About as small as one of these letters I am typing.
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.
no we had over ten hermit crabs in one cage and they were all fine.:) since they are both different sizes you should keep an eye on them but you shouldn't worry because hermit crabs are very social animals.
Try to get another shell that you have that is simmilar to the original one. Then I would pit the hermit crab in a small tank with the new shell ans see that he gets into it.
Hermit crabs will normally get along with other hermits of equal size.
Yes, hermit crabs don't usually fight. You could give the new hermit crab a bath so that it smells the same as the other hermit crab in you tank.
Because he doesn't fit his old shell (too small) and he needs a new shell.
yes although it would be wise to clean and disinfect it first, you don't know why your old crab might have died.
Advantages: With a shell, the hermit crab is safer from predators, or any other threats. It is basically more protected. The snails have less shells lying around because a hermit crab is probably constantly looking for a new one. Disadvantages: The snail's shell is heavy on the hermit crab's back, so it slows it down. A hermit crab outgrows its shell and will have to find a new one soon. The snail has no disadvantages. I hope I helped you! Sorry if this isn't what you were looking for! :)
Congratulations! No need to rename it. It's the same hermit crab. It molted it's old skin! This means your hermit crab is perfectly healthy and can grow! Make sure you have a slightly bigger shell though. Leave it alone until it walks around and is very healthy.
Get a new one!
then the crab goes and finds a new shell
You must always have a spare larger shell for a hermit crab as they have no natural shell of their own. Just place a larger shell in the tank and if the crab does not use it straight away, don't worry, it eventually will do as they need larger ones as they grow.