pulls humidity out of the air AND out of the crab's body.

Shells, you must provide at least 4 shells per Crab extra, and they must be the proper size, type and opening shape as per the crab's species. You must pay attention to the opening shape and size more than the overall size of the shell.

Stress is caused by everything above, plus if the tank is over crowded OR if it is an only crab and has no tank mates.. wrong foods can cause stress, over handling can cause stress and improper water types cause stress.

Make sure you offer only de-chlorinated fresh water in one pool and de-chlorinated oceanic or marine salt water in another pool, they must have both types of water and they must be in deep enough dishes/pools so the crab can submerse it's self.

If you have more questions feel free to email us here at the rescue at [e-mail]

***additional comments***

You get a small shell at a craft store, shell shop or online. BUt you need many more than just one or two, try 6 or more so you can rotate them in and out of the tank 3 at a time.

You should have had plenty of shells on hand and ready prior to this. Extra shells shloud be one of the first things you guy with all other supplies before you even buy the actual pet land hermit crab, with out the correct sized and type of shells the crabs will die.

Answer 2

this could be a false impression it somewhat is floating around the information superhighway. i think of it comes from human beings mistaking the shed Exo for the hermit crab it somewhat is self. whilst a crab moults somewhat with a floor moult you will discover bits of exo and hollow legs the place the animal shed the exoskeleton. each and every so often it particularly is in products different situations it particularly is an entire and can be rather frightening in the event that they capture you off safeguard. yet once you verify the shell you discover a pink little crab hidden away secure and sound. If the crab is out of the shell abdomen and all something is incorrect. it somewhat is what they do in the event that they are ill, under pressure, or in a desperate challenge. If the animal has a foul moult they might abandon shell. If the animal is large under pressure they'll abandon shell. If the crab is saved in undesirable situations with constrained humidity they'll abandon shell. If the crab poisoned by using chemical compounds interior the water, nutrition, painted shell, or different source ( chemical spray on the fringe of the tank) they might abandon shell. and Mites reason some crabs to desert shell. it somewhat is not any longer common behaviour yet he would possibly no longer be ineffective yet. If there's a fish scent then he's long previous. verify the anteni and notice in case you get a reaction. place all the shells on the fringe of him with hermit crab secure water further. maximum severe separate him from the others. Hermit crabs pick a social environment with different crabs. in elementary terms whilst leaving at the back of shell and for some keepers moulting could they be separate. All different situations they could be with their hermit crab colony.

Answer 3

Your hermit crab is looking for a new shell. You need to get one that is a little bigger than the one he had.

Answer 4

Hermit crabs are actually reptiles and this is their version of molting, or shedding their skin. He needs a bigger shell, pronto, and it's best if he has a choice of a few shells to move into.

Answer 5

He's outgrown his old home and he's looking for a new one! The other crabs might hurt him is he's not alone- you need to isolate him! You'll get a lot of answers from this websight:

http://www.hermit-crabs.com/

Check out the section on "molting". Good luck!

Answer 6

It probably out grew that shell and needs a bigger one either that or you have an exhibitionist crab on your hands. Be careful he,ll be hanging out by the little castle and flashing small fish if you don,t watch it.

Answer 7

They leave there shell because it is getting too small, but a bigger one not by much thought and put the new shell on its side right beside the damp sponge it will attract to the shell once it is done with the sponge

Answer 8

I'd say he's outgrown the shell and needs a larger one. Don't get one that's too much larger. Give him different sizes to choose from.

Answer 9

to change shells the one hes got is too small,give him a new so he can stop covering himself!

Answer 10

hes out grown it you need to go to the pet store and find him a new one