HELP! My Hermit Crab has left its shell! What
Do I Do?
A hermit crab that has left the protection and
life-sustaining seashell home is either:
a. very stressed
b. another hermit crab has taken its shell
c. there is an irritant such as a pest or fungus in the shell
d. it is overheated
e. it may be moulting, although it rarely happens
f. it was changing shells and let go of the old one, which
was shell-napped
g. the pet store hasn't suitable shells in the tank for its
size
How to gently coax a hermit crab back into its shell:
1. add a drop of Stress Coat with Aloe (Aquarium
Pharm) to some lukewarm water in a container and stir.
2. place the shell in the water and tip most
of the water out
3. gently pick up the hermit crab if it isn't
in mid moult. Look for any signs of irritation or whether
it may be moulting eg. transparent eyes, lifting up of shedding
skin, etc (check out aboutlandhermitcrabs.com in moulting
to see some photos)
4. with great gentleness, try and slide the
tip of the abdomen within the shell, making sure that it doesnt
scrape or injure the hermit crab as you do. If you need to,
gently moisten the abdomen and try again.
5. if you have tried twice to guide the stressed
crab into a shell, lower into an enclosed area with the shell,
placing the crab next to the shell and some alternate shells,
also moistened.
6. Leave the hermit crab in darkness and quiet
for a while and it may return to the shell. If it doesn't,
give the hermit crab a gentle spray mist from a fine mist
facial mister bottle with stress coat or tap water conditioned-water
so that it keeps hydrated if the environment calls for it.
Hermit Crabs use modified gills as lungs, so in order to breathe
these gills need to be kept moist.
7. Florida Marine Research recommends gently
tapping on the head (carapace) of the hermit crab or carefully
encouraging the hermit crab to back into the shell by temping
it back.
8. If this third attempt fails, just keep the
environment warm and humid or mist the gills (located on the
sides - see the photo in anatomy on landhermitcrabs.com) when
they seem dehydrated.
If you need any further help, please email the
moderators of Hermies Yahoo!Group at
hermies-owner@yahoogroups.com
Happy Hermit Crabbing!
Vanessa
