hermit crab shells

[jc]

Do blue leg hermit crabs use astrae snail shells? The reason I ask is because the free shells that came with the hermit crabs are long and cylindrical. I had about 30 astrae snails die and I was wondering if they would use their triangular shells.

[aquasport24]

Yes they would use any larger shells then the ones they in now, atleast mine do.

[ErikH]

They are picky and will find one that suits them, even if another crab is in it.

[CoryDude]

They can and will use astrea shells. They'll even rip the snail out of the shell if they really like it (the shell that is). Don't worry, you'll soon start to see some of those astrea shells wobbling around your gravel and rock.

[Zoofan]

I had a left handed crab who had two favorite shells and he would change from one to the other every few days. One was so big he could hardly drag it, it seems bigger its better.

Mike

[johnmaloney @ Reef Cleaners]

i noticed certain hermits like certain shells more than others. like the left handed hermits in florida, (different than the Hawaiian ones, common names are so much trouble), love whelk shells, I hardly ever see them in anything else. but astreas for blue legs? +1 on wobbly astreas soon.

[lhoy]

I find that Blue-legged hermits "tend" to prefer Cerith shells if available. If not, long and cylindrical is first choice (fits their body style better) and then any other available shell.

Lee

[johnmaloney @ Reef Cleaners]

+1