Hermit crabs are cute little animals that can live up to 20 years with you if you take care of them properly. They may not learn to talk or play fetch, but they are charming little creatures on their own. They are very active, exploring every corner of their habitat, digging in the sand and constantly crawling on the rocks. Despite the name, they are actually quite social beings and will even stack on top of each other if they live together in larger groups, which is when they are happiest. Hermit crabs are recognizable by their shells, and it is quite interesting that shells are almost the currency of their world. Some crabs exchange shells with each other, and the others fight aggressively for the shell they want. Their shells are their home and their protection. When crabs feel in danger, they immediately retreat into their shells, as they have no other ways to protect themselves. They have claws (the right one is used for defense and the left one for collecting food and water), but without the shell it is not enough. Hermit crabs are omnivores, so you can experiment with different types of food to find what your crabs will like best. They are small and sensitive animals, but they can be very rewarding pets, as they are sociable, active and very curious. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Despite their small size and the fact that they probably seem easy enough to take care of, they require a lot of maintenance and something can easily go "wrong". For example, they may suddenly start leaving their shell and refuse to go back into it. The problem is that when hermit crabs leave their shells, they expose themselves to the outside (especially their soft abdomen) and begin to run the risk of drying out or being injured by other crabs. So what to do in this case to prevent the crab from getting injured and how to put it back in the shell? First let's talk about the possible causes why a hermit crab leaves its shell. Since it borrows snail shells to live, it could simply be that it has outgrown its current shell and needs a new one. And/or he might be pre-moulting because he's about to lose his exoskeleton. If so, you may be able to recognize it by several telltale signs (although not all crabs show all, or sometimes none, symptoms). He gorged himself on food for about two weeks and then suddenly stopped eating altogether. Appears lethargic. Its body and paws have become lighter, becoming beige. He drags the shell or a large claw as if it were too heavy for him. It behaves restlessly during the day, trying to get out of the habitat. It spends a lot of time in or around water ponds, both freshwater and oceanic. He almost ends up hiding from the other crabs (you could say he starts behaving like... a hermit). He feels uncomfortable with the shell he wears, often changes shell but is dissatisfied with everyone. His eyes seem to be turned outwards. If you notice these signs, and your crab's habitat is otherwise flawless, there is no need to worry and you can simply let the crab do its thing. However, after moulting, the crab will want to move into a larger shell, so make sure it has several choices of shells on hand to choose from. If when a crab leaves its shell, and it is not due to moulting or a size problem, it means that it is under some sort of stress or that there is a problem with its shell. There are several common issues that can cause this problem. The shell that yourscrab he is currently using may be irritating him for some reason. There may be sand, mites, fungi (a bacterial or fungal infection could cause your crab to have a skin condition), or other foreign objects lodged inside it, and hermit crabs are also known to hide food inside their shell. This problem is sometimes solved by the crab itself by moulting. If not, you can boil the shell in dechlorinated water and shake it vigorously until everything in it is removed. It should work most of the time. There's another crab in its shell. Hermit crabs sometimes leave their shells to try on new ones for fun. However, if you have multiple crabs in the same enclosure, while one is out of its shell, another may slip in and take its place. Hermit crabs also sometimes fight over shells they deem desirable. These fights can even be deadly, as a crab often prefers to die rather than give up its shell. To avoid this, there should always be a large selection of shells of various sizes and "styles" in the habitat, so that each crab can find something that suits it. A hermit crab might also leave their habitat if the temperature or humidity of their habitat is too high or too low. The ideal humidity for these crabs is 70-80% and the heat should be of varying sizes at different ends of the habitat, from 72-75F to 80-82F. Your crab may also be under physical stress. Before they reach pet shops, the conditions in which they are collected and transported are quite inhumane and make them suffer. On top of that, when they arrive at stores, hungry, dehydrated and stressed, employees often don't know how to take care of them. So when you buy crabs, they may already be in poor health, to put it that way. So, your crab is out of its shell and won't go back in. What can you do to help him get back? The first method described is used for situations where a crab has left its shell for reasons other than moulting. In the case of the wetsuit the procedure is different (and will also be described). Before and after handling the crab and its shell, wash your hands thoroughly. The best way to start is to rinse or boil the abandoned shell and give it a good shake, as mentioned before, so that anything that may not belong inside is removed. Pour off most of the water from the shell and place it in a cup or bowl, depending on the size of the crab. You can also mist the shell with dechlorinated sea salt water. The container you place the shell in should be large enough to hold the crab and the shell, no bigger and, of course, not too small. Add a little dechlorinated sea salt water to the bowl to prevent the crab from drying out and dehydrating. Carefully pick the crab up from its enclosure, holding it slightly behind the last pair of walking legs, or use a spoon to gently scoop it out. Place it in a warm salt water bath for three seconds. Examine his abdomen carefully for any signs of irritation or injury, and be very careful that he doesn't try to escape, as he could seriously injure himself this way. Also check for shedding symptoms, such as lifting of the old exoskeleton, transparent eyes, etc. Place the crab in the bowl next to the shell, cover the bowl and leave it in a dark place, but with the right humidity and temperature. . You can put the bowl back in the enclosure, but make sure that other crabs cannot climb into it. You can make it dark by covering the bowl, but, of course, make sure there is still enough air.