Hermit crab shells

[Summit]

I’m looking to get some new shells for our hermits before they start going after the snails. LFS doesn’t really have shells available and suggested going online to get some. But I was curious if picking some up from somewhere like Hobby Lobby would be fine as long as they’re not painted? It seems much cheaper that way for a larger variety than a $15 pack of 6 off of somewhere like Etsy/Amazon. Or is there another recommended place to get some? We have several really tiny blue leg hermits and a couple larger red leg hermits. Thanks in advance!

 

[TexanCanuck]

There are several places you can find them online:

Empty Hermit Shells

Empty shells that will make for great new homes for hermits as they get bigger. These shells cover micro to medium-sized hermits, like blue leg hermits. Got a larger hermit? You can find shells for...

www.reefcleaners.org

Empty Fancy Hermit Crab Shells: Saltwater Aquarium Invertebrates

www.liveaquaria.com

Assorted Empty Hermit Crab Shells - N/A

Extra hermit crab shells can save the life of your saltwater snails. Instead of wasting energy killing snails, your hermit crabs will find the extra shells and move right in.

www.bluezooaquatics.com

I personally prefer Reef Cleaners ... they have been really great to me over the years.

Technically, I suppose you can buy them at Hobby lobby, but I would be worried about any treatment or chemical cleaning they may have undergone prior to sale ... I would worry about it leaving something behind that could hurt the crab. Not sure if that's just in my head though.

 

[rhostam]

I’m looking to get some new shells for our hermits before they start going after the snails. LFS doesn’t really have shells available and suggested going online to get some. But I was curious if picking some up from somewhere like Hobby Lobby would be fine as long as they’re not painted? It seems much cheaper that way for a larger variety than a $15 pack of 6 off of somewhere like Etsy/Amazon. Or is there another recommended place to get some? We have several really tiny blue leg hermits and a couple larger red leg hermits. Thanks in advance!

I ordered an assortment of hermit shells from Amazon. The tiny hermits took to them as soon as they were large enough. The assortment included huge variation in sizes so I only put a few shells that could serve as the “next size up.” Is fun watching them take new homes and also be distinct from each other, too.