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How To Get a Naked Hermit Crab Back Into Its Shell
Posted By: Stacyh;
Category: Pets;
November 24, 2008
Author StacyH;
A hermit crab is very vulnerable outside its shell and will rarely leave it. It is fairly impossible and cruel to pull a crab from its shell. If your pet hermit crab is found naked and is not going back into a shell, something is wrong and the crab will probably die if the problem isn't remedied.
1
Carefully rinse the naked crab in warm water (de-chlorinated, saline, or Stress Coat water) to remove debris.
Make sure the crab is not molting or just trying to get ready to enter a new shell. If it is crawling or lying on top of the substrate and seems uninterested in any shell, there is most likely a problem.
Make sure the crab is not molting or just trying to get ready to enter a new shell. If it is crawling or lying on top of the substrate and seems uninterested in any shell, there is most likely a problem.
2
Clean the shell it discarded by rinsing in warm water or even boiling for one minute and rinsing.
This will rid it of irritants that may be upsetting the crab.
This will rid it of irritants that may be upsetting the crab.
3
Place the crab in a small, clean container with its clean shell and possibly a couple of other clean choices.
4
Make sure the crab is kept at a comfortable temperature and humidity.
5
Give the crab time and quiet to re-enter a shell.
It may be stressed from being "naked" without a suitable shell.
It may be stressed from being "naked" without a suitable shell.
6
Check the crab's environment and make sure there aren't other stressors causing the problem.
The crab may be too hot, too wet, or too dry. The habitat may contain only dirty shells or not enough shells of the right type and size to choose from.
The crab may be too hot, too wet, or too dry. The habitat may contain only dirty shells or not enough shells of the right type and size to choose from.
7
Replace the crab into its habitat when it has reclaimed a shell.
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