? about scarlets

[mrsdorothy]

I had 1 scarlet hermit crab in my tank that molts sometimes, and I have never saw them switch shells. I ordered 10 more from a site. Only 3 of them had a shell like the one that I already had. The other 7 looked like scarlets, but the shells were different. I have a lot of empty shells in my tank. My dwarf zebra hermit crabs always switch shells and it is fun to watch them do that. The other day I noticed some of the new scarlets that I received sporting some new shells, which suprised me since I thought that they molted and grew new shells. Are scarlets suppose to switch shells?

The other 4 scarlets never switch shells. Do I have some imposters in my tank. :help: :help:
Dorothy

 

[brainrush]

All hermit crabs switch shells. Only snail's shells grow. Some switch more often (always want the newest fashion), while others only switch when they outgrow their old shells.

 

[nygel]

mine killed and ate my turbo snail for his new one... so i bought 2 more snails to make up for that one being gone... these are way better than the first one too.

 

[mrsdorothy]

Thanks. Mine seems to be harmless. They change shells, then walk around the sand and rocks like they are modeling clothes, then go back and change into another shell.