My hermit crab seems to be to big for its shell. It looks and acts like it wants to get out but cannot. I need to know what I can do. I thought about taking a nut cracker and cracking the shell trying not to harm the crab and hoping he will go into the bigger shell that I have for him. Please let me know what I can do...??? It would be greatly apprechiated.
2006-09-07 16:29:16 · 10 answers · asked by lil_tappe 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
DO not break the shell or use any kind of force, even if you think it is gentle, to get the crab out, you will kill it. Their abdomens are very sensitive and fragile. By forcing the crab out of it's shell you will tear all of the bloodvessels in it's abdomen and it will internally bleed to death. I have seen this happen so many times from owners who have not a clue what theya re doing.
What you can and should do is the following....
Make sure you provide at very least 4 extra shells per crab, not just one. Make sure it is the proper size, shape and type. Pay very special and close attention the the opening, size and shape as well. Make sure the shell has no holes, cracks and no rough edges. Make sure the inside is smooth and glossy.
Make sure the opening is 1/4 inch bigger then the opening he is in now and go up from there. It is not the overall size of the shell that is important but the opening.
Do not place him in warm water or pull, poke, or use tools, he will get out on his own.
Please him into a clean ISO container with the extra shells that are clean and moist on the iside. Make sure the ISO is about 78 degrees F and with a humidity around 80%. He will switch shells when he is ready, give him a coupple hours and he will do it. Give him privacy adn make sure no shadows or people will walk up and scare him, but do not keep him in the dark either.
2006-09-08 02:59:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do not ever try forcing a hermie out of his shell or prying or cracking the shell. You can measure the opening of the shell and then make sure and get some that are 1/4 to 1/2 inch bigger opening then the shell it is in. If it is in a painted shell, and the hermie was stuck, he wouldnt come out at all to eat, drink or move around. If the hermie is doing the above he isnt stuck.
He isnt changing shells due to him liking THAT shell or you do not have any that he likes or none big enough. It is best if you can find some shells alot like what they are in. Just remember when getting shells, if they are heavy most of the time, they will avoid them. Also, it is a good idea to have at least 4 shells available to them at all times. Some hermies love to change their shells, like some people do their clothes, several times a day.
I have over 25 shells in the tank available to the hermies right now and I have some that are way to small but they will not change, even tho there is some bigger of the same ones in the tank with them.
2006-09-08 01:46:42 · answer #2 · answered by oimsofunny 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i've got had hermit crabs in the previous yet it is basically extraordinary. i think of that possibly he's no longer easily attempting to get out of his shell, rather some unusual hermit crab undertaking. If he's caught... he's in hardship. yet fairly, maximum crabs do exactly no longer stay long adequate to ever get out. i do no longer think of this is time; he's a crab, he's probable basically dumb and thinks he can greater healthful by those rocks or does not comprehend he will fall of the stick. sturdy luck!
2016-10-14 10:53:28 · answer #3 · answered by pachter 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son had a hermit crab and I put a bigger shell in there with him.Well, he crawled out of his shell and wouldn't go into the bigger shell I had for him. He died. I don't know what to tell you. I thought that they would go into the bigger shell too. My son was devastated. Whatever you do, don't crack his shell with a nutcracker lol.
2006-09-07 16:38:09 · answer #4 · answered by Connie M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO! Leave it alone. Find it another shell or two you think will fit it better and put it in the tank with it, he'll transfer on his own. You'll likely injure him if you forcibly remove him.
Otherwise leave him there. the visible parts of hermit crabs can be three times the size of their shell, they only protect their vulnerable back end, really.
2006-09-07 16:37:14 · answer #5 · answered by Roadpizza 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hes not stuck hes just growing new skin which is a two even three week process. they seem stuck cause theyre kinda in hiding eventually it'll come out and find a new shell so have on ready. have a little water pool bowl available cause during this process they tend to want to bathe alot. fresh carrots apples and celery help to wth nurishment and gives them strenght.
2006-09-07 16:34:27 · answer #6 · answered by rock 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
your crab is probably fine. the part of their body that is in the shell is much smaller than you'd think. When he feels the shell doesn't fit anymore, he'll check out the new one.
2006-09-07 16:33:57 · answer #7 · answered by jperk1941 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
place him in a bowl of warm water so the water can go in the shell but not cover him up. let him soak and work himself out. they dont usually get stuck! have you always had a bigger shell available wgere he could find it?
2006-09-07 16:39:33 · answer #8 · answered by sillygoose 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call the fire department. They can use the jaws of life.
2006-09-07 16:34:47 · answer #9 · answered by zil28ennov 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Slowly crack open the shell or pry it open.
2006-09-07 16:31:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋