My hermit crab outgrew his shell?

[Jakepen]

So I saw my hermit crab walking around without his shell, I'm assuming he outgrew it? I don't know why I didn't plan for this, it's kind of common sense. How long will he survive without his shell? Really no predators in the tank

 

[TUSI]

Throw some empty shells

 

[Jakepen]

Throw some empty shells

Right. Do they last a few days without there shell though? Or a week even

 

[TUSI]

Don't know how long but they are vulnerable without a shell to a lot of things. Depends what fish you have in the tank.

 

[Jakepen]

Don't know how long but they are vulnerable without a shell to a lot of things. Depends what fish you have in the tank.

Clown, goby, and a azule damsel.

 

[TUSI]

Damsel might be aggressive towards it, try to put empty shells asap.

 

[Mark Shelly]

I placed several assorted shells in my tank after I saw a hermit attacking a snail in its shell, a few hermits walking about with snail shells, and one hermit crab literally eating alive another hermit in its shell because that one was too small to go further into the shell to get away. If you put interesting shells in, they can look pretty cool.

 

[Ocelaris]

I've caught my hermits switching shells sometimes, I've also got a stash of larger snail shells. They pretty much just wander around killing snails that are too slow to get away. Little Pirates if you ask me! But they're entertaining enough to keep around, and I assume they're doing some good cleaning.

 

[Untamedrose]

They dont normally abandon shells first... thats unusual. maybe it was forced out by another crab?
It will kill a snail to get a new shell, need to add some to the tank asap.

 

[Jakepen]

Well they are the tiny hermits, there is no way they could move any of the shells of my snails. Where do you guys get all your shells from? Lfs?

 

[Brew12]

Well they are the tiny hermits, there is no way they could move any of the shells of my snails. Where do you guys get all your shells from? Lfs?

I ordered some extra shells when I purchased my hermits from Reef Cleaners. They were cheap and look great.

 

[Lovemycj7]

My goby try's to eat hermits. Their shell saves them. If they didn't have a shell they would be lunch

 

[Mark Shelly]

Well they are the tiny hermits, there is no way they could move any of the shells of my snails. Where do you guys get all your shells from? Lfs?

My hermits can move much larger and awkward looking shells. Of course they trade them in for more appropriately sized ones when they can.

 

[Jakepen]

Hmm, I'll look for him today. There is a chance he is gone then ha. Or killed a snail.

 

[Roboson]

They only leave their shells if their shell is waaaaay too small. Drop a larger one near him and he should dash for it.

 

[Jakepen]

They only leave their shells if their shell is waaaaay too small. Drop a larger one near him and he should dash for it.

Poor guy, I feel like a dick. I mean it's such common sense, I just completely forgot about it. Haven't seen him all day....I'll keep an eye out, and definitely get some shells in there regardless

 

[erinmegan85]

Well they are the tiny hermits, there is no way they could move any of the shells of my snails. Where do you guys get all your shells from? Lfs?

I went to my LFS and asked them if I could have some of their empty snail shells they have hanging out in their tanks. They gave me about half a dozen or so for free. It turns out one still had a snail in it.

 

[paul01]

Here's what I saw in my tank

 

[nervousmonkey]

I had a hermit with no shell for months. Didn't know it until I pulled out a rock and he had been hiding in it the whole time. HA! Poor hermit, but I gave him a nice little house to walk around in so he could punish my snails.

 

[Mark Shelly]

Great avatar nervousmonkey. The cow appears to be laughing at the horse. Election time can be confusing with many on the fense, just not in it. I did once find one son hanging from a fence by his jacket hood. I found the other with his head stuck between 2 branches in a tree, so I can partially relate.