Do blue legged hermit crabs need new shells?
Do blue legged hermit crabs need new shells?
Some crabs love to swap shells just to have something new on their backs. However, the main reason would be the crab is growing and needs a larger shell. My research indicates that if there aren’t any available the crab will be forced to take one from another crab or from snails.
What do I do if my hermit crab has no shell?
Leave the hermit crab in darkness and quiet for a while, an hour should be enough time, and it may return to the shell. If the crab is still naked you can move to a slightly larger containment area like a small kritter keeper. Add a few more shells that might fit the naked crab to the kritter keeper.
How big do blue legged hermits get?

3/4″
General info about Blue Legged Hermit Crab The Clibanarius tricolor is a hermit crab that has blue legs with red banding and reaches up to 3/4″ (2 centimeters) in size. This species is very popular, especially to aquarium home trades.
How long do blue legged hermit crabs live?
Quick Notes about Blue Leg Hermit Crab
Name | Blue-Legged Hermit Crab |
---|---|
Diet | Omnivore/Carnivore |
Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
Life span | up to 2 years |
Color Form | Blue, Black, Orange |
Can blue leg hermit crabs live out of water?
Most can survive briefly out of water as long as their gills are damp. However, this ability is not as developed as it is in land hermit crabs.
Why do hermit crabs have no shell?

True crabs have abdomens protected by hard shells. Hermit crabs have soft, exposed abdomens. This leaves them vulnerable to predators. To protect themselves, hermit crabs search for abandoned shells — usually sea snail shells.
Are blue leg hermit crabs aggressive?
Blue Leg Hermit Crabs are social and relatively peaceful animals. They usually congregate among detritus-covered rocks as a group.
Can a hermit crab drown?
Hermit crabs can’t breathe air and they will drown in water, so the best way to maintain humidity is to provide an ideal enclosure. These include aquariums and marine terrariums that are strong enough to hold wet sand with covers that allow some ventilation and keep the crabs and humidity in.
Do hermit crabs play dead?
During the molting process, hermit crabs shed their exoskeleton, lose body parts, and become temporarily immobile, causing them to appear dead. You can move the crab to a new location and see if it changes position after a few hours to test for signs of life.
How long do blue-legged hermit crabs live?
Can hermit crabs have babies?
Hermit crab babies hatch from eggs. Mama Crab carries them around until they change color from a rusty brown to light blue, at which point they’ve finished developing. That’s when the mother crab takes her eggs to the water and drops them in to hatch.
Is my crab dead or sleeping?
Try to look closer, and if there is absolutely no movement and a foul smell, your crab is most likely dead. It’s important not to rush to conclusions, though, as so many people mistake a molting crab for a dead one. Since Hermits are nocturnal, you may not see any movement from them during the day.
Can you tell how old a hermit crab is?
Look at the size of your hermit crab. For most crab keepers, a hermit crab that is about the size of a golf ball is going to be about 10 years old. One that is about the size of a mandarin orange is going to be greater than 10 years. Crabs that are much larger than this may be upward of 30 years old.
How old is my hermit crab?
Can ants harm hermit crabs?
Ants in your home may be a nuisance to you but ants in your hermit crabs’s home can be dangerous. Ants can and will attack molting crabs, and this could kill the hermit crab. If you find ants in your crabitat it is an emergency situation that must be dealt with immediately.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHQmSWr3k5o