Fat Hermit Crab

[nickeleye]

I have a hermit crab that appears to be too large to get out of his shell and find a new one.

I was thinking of helping him out and enlarging the shell opening for him. Has anyone done this ? Is it a good idea ? Thanks.

 

[pufferman]

i doubt it...if your hermit were too fat to get out of its own shell, it wouldn't be able to stay in the shell in the first place.......but if you still think this is the case, here's what you can do......prepare empty shells of varying sizes.....crack your hermit shell gently (try not to hurt its soft underlying tissues)....this will force your hermit to find a new home....and hopefully he'll find one...... i've never done this before, so you'll be the first one...good luck!!

 

[nickeleye]

Thanks. I'll let you know how is goes.

 

[frozenice]

Thats funny saying "you could do this, ive never done it so good luck with it":hilarious

 

[kablamo]

i want to know if this worked

 

[nickeleye]

Well I tried to help the little gut out. I very carefully enlarged the opening to the shell to give him more room. Within an hour I saw his head peak out for the first time in weeks, usually only a claw or two would fit thru the opening. After two days he still seemed "stuck" so I opened it some more. The next morning he was in a new shell an happily crawling around.