{"product_id":"zoo-med-hermit-crab-growth-shell","title":"Zoo Med Hermit Crab Growth Shell","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA growing hermit crab needs a bigger shell to move into.\u003c\/strong\u003e Zoo Med Hermit Crab Growth Shells are natural, unpainted shells with wide openings that let a crab retract fully inside, offered in Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large so there's a next size up whichever stage your crab is at.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy you need one\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHermit crabs don't grow their own shell — they borrow one and move house as they outgrow it. Without a choice of good-fitting spares in the enclosure, crabs can get stuck in a shell that's too small, or fight each other over the few shells available. Zoo Med recommends keeping several spare shells, a size or two up from the one currently worn, in the crabitat at all times.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNatural shell, not painted or dyed\u003c\/strong\u003e — no coatings for a crab to ingest or react to.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWide, round opening\u003c\/strong\u003e — sized so a crab can withdraw completely inside for protection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFour sizes on one page\u003c\/strong\u003e — Small through Extra Large, so you can size up as your crab grows without shopping around.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGenuine Zoo Med growth shell\u003c\/strong\u003e — matched to the sizing Zoo Med designs its own crab habitat products around.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhich size do I need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSize\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBest suited to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSmall\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYoung or small-bodied crabs outgrowing their first shells\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMedium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCrabs that have already moved up from a small shell\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarger, more established crabs\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExtra Large\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYour biggest crabs, or as a spare ahead of a Large-to-XL move\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs a natural product, opening size and shape vary piece to piece even within one size band — Zoo Med doesn't publish an exact opening diameter for each size, so treat the size names as a guide and keep a small range of sizes on hand so each crab can choose its own fit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMaterial\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNatural shell\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCoating\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNone — unpainted, undyed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSizes available\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSmall, Medium, Large, Extra Large\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSKUs\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZM350 (Small), ZM351 (Medium), ZM352 (Large), ZM353 (Extra Large)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable for land hermit crabs (\u003cem\u003eCoenobita\u003c\/em\u003e species) as spare or replacement shells. Not suitable as the only shell in the enclosure — always offer several spares in a range of sizes so a crab isn't forced into a poor fit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCare and maintenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eRinse a new shell in dechlorinated water before adding it to the enclosure, and remove any shell a crab has permanently vacated if it starts to smell or grow mould.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/zoo-med-hermit-crab-growth-shell-medium-2pk\"\u003eZoo Med Hermit Crab Growth Shell Medium (2pk)\u003c\/a\u003e — a smaller two-pack if you only need Medium spares.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/zoo-med-hermit-crab-assorted-growth-shells\"\u003eZoo Med Hermit Crab Assorted Growth Shells\u003c\/a\u003e — a mixed-size box for stocking a range of spares at once.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/zoo-med-hermit-crab-sea-sponge\"\u003eZoo Med Hermit Crab Sea Sponge\u003c\/a\u003e — keeps humidity up, which makes shell changes easier on a crab.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSold as a natural product with no manufacturer warranty; each shell is unique and the product photo is representative rather than exact. Standard shipping applies.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eHow do I know if my crab needs a bigger shell?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eA crab that can't fully retract into its current shell, or that seems to be outgrowing it, is ready to move up a size.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eShould I only put out the next size up?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo — offer a small range of sizes and let the crab choose, since natural shells vary piece to piece even within one labelled size.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eDo these shells need cleaning before use?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eRinse in dechlorinated water before adding a new shell to the enclosure.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eAre these shells painted or decorated?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo, Zoo Med's growth shells are natural and unpainted.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ZooMed","offers":[{"title":"Small","offer_id":54773930230051,"sku":"ZM350","price":10.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium","offer_id":55335437107491,"sku":"ZM351","price":10.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large","offer_id":55335437140259,"sku":"ZM352","price":10.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Extra Large","offer_id":55335437173027,"sku":"ZM353","price":11.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/ZM350_20.png?v=1782882464","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/zoo-med-hermit-crab-growth-shell","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}