I collected three large marine hermit crabs ( avg. 3 inches) I wanted only their shells! How do I get them out

Question

I didn't try very hard to keep them alive, so they were out of water for about 2hrs then I put them in a bucket of fresh water for about 3hrs. Wasn't trying to keep them alive but they are now in a bucket of ocean water from which they came b/c I think they need to be alive to remove them. What do I do?

Answer 1

uh ok.. well my friend had hermit crabs and i had to take care off them alot. they usually grow and they need bigger shells they come out on their own.... i kno that wen one of the hermit crabs died the other one starved themself to death... much like humans but its so much easier to....buy the shells?

   really hope u dont try to kill them but best of luck. as much as this sounds stupid some malls even sell the shells painted and everything.

Answer 2

you have t wait till they over grow there shells and they leave there shell but it will have small cracks ok

Answer 3

screwdriver?

Answer 4

they shed their own shells, the only way to get them out now would be to kill them and that would not be too cool.

Answer 5

First, they are going to die quickly if they are not in the ocean.  The bucket of ocean water will not suffice, as there are a lot of factors involved in their survival in their habitat (the ocean).  

Second, there is no way to make them exit the shell.  They do this when they outgrow their shell.  If you try to rip them out, they will die (and will not come out completely).

Third, and probably most importantly, it is illegal to remove them from the ocean.  You should return them.  Find empty shells or purchase some-do not kill animals to satisfy your own desires.

Marine hermit crabs are different than land (tree) hermit crabs.  Unless you have a sophisticated salt water tank setup, they will not survive.   Please return them to the ocean!

Answer 6

This is cruel. What is wrong with you.

Answer 7

DO NOT REMOVE THEM! If you was a shell so badly walk around and find some without another animal living in them. Hermit crabs do not make their own shells, they get them from snails.

Answer 8

leave out some suitable larger shells and they will eventually move into them, it may take a while but it will happen. or you can be mean and wait 'till they die