When does a hermit crab change it's shell?

Question

When does a hermit crab change it's shell?

Answer 1

when he grows

the end

Answer 2

If he grows just a tad, he might find the last home he had unsuitable, and need another of the same size.

As he grows, he will move into several shells of the right size, and several a bit larger, until he's comfortable.  He might even trade back an forth a couple of times.

It is important to provide a variety of shell options for your growing crab.

He's a teenager who "just outgrew his tennis shoes" and needs to find out if 1/4 bigger, or a 1/2 bigger size works best now.  He'll have to try them on and take a walk, to be sure.

Enjoy your pets, and I hope this has been helpful.

Answer 3

When it starts to outgrow its old one. Why did this post in reptiles???

Answer 4

when ever it feels like it

hermit crabs grow very slowly. only about a millimetre a year. So the change of shells is partly connected to growing but a crab will change shells with out moulting or gorwing at all.

Some crabs take on smaller shells prior to moult. Others will take on shells of different shapes of thicknesses depending on conditions of tank.

Purple pincers change often. Es rarely change. so there is a difference between species as well.

it's all up to the crab

Answer 5

whenever the hermit starts to grow it will need a bigger shell to live in.

Answer 6

I have a couple that change theirs a few times a week for fun and one who refuses to change at all!   When they get TOO big, they eventually need to change..

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/php

http://www.hermit-crabs.com/

http://www.thecrabbagepatch.com/