I’ve had hermit crabs for quite some time now. My two crustaceans have gone through several month molts and came back bigger and even more playful. Before each molt, my two crabs Dazzle and Clarke would regularly change into larger shells I left lying about their enclosure. I’ve never seen either crab change their shell without disappearing for a few months, which made me curious.
Do hermit crabs change shells without molting? Is it normal for my crabs to not change shells unless they’re about to molt? So, I did some research and found a quick answer:
It’s perfectly fine for a hermit crab to change its shell without going through a molt. While it is most common to see a hermit crab find a larger shell before going through a molt, it is not always the case.
Let’s further dive into this question! Further on we’ll discuss why your crab might choose a different shell, and if you should be worried if your it doesn’t.
A Shell Change Doesn’t Always Mean a Molt!
No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you, hermit crabs don’t have to change their shells to molt. I asked around the online hermit crab community and the consensus is that crabs most often find a new shell before they burrow for a long molt. If your crab doesn’t do so, that is not a big deal! Just be sure that you are giving your crab plenty of shells to change into, but more on that later.
Depending on its age and species, your hermit crab molts at least once every 18 months. Chances are that your crab will change its shell at least once in that period as well.
Also, some crabs like to change shells more than others. For example, the ghostly white and extremely tiny Ecuadorian hermit crab is a bit more hesitant to change its shell than its cousin the Carribean crab.
Some crabs may not be willing to give up their precious shell! At least for a very long time. In the wild, shells are scarce. The smartest hermit crabs learn to make do with the shell they were lucky enough to snag. This means modifying the interior to their liking.
Maybe your crab wants a new shell to call its own. Just because a hermit crab changes its shell, that does not necessarily mean there’s a molt on the way!
Even though it’s less common, your crab may not change its shell before molting. This is not a bad thing if you’ve given your crab everything it needs to change shells. Let’s talk about preparing your hermit crabs to change their shells.
Encouraging Change
If you’re asking this question, it probably means that your crab already changed shells. No, this does not always mean that he or she’s gonna molt, instead, your hermit crab wants a new home.
Your crab is not home in the wild where it can find his shell, which means it is your job to find him some. It’s very important to stock your hermit crab enclosure with 2-3 shells slightly bigger than your crab’s current shell for each hermit crab. For example, if you have 5 hermit crabs, you’ll need 3 shells for each crab bringing you to at least 15 shells.
This gives your crabs plenty of options to choose from, which means their shell transition less stressful. If you have a decent amount of hermit crabs around the same size, 3 shells each will avoid conflict. Hermit crabs are famous for their ‘shell fights’.
An amazing tip for buying hermit crab shells is to buy shells with a similar opening as your crab’s current one. If it’s circular, go for a circular opening. If it’s oval-shaped, buy an oval-shaped. Simple, right?
Also, I buy my shells off eBay. Pet stores usually have terrible shells that have been cleaned with chemicals.
Don’t Stress About Your Crab Changing Shells!
I said earlier that hermit crabs are like cats, they know how to take care of themselves. Let’s say you have a dog. You love him to death, but he needs to be walked, cleaned, etc. Hermit crabs, on the other hand, are much more independent. They can bathe themselves, find their shells, and eat or drink when they need to just as long as you provide them with it.
So, if you give your crabs plenty of clean freshwater and saltwater, fresh food every night, and plenty of shells to change into they will be fine.
Stop worrying! You’re a good pet owner, and your crab is fine. Changing its shell doesn’t always mean it’s going into a molt, and even if it does it’s a normal part of a hermit crab’s life.
3 Common Signs That Your Hermit Crab is Ready To Molt
You’re most likely reading this post because your hermit crab just changed its shell and you’re curious if it will molt. You now know that this isn’t always the case, but there are a few giveaways that your hermit crab is preparing for a molt.
1) He is spending a lot of time by the water bowls. Hermit crabs like to stock up on water in their shell, which comes in handy during a month-long molt. Pre-molting hermit crabs also like to take frequent dips in saltwater, so many sure you have plenty of each in your tank at all times. You’ll know that your crab has been using it if the water is spotted with substrate or hermit crab poop.
2) He is spending a lot of time digging. I can say from experience that hermit crabs dig much more before a molt. I guess that they’re finding a decent spot to spend the several month-long ordeal.
3) He is less active than usual. Before a molt, hermit crabs tend to slow down and move around their environment much less. It’s similar to pre-hibernation some animals go through. Your crab will spend most of its time eating, drinking, and resting. It’s a great way to prepare for a month-long burrow.
Related Questions
How often do Hermit Crabs Molt?
Hermit crabs molt once every 12 to 18 months, depending on the size and species of a hermit crab. As they grow, smaller crabs will molt more frequently than larger hermit crabs. Ecuadorian Hermit crabs tend to molt less often than their cousins the Carribean hermit crab.
How long does it take for a hermit crab to molt?
It takes a hermit crab two weeks to several months to molt. It entirely depends on how large the crab is. If a hermit crab is smaller, it has less exoskeleton to shed and requires less time to recover than a larger hermit crab.