Shells

Hermit crabs need shells to survive. Shells provide protection from predators and shelter from the hot sun. Hermit crabs also store water inside their shells. It is important your hermit crabs have properly fitting shells, with a high variety to choose from. As hermit crabs grow, they will need bigger shells to change into.

Hermit crabs each will have a personal preference with what kind of shells they like. Purple Pinchers are known to like turbo shells, and exotics seem to prefer "D" shape openings. It is a good idea to provide plenty of different options in size and shape so each hermit crab has a wide variety selection to choose from.

For every hermit crab, have around 5 suitable shell options offered. So if you have 5 hermit crabs, have around 25 shells offered. By having a wide variety for them to choose from, they won't feel need to compete for resources and "shell- jack" each other. 

Having trouble determining which size shells to get? Check out Hermit Harbor's shell sizing template.

Places to get shells from:

Shell Resources

Don't forget your shell shop! Shell shops are great ways to consolidate shells within your tank, freeing up space in the tank for more enrichment and items. Shell shops can also help prevent the shells from getting packed with sand and buried under substrate!

Before adding new shells to your hermit crabs tank, boil the shells in salt water (add a scoop of Instant Ocean). Then let air dry. This helps sterilize the shells, and can make the shells more enticing to the hermies!

Prepping new shells