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The shell that the hermit crab adopts and wears and changes many times throughout his decades long lifetime helps him in several ways.
The hermit crab has a very delicate abdomen that is protected by the shell. Without this shell, his abdomen could become punctured very easily and the crab would die. The hermit crab also carries water in his shell to keep the abdomen moist. If it were to dry out, again, the hermit crab would die. The crab balances the salinity of the water within his shell by accessing fresh or salt water as needed.
The shell is also his shelter, and protects him from predators. The ideal fitting shell will allow the hermit crab to pull fully inside and to block off the opening with his large pincer.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoHermit crabs often choose their own home. This is their shell. Once they out grow this shell it is left behind and i smaller Hermit crab will come along and move in until it out grows that shell. Then the process repeats itself over and over!
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThey don't make a shell. They find a new one and climb in
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What if the hermit crabs shell breaks?
then the crab goes and finds a new shell
Do crabs shells fall of?
No hermit crabs inspect a new shell inside of their cage the they pull them self out of the shell and then drop them self into a new shell. there are videos on youtube.com of crabs changing shells. so provide your crab with extra shells. i am a hermit crab owner i have watched my crabs change shells it is called molting.
What happens if a hermit crabs shell get to little?
If your land hermit crab's shell gets to small get a new shell. The shell hole should be the same size as your crab's big claw or bigger Make sure your crab's new shell is clean. DO NOT FORCE YOU CRAB TO COME OUT! All you have to do is set your crab's new shell in it's cage and wait.
Why do hermit crabs come out of their shells?
To change into a new shell or to mate. If not for these reasons, it is very sick
Why is Hermit Crab out of shell why wont he pick another one?
hermit crabs are very pickey about there new domane or house put more than one shell in the cage.:)
How is hermit crab shell formed?
Hermit Crabs shells do not really form a shell they find shells that fit them and then when they grow they shed there outer skin a grow new skin and they might pick a new shell afterwards Hope this helped!!
How do hermit crabs urinate?
Hermit crabs do not 'go to the bathroom'. In other words hermit crabs DO NOT POO. I have had hermit crabs, and I know they definitely don't poo. Hermit crabs use all the energy and nutrients from their food and turn it into vitamins for the body. Hermit crabs are great pets, as there is no stinky poo to clean out!!!
Does a crab loose its shell and take another one?
Most crabs shed their shell and then their outer areas harden up and become a new one. Hermit crabs will enforce their shells with a snail type shell and will switch to a larger shell as they grow.
Can hermit crabs live in the ocean?
Yes it can but it depends what kind of shell. The shell must be like a conch shell, but not the kind for snails. There would be not enough room for the crab to squeeze his body in. You need a shell with an opening a little bit bigger than the shell opening it already has on if you want it to change into the new shell. But most the time they do not change shells (I have had one for over a year and it still hasn't). I know you probably want it to change into the pretty new shell you bought or found but do not try to manually do it for the crab.
Are girl hermit crabs colorful?
yesserie well it matters what shell it finds......if it get 2 big 4 its shell then it gets a new 1 and sometimes its colorful and sometimes its not!
Can you put hamsters in a tank with hermit crabs?
Don't do that! Hermit crabs may get out of their shell to change into a new shell or even get out to eat some lettuce or drink water from a water absorbed sponge. During that process who knows what the hamsters would do to the hermit crab. They're not meant to be in the same cage!
Should you help hermit crabs into their new shells?
Hermit crabs are very picky and have a number of criteria for what new shell they want to enter. It is nearly impossible to get a crab to leave their shell without traumatizing it or injuring it. You can improve the odds that it will change shells but offering clean shells of the appropriate size face up and filled with water. Changing the decorations in the tank will also trigger shell shopping behavior.
