Hermit crab shell

[JetEngineMech]

Do any of the hermit crabs "grow" their shell? I just bought two small hermit crabs and I asked the person at the LFS if they sold any larger shells for when they grow. She went and asked someone else who said, "no, they grow their shells." I think they are blue-leg crabs. They are really small so it's hard to tell. That's just what the label said on the tank but I know labels aren't always correct or updated.

[Otty]

Later on you will need to buy larger shells for your crabs. If not then your snails will become a sacrifice later on for them a larger shell. Make sure when you get your snails for a clean up crew you get one that can flip themselves over. If they can't then they will for sure be crab bait if they fall off the glass or rock on thier back. I have heard that the blue legged are a little more aggressive then the red legged scarlets, but you will probably hear different.

[serpent]

i have zebra hermits from Hawaii and one of them has a baby on it's shell i have a pic here have a look so i got some shell's so yes Provide an ample number of empty shells of various sizes. A hermit crab will moult from its exoskeleton in order to grow. Good for it's sand sifting.

[JetEngineMech]

That's what I suspected. Thanks guys.

[coral reefer]

Yeah, they don't grow their own shells. They need to replace their shell for a larger on as they grow. Many times, hermits will kill snails to use their shell for living purposes!

[Twan013]

wow... anyone that says hermit crabs grow their own shells does NOT need to work at a petstore...you should have asked them how come their fish don't drown...lol

[JetEngineMech]

That's great!