Hermit crabs are amazing scavengers, and they’re naturally prone to leaving their shells. This process, called molting, is a natural part of their growth and evolution.
However, shell evacuation isn’t always a sign of a problem. Stress, an inhospitable environment, a poor-fitting shell (too large or too small), fungus, or uninvited company can cause this to occur.
Feeding
Hermit crabs are omnivores in the wild and they eat both plant and animal foods. Hermit crabs should be fed a variety of food in order to keep them healthy and strong.
If you have a hermit crab without shell, it needs a lot of protein in its diet to help it build strong bones and muscles. This can be easily done by introducing a variety of protein sources like meat, grubs (bloodworms), or worm castings to its diet.
Fruits and vegetables are also a great source of nutrients for your hermit crab. Some of these foods include mangoes, carrots, bananas, and sweet corn.
When you notice that your hermit crab is about to molt, it is important to give them food that will help them shed their exoskeleton quickly and safely. Some foods to offer during this time include nuts, seeds, greensand, worm castings, scrambled eggs, or any other food that you think they might enjoy.
Another good thing to do is to bathe your hermit crab with a solution of povidone-iodine and water so that they can be cleaned up and their exoskeleton can dry. It can take a few hours to a day for your hermit crab to move into a new shell, so be patient!
The most common health problems that hermit crabs face are stress and poisoning. It is important to avoid situations that could cause them stress, such as overcrowding and bullying. If you can’t avoid these issues, it may be necessary to separate your hermit crab from other hermit crabs.
If your hermit crab is suffering from stress, it may sluggish or leave its shell. It can also be difficult to see a hermit crab without shell, so it’s best to be aware of its movements when it’s not in its shell.
When a hermit crab is stressed out or sick, it may not want to eat and can be difficult to feed. It may even turn away from its food when you try to hand feed it.
Hermit crabs can forge an emotional connection with their food, which means that they will remember any negative experiences that they have had with it. This can be a major concern when feeding them, so you should always choose the right kind of foods and make sure they have a positive experience eating it.
Care
Hermit crabs don’t naturally possess their own shell, they rely on the shells of other aquatic animals. This is a necessary adaptation because their inner body is soft and vulnerable to the elements. This shell serves to protect their soft abdomens and also prevents dessication, a process that can lead to dehydration and other problems for a hermit crab.
A hermit crab with a damaged exoskeleton is not a healthy pet. This is because the shell can become weakened, damaged, or dehydrated and hermit crabs with a weak exoskeleton can’t absorb water to keep their bodies hydrated. This can cause hermit crabs to become ill or even die.
In addition to a strong shell, hermit crabs need a clean habitat that provides the right temperature and humidity, as well as food and water dishes. This habitat should be large enough for the crab to move freely and have access to its shell, food and other items.
Crabs with a broken shell can be bathed in dechlorinated water to help them feel better and heal their wounds. Then they can be re-shelled and returned to their home cages.
If the crab is too small or has been exposed to fungus or other toxic substances, you can separate it into a quarantine tank. This will keep the hermit crab away from other crabs and other environmental toxins that can harm them.
For hermit crabs with a broken shell, you can gently scoop the crab from its habitat and place it into a bowl with a fresh empty shell. Be careful not to touch the shell with your fingers, as this could lead to infection or injury to your hermit crab.
Once the hermit crab is in a bowl with a new shell, you can feed it any foods that are suitable for hermit crabs, such as scrambled eggs or honey. You can also add a small amount of water to the bowl.
A hermit crab without a shell can be very sad and unhappy. It can get bored and lose its appetite. It can also become stressed, which is bad for your crab’s health.
Health
A hermit crab without shell is healthy if it maintains a bright, consistent skin color. It should also have a good appetite and be active, digging, climbing, and interacting with other hermit crabs after dark.
A healthy hermit crab will have ten intact and functional limbs, including both claws. Its eyes should be a bright, shiny black.
During molting, the crab’s body will grow to accommodate its new shell and exoskeleton. This is called ecdysis. The shedding of the exoskeleton will happen over a period of several days and may be followed by metecdysis, where the new exoskeleton hardens.
Shedding can occur in response to stress, an unfriendly environment, an ill-fitting body, fungus, or when a crab is abandoned and exposed to the outside world. It can also be a sign of a medical problem that needs to be addressed.
You can tell if your hermit crab is molting by checking for the following symptoms:
First, the exoskeleton will begin to tear or crumble. This is the beginning of ecdysis, and it is important for a hermit crab to have access to water and nutrients during this time.
After a crab sheds its exoskeleton, it will start to consume its old one, allowing the minerals and salts it used to make up its old exoskeleton to be recycled. The nutrients will help the crab recover its movement ability and provide energy for the re-calcification process.
Once the re-calcification process is complete, the crab will return to normal. The new exoskeleton will harden, and the crab will then be able to move around as it normally does.
A hermit crab’s re-calcification process can take weeks or months, depending on the species. The new exoskeleton should be strong and hard, but not rigid.
During this time, the crab will begin to store water and nutrients. When the time comes for the molting to take place, the hermit crab will secrete the molting hormone and bury underground, providing insulation and darkness as it prepares for ecdysis.
The crab will then begin storing salts in addition to water. This helps the crab build up hydrostatic pressure necessary for the exoskeleton to burst open. During this phase, the crab will be unable to move and it will not consume food.
Training
There are a number of factors that can cause hermit crabs to abandon their shells. These include stress, a bad-fitting shell, or uninvited company. A hermit crab that suddenly doesn’t have a shell is unhappy, and it may become dehydrated and lethargic if the situation persists.
The first step in training your hermit crab to change shells is selecting the right shells and preparing them properly. You’ll want to choose shells that mimic the opening shape of your hermit crab’s current shell, as well as a similar thickness.
You should also make sure that the new shells you provide are suitable for your hermit crab’s size and weight. Hermit crabs have unique physical characteristics, so a shell that’s too small for your hermit crab might damage its skeleton or cause health problems.
Similarly, a shell that’s too big for your hermit crab might be too large for its body and cause it to become overheated or develop an infection. Providing your hermit crab with several different shell sizes and thicknesses will give him the chance to choose the best one for his needs.
Once your hermit crab is accustomed to shell changes, you can begin to handle him more regularly. Start by picking him up a few times a week and escalating the handling over time.
Try to hold your hermit crab by its shell with the palm of your hand, ideally placing your fingers over the shell without any loose skin. This way, your hermit crab will feel secure and less apt to pinch you.
It’s important to remember that hermit crabs are not naturally tame animals, so they are very wary of people. However, they can learn to recognize and bond with their tank mates through scent alone.
Eventually, your hermit crab will trust you enough to allow handling when necessary. But don’t force it, as this could cause it further stress.