Help me with a Hermit Crab!

[Tiffa]

Ok so my dd got a hermit crab from a friend who wouldnt dream of not getting my dd something from her trip this summer, so the thing was doing fine feeding ok asked the petsmart what to get him for his home and what to eat...yada yada yada. So now he has lost his skin and he his back in his shell all soft and mushy so now what! I have not told my dd cause I thought it was dead its been 4 days so when is this guy comming out?? I really would like to pull all my hair out trying to figure this thing out. Please help

 

[my3sons77]

Aww I love hermit crabs. The best thing to do is leave him be. He/she is multing. I think I spelled that right? In others words, growing new skin and getting bigger. Do you have different sized shells for him/her to go into. They change shells when they outgrow the one they were in. My guy was huge. I made sure to keep several bigger sized shells in there for him and he would choose between two or three each time he would change. So indecisive lol.

Also make sure to keep the air in the aquarium (or whatever you are keeping him/her in) humid. I'm sure you know all this already but I remember this being very important when I had my guy. Also they like to climb.

Hope he/she comes out fo the shell soon.

 

[surfergirl602]

Our loved his como covered shell so much I had to find a bigger one just so he'd leave it. lol He/she also loved his tiki hut. Just remember to keep the sponge wet and the tank humid.

 

[Tiffa]

thank you for your replies, I went to petsmart and found a book of course Hermit Crabs for Dummies thats me it did help but the only thing it said was to leave it alone and dont throw away the skin OOPS!! too late on that one I am does anyone know why ??

 

[my3sons77]

I believe, if I remember correctly, they eat it.

 

[SomedayI'llBe]

Yep, they eat it for the calcium content. I'd try to go to PetsMart again and picking up a cuttlebone- it's a little oval shaped thing of calcium. It should be with the bird stuff. Put a bit in front of him, and it will be a good substitute.

 

[Fastpassme]

Seriously, my sister bought my son a few for his birthday. I wasn't too thrilled, but embraced their care by going to PETCO and outfitting their new huge crabitat (not the little plastic box my sister gave them in). I have no clue where 2 of them are, because I'm too scared to dig in the substrate and disturb their molt. They aren't too entertaining, but I guess I'm stuck with Sherbet, Gelato & Pearl.