Changing from painted shells

[KillingTank]

Four days is not long at all; I would not be concerned about moulting unless you have not seen the hermit crab for at least four weeks. Just leave them as they are.

How can I encourage the crabs to change from their toxic painted shells they were bought in?

[Wai]

Please have a look at the Shells page.

[KillingTank]

Please have a look at the Shells page.

Thank you, I have boiled the shells also and yet they do not seem to want to change

[Wai]

You can offer plenty of unpainted versions of the shell that they are wearing already; they would have a higher chance of changing.

[KillingTank]

You can offer plenty of unpainted versions of the shell that they are wearing already; they would have a higher chance of changing.

I am not buying more shells, already put 7 shells in the habitat

[aussieJJDude]

Species of hermies also have particular preferences when it comes to shells too, so be mindful of the type (species) of shell offered rather than the number offered. For example, PPs prefer O (rounded) shaped shells (like turbos) while Es like D (oblong) shaped shells like Babylonians.

[KillingTank]

Species of hermies also have particular preferences when it comes to shells too, so be mindful of the type (species) of shell offered rather than the number offered. For example, PPs prefer O (rounded) shaped shells (like turbos) while Es like D (oblong) shaped shells like Babylonians.

Mine are Australian Land Hermit Crabs and I can see the new shells I bought do not have that spiral cone look

[aussieJJDude]

Aussies tend to prefer shells with a D - shaped (oblong) opening, my crabs favourites would be pheasant, apple and sometimes tonna shells. They have also showed interest in moon snail shells in the past too.

[KillingTank]

Aussies tend to prefer shells with a D - shaped (oblong) opening, my crabs favourites would be pheasant, apple and sometimes tonna shells. They have also showed interest in moon snail shells in the past too.

Their current shell are these, I believe they need this same shape? I have bought 5 new shells of this type praying they will use them

[Wai]

Yes, they do like that shape more than turbos. They are perhaps the next best type of shell if you can't find any Phasianella (pheasant) shells for them.