How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Mr.Crab · Post by **Mr.Crab** » 09 Sep 2008, 07:17

I've heard to boil the shells in hot saltwater- but do I need to chip the paint off after I take it out? How do I chip it out? and whats underneath?, a natural shell? I've never done this before. I have about 2 painted shells and I want them good.

Thanks.

krabby_katie · Post by **krabby_katie** » 09 Sep 2008, 07:53

You boil them. Then, if you have nails, peel it off. If you don't have nails you can improvise with a toothpick or something. You can get it out with tongs or something.

Chermo · Post by **Chermo** » 09 Sep 2008, 08:06

I boiled in salt water then removed with tongs and it just peeled right off in mostly 1 piece then for the rest I put back in the water and let it sit again for a minute and took a tooth pick to it and the rest came off. I found a beautiful natural shell under both of the painted ones I had. I hate to find pretty shells under paint.

HermieLove19 · Post by **HermieLove19** » 09 Sep 2008, 08:27

I've peeled a few completely with just my nails. boiling them first helps to take it off easier and get everything out of the inside of the shell.

krabby_katie · Post by **krabby_katie** » 09 Sep 2008, 09:00

I might try that tonight with some painted shells I bought before I knew they were bad. Luckily enough I know they were bad before I got my hermies, but bad because I had already bought them.

They're nice to decorate the outside of the tank though.

Mr.Crab · Post by **Mr.Crab** » 11 Sep 2008, 06:15

Ok I tryed boiling them. I tryed to scrape out the paint but it was all melted and discusting it smelled like burnt plastic. I threw away both of the shells. it didn't work. god damnit

krabby_katie · Post by **krabby_katie** » 11 Sep 2008, 08:25

I did it with mine. I only got a little off and it was a really ugly shell, so I threw it out.

kellisdomain · Post by **kellisdomain** » 13 Sep 2008, 15:05

and just think that the crabs may eat the paint chips..

i still have one i got last month that is wearing his painted shell.. i am hoping he will find another one soon.

the painted shells wind up in the trash when they change

Post by **Wai** » 13 Sep 2008, 22:11

Mr.Crab wrote:Ok I tryed boiling them. I tryed to scrape out the paint but it was all melted and discusting it smelled like burnt plastic. I threw away both of the shells. it didn't work. god damnit

Perhaps the temperature was too high and the paint melted. I just dump the painted shells in hot water. It's enough to break the bonds between the paint and the shell's surface, but it shouldn't melt the paint.

By the way, there are two types of painted shells out there. Some shells are painted with acrylic (or some hydrophobic substance) while others are sprayed with paint. I'm not sure if boiling with tear off spray paint, but it works with acrylic paint.

Foxydiva3 · Post by **Foxydiva3** » 13 Oct 2008, 12:15

I throw All My Painted shells in the garden LOL! They Are pretty out there, I Really Dont like it when I get crabs with the paintied shell because there is so much they go through to get them in there.

C

How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?