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Hermit crabs change shells once and a while so put about maybe 3 or 2 per hermit crab.I have my own hermit crab and i thought this question.But my hermit crabs havent been changing shells a lot.And make sure you use the right size because hermit crabs dont change shells if that shell is to small or to big or have holes in it.Have Fun With Your Hermit crab
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoHow many shells does a hermit crab have or need is what you ask? Well I have the correct answer for you.
A hermit crab has only one shell. The hermit crab will switch shells when the one he/she is wearing gets dirty or becomes to small. So if you have a hermit crab wearing one shell one day and you wake up and he/she is wearing a different one the next.
A hermit crab needs to have a few shells, 10%-15% bigger then the one he/she is wearing now. So pretty much you need 1 shell smaller then the one he/she is wearing, 1 shell the same size as the one he/she is wearing, 1 size that is a medium and one size that is large.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoIt really depends on the hermit crab himself. Different species change their shells at different rates. As a hermit crab grows, he will need to change his shell. Some hermit crabs in captivity seem to enjoy changing their shells as much as every few days, until they find one they are content with.
Because there is no way to know if your crab is feeling the need for a new shell, it is a good idea to have at least 3-10 extra shells for each crab in your tank. The shells should range in size to a little smaller than the one your crab is currently in (sometimes they like to go smaller just before a molt, then get a bigger one afterward), and a bit larger than the one your crab is in. Generally, Purple Pincer hermit crabs prefer shells with round openings, with Turbo shells being a favorite. Equadorian hermit crabs which are not as common in the US and Australian hermit crabs which are the only hermit crabs legal in Australia tend to prefer shells with what look like D shaped openings, as their abdomens are wider and flatter than the Purple Pincer crab.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoA hermit crab needs a new shell every time it grows out of its old one. You should always keep a few bigger shells in the tank.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIf you have 4 hermit crabs, you should have at least 6 extra shells in various sizes lying around.
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Is there natural paint for hermit crab shells?
they animals need lots of food
Do baby hermit crabs need shells?
Well yes they do, beceause the back part of them is very soft. Give it a shell it likes. They are very picky about shells. my hermit crab went through 3 shells befor it found the right one.
Why do land hermit crab need the ocean to mate and lay eggs?
so when the eggs hatch the baby hermit crabs know where to get the water so they can have it in their shells to breathe.
Does a female marine hermit crab need a male marine hermit crab to have babies?
no
Why do you need to buy shells for you hermit crab if they are going to molt anyway?
Unlike mollusks and crustaceans, Hermit Crabs do not produce their own shells. In the wild, they would find abandoned shells on the seafloor, and wiggle into those, so you must provide a constant stream of larger and larger shells as they grow. When they molt, they shed their EXOSKELETON, not their SHELL.
What should i do if my hermit crab is out of it's shell?
well,you should ALWAYS have 2 larger shells for each crab that you have.i saw mine out of its shell.but i didnt have a shell the right size.if hermitcrabs dont have shells when they need it,theyll get mad.{im not joking}
Does a hermit crab need its shell?
Absolutely!
Why does a hermit crab change shells?
they change because their shell becomes too small for them when they are growing and becoming larger
What is the difference between a rock crab and a hermit crab?
A hermit crab uses the old shell of another sea animal (ex. snail). I true crab uses its own natural shell. A hermit crab makes its home in a snail shell or anything really. It has a soft abdomen that is very vulnerable to the outside and can be smooshed easily almost like a caterpillars skin. So it hides its back end in a protective covering. A regular crab already has its own exoskeleton that is hard and durable so they don't need a shell to protect them. Also, regular crabs live in the water a majority of the time and a hermit crab can either be completely dependent on water, these are called saltwater hermit crabs who live like a fish at the bottomof the ocean, or you have a typical land hermit crab that lives on the beaches and sometimes even a mile off shore. They do not need a large amount of water or food to survive. These are the crabs you find in the pet store in the fancy painted shells.
Why isn't my hermit crab molting?
Hermit crabs molt when they feel the need to. Nothing is wrong with your crab if it hasn't molted. :)
Do hermit crab need a lot of care?
Hermit crabs don't require lots of care but do need some. Like, Water, Food, Water dish, food dish, extra shells, things to climb on, hermie hut (or place to hide,) correct substrate, and hermit crabs.
How much sand does a hermit crab need?
It depends on how many hermit crabs you are getting. It needs enough space for a food and water bowl, a small toy, and atleast five feet of free crawl space. You also need two or three shells for when it gets bigger as it ages and grows.
