Technically speaking, a person can't give a hermit crab any physical assistance in changing shells. What hermit crab owners can do is to provide the best environment to allow a shell change to happen.
Hermit Crab Cages
The hermit crab cages that are sold with hermit crabs are often far too small to allow them the kind of room they need to change shells comfortably. They need room not only to crawl around, but to hide, to climb and to have a large variety of shells available.
Hermit crabs are picky about the shells they choose to live in, so providing at least three to five shells is the best way to get them to choose one. There should be enough room in the cage for the hermit crab to turn the shells over and around to inspect them.
The Best Hermit Crab Shells
Hermit crabs, like any animal, want to feel comfortable and safe. The shell that a hermit crab chooses should accomplish both of these goals. The shells given to a hermit crab should be in good condition with no holes or cracks. It should also be roughly the same size as the shell that the hermit crab currently inhabits or a little larger.
The inside of the shell is really what the hermit crab is interested in, and it is possible that the inside of a shell may be roomier even when the outside looks like it's the same size. There should also be two or more shells that are significantly larger in case the hermit crab has had significant growth and is overdue for a shell change.
The shells should be relatively smooth on the inside to allow for the crab's comfort. When a hermit crab inspects the new shells, he will be feeling along the lining of the shell to see how smooth it is. Any jagged areas can cause injuries that will leave him vulnerable. Hermit crabs tend to prefer shells that have a mother-of-pearl lining because of its thick, smooth texture.
Choose shells that have not been painted, if possible. Painted hermit crab shells often have paint that can flake off and cause problems for the hermit crab. Some land hermit crabs have gotten flakes of paint embedded into their abdomens.
Making the Shell Change
If a hermit crab is desperate for a shell change, he may change shells right in front of his owners. But generally, hermit crabs like a little privacy for their shell change. Their soft, unprotected bodies are vulnerable to attack when out of their shells, so they often make the change when it's dark and quiet.
Lizz Shepherd - I am a freelance writer specializing, for now, in Web writing. The Web is an enormous place and I have been carving out my own little ...
