How do I get my hermit crab to get out of it's shell?

Question

Yesterday my family and I went to buy 2 hermit crabs. One is outgoing and loves being held. The other one is shy and won't come out of the shell when you hold it. It will only come out in the cage.

Answer 1

This is a big misunderstanding with land hermit crab owners. They are WILD exotic crustaceans. NOT regular pets.

Since you JUST got them, they need to be left alone to de-stress, make sure they each have their own place to hide, deep play sand or moist coco-fiber bedding or a combo of both to dig in. They MUST be able to de-stress or they will die. For the next 2 weeks to a full month you must keep your hands off of them.

Since they must be kept in warm and humid tank conditions in order to thrive or live for any amount of time, some fo them will not enjoy or tolerate being outside of their tank.

Make sure the tank conditions are within the proper ranges, 76-82 degrees F and 75%-85% relative humidity both temp and humidity must be constant and sustained and monitored 24/7.

Also they must be provided both fresh de-chlorinated water and oceanic or natural marine salt de-chlorinated waters in big enough pools that they can fully submerse themselves.

Also make sure they each have at least 4 extra shells to choose from, so for 2 crabs there should be 8 extra shells in the tank 24/7. Have more outside so you can rotate them. Kepp the clean and moist to encourage shell changes.

You can not train or change one of these guys, they are each very individual and depending on their treatment while in the pet stire, in transit and when they were harvested off of their beach home, no one can possibly guess what all they have been through.

One thing is certain, if you over handle an unwilling/unhappy land hermit crab he will sure not thrive and possibly die within short time. Over handling also causes stress for ALL pet land hermit crabs because they are not pet, pets, they are wild.

If you do not know how to recognise each sign of pre-molt properly and continue to handle them at will, you are bound to kill them. Once a hermit crab goes into pre-molt it is very important to keep your hands off until the entire molting process is completed from begining to end which can last upwards of 5 months and more.

Also you can not guess if a hermit crab realy likes to be held, it realy has no choice in the matter... unless you place your hand into the tank and allow it to approach you at will and climb upon your hand then you are not giving it a choice.

With the proper set up and condtions quality fruits, veggies, meats and fish they will do good for you.

Answer 2

You should never get them out of the shell.

If you mean how do you get it to interact more, give it time. Hermit crabs are not breed in captivity, so any crab you find was taken from it's home, shipped to a pet shop, left to sit in usually inadequet homes for days, weeks, or months, then taken from that home, brought to a new home which, again, is usually inadequet at first. It's stressful to them. They destress on their own in their own ways, and eventually, your crab will be happy, and will come out and play.

Make sure you leave him alone while he does this!! Playing with him, picking him up constantly, moving him around, etc, will only cause further stress, and should be avoided at all costs!

Is the crabitat set up correctly? Is the humidity between 70-80%? Is the tempeture warm, but not too hot? Do you have both dechlorinated fresh & salt water available for them? Do they each have their own hiding spots? What about more shells to change into? Calcium? If the crabitat isn't set up to their liking, it will also cause distress.

Answer 3

When you first get hermies, it is best to leave them alone in their tank for a month. That will give them time to destress and adjusted to their new environment. The hermies need their tanks to be warm and humid. You need to have a thermometer to know if the tank is stayin at least 70 degrees and a hygrometer to know to keep the humidity between 70% to 85%. If they do not have at least 70% humidity, they will slowly suffocate and die.

Once the months time is up, if they are not buried, then you can take them out for a bit each day and handle them to get them to come out.

Once the hermies actually molt their first time, they will usually be alot more active after that.

Sabrina
60 hermies since July 2004 and 2 Raccoons May 2006.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/oimsofunny/my_photos
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hermieswap/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hermiestalk/

Answer 4

If you have a tiny spray bottle take it and spray the crab. If you don't then try blowing on the crab. Hermit Crabs can be very skittish at times.

Answer 5

you have to let it take time... let it get a use to of where it is... cause its prolly use to havin a bunch of hermit crabs around n now its in a cage kind of a thing with another one... you gotta let it take time...

hope this helps :-)

Answer 6

Set him on the floor and pretend you're not there for a few, he should come out when he thinks he's alone. Hiding is their defense mechanism, and they do it when they are scared. He may start to come out more once he is used to you and his new surroundings.

Answer 7

Be paitent with it (you didn't state it's sex).
It takes some time for them to adjust to a new enviroment. If you need more information try the link provided.

Answer 8

Try submerging it in a small amount of warm water. Be careful you don't want to drown it!!!!

Answer 9

try dipping it gently in water then take i out and set it down

Answer 10

try to rub it's shell or give it food