why is my hermit crab out of its shell?

Question

my hermit crab has come out of its shell all the way and isnt going back in can you tell me why and how to fix it ??
thank oxox

he has many other sized shells but will not go into any of them i tryed to place him in one but he just crawled back out
hes running around nude!!!!

Answer 1

All these questions are possible answers, but highly unlikely.

Leaving a shell is not a normal behavior. They leave their shell if they are stressed, sick, very hungry or thirsty, etc.

If they are going to molt, they bury themselves for protection and do not come out until they have finished molting and have let their exoskel harden. If he wanted a bigger shell, they find a shell before they abandon the one they already have. They do not just leave their shell to look for a new one.

Without a shell he will die within 48 hours. They cannot hold in heat, can be attacked by other hermit crabs, and their abdomen is extremely sensitive and can be ripped open or severely damaged from being exposed.

I have had this happen a couple times and this is what I have done and it always works.

Take a large flat bottomed bowl, 4 plastic bags, a tall cup, a small dark colored towel, and a few damp paper towels. Lay the paper towels flat on the bottom of the bowl. Place the hermit crab with his original shell and a couple other shells around the size it should fit in (you know what size a shell is appropriate by looking at its crusher claw. The opening should be about the size of the crusher claw) into the center of the bowl. Put the cup over the hermit and shells upside down so the hermit is quarantined from any outside air.

Fill the plastic bags about half way with relatively warm water. It shouldn't be scalding, but definately warm enough to heat up air around it. Place these bags around the cup inside the bowl. This will create a non invasive way to keep the air inside the cup warm. Place the dark towel over the entire contraption and place it in a warm, quiet part of the house. Check on him only as often as you need to change the water (every 6 to 8 hours or so). Only when the bags get cold.

If he hasn't gone into a shell yet, don't touch him. Human oils make it harder for them to recover. After he has moved into a shell, place him in an isolation tank (which you should have for them to molt in) for a week to make sure he has recovered fully before putting him back into the tank with the others. If he is placed in the tank with the others right away he could be attacked.

You can e-mail me if you have any questions.

Answer 2

First, You can only find out if they're a guy or a girl by them being out of the shell, it has something to do with the tiny legs, i found it in a book at Petco. All my hermit crabs, as far as I remember have had painted shells, my first one lived a little over a year (I called it a she, and she only died because I put her in a temporary tank while the other one was getting cleaned and it dryed out because I had forgotten to put another shell in there and I didn't know it was ready to change shells) The reason for your crabs dying could have been the treatment of the pet store or wherever you got them from. I bought one from Petco not too long ago and one was already dead when I brought it home and it had a horrible smell, which I thought it only needed a bath, all my hermit crabs that I've gotten from Petco or Petsmart have either barely come out of their shell or didnt like being held. I'm guessing they dont handle them at the stores like that. My first one would walk all over me and never pinched anyone once, I bought her from a stand at the mall, my brother also bought one from the same place and that one never pinched either. I think they may treat them better at those places. I suggest getting one from there, that is where I have had hte best results with hermit crabs. Hope I helped!

Answer 3

Hermit crabs in the wild migrate from shell to shell as they grow. That shell was not grown by that hermit crab but by another creature. Hermit crabs in the wild are always in the state of looking for their next shell and up sizing as they grow. Your hermit crab needs another shell. He has outgrown his old one and he needs a bigger one.

Answer 4

Is there enough water available for the crab? Sometimes if a crab can't find water, it will leave its shell in search of some. Also, do you have a small dish of saltwater? He/She might be looking for a saltwater bath, which helps restore their exoskeletons. You can buy sea salt in pet stores that has all the minerals for the crab.

Answer 5

It's probably because it has grown to big for it. Try and get another shell a bit bigger than the last one and put near it and it will probably go into it . Try and make it not a heavy shell because you have to remember this poor crab has to carry it around.

Answer 6

he has outgrown it. Hermits invade other shells, they don't grow theirs. You should go buy him a few assorted sizes and let him move between them as he sees fit. They have lots of fun ones painted with teams and colors, its some fun you can have with him. see if he's a dolphins fan or gators fan.

Answer 7

Did you have other shells laying around in it's tank to give it choices? Maybe it outgrew the one it's in and needs a new home. You should have a few various sized ones laying in there.

Answer 8

my crab is out and won't go back in I am scerrd I don't no what to do

Answer 9

They tend to change their shells when the time came.

'Hermit'

Answer 10

All wrong answers.
He is possibly going through a molt. they shed their exo skeleton , when they grow, leave him be, till his new skeleton hardens off. He will evenutally find a new shell for his body.
My 2 little ones have buried themselves in the sand and i can see their pincers going pale. means they are growing.

read this link. it will help. there are many links like these.