Zoo Med Hermit Crab Growth Shell
Zoo Med Hermit Crab Growth Shell
A growing hermit crab needs a bigger shell to move into. 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.
Why you need one
Hermit 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.
Key features
- Natural shell, not painted or dyed — no coatings for a crab to ingest or react to.
- Wide, round opening — sized so a crab can withdraw completely inside for protection.
- Four sizes on one page — Small through Extra Large, so you can size up as your crab grows without shopping around.
- Genuine Zoo Med growth shell — matched to the sizing Zoo Med designs its own crab habitat products around.
Which size do I need?
| Size | Best suited to |
|---|---|
| Small | Young or small-bodied crabs outgrowing their first shells |
| Medium | Crabs that have already moved up from a small shell |
| Large | Larger, more established crabs |
| Extra Large | Your biggest crabs, or as a spare ahead of a Large-to-XL move |
As 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.
Specifications
| Material | Natural shell |
|---|---|
| Coating | None — unpainted, undyed |
| Sizes available | Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large |
| SKUs | ZM350 (Small), ZM351 (Medium), ZM352 (Large), ZM353 (Extra Large) |
Suitable for, and not suitable for
Suitable for land hermit crabs (Coenobita 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.
Care and maintenance
Rinse 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.
Goes well with
- Zoo Med Hermit Crab Growth Shell Medium (2pk) — a smaller two-pack if you only need Medium spares.
- Zoo Med Hermit Crab Assorted Growth Shells — a mixed-size box for stocking a range of spares at once.
- Zoo Med Hermit Crab Sea Sponge — keeps humidity up, which makes shell changes easier on a crab.
Warranty and delivery
Sold as a natural product with no manufacturer warranty; each shell is unique and the product photo is representative rather than exact. Standard shipping applies.
Common questions
How do I know if my crab needs a bigger shell?
A crab that can't fully retract into its current shell, or that seems to be outgrowing it, is ready to move up a size.
Should I only put out the next size up?
No — offer a small range of sizes and let the crab choose, since natural shells vary piece to piece even within one labelled size.
Do these shells need cleaning before use?
Rinse in dechlorinated water before adding a new shell to the enclosure.
Are these shells painted or decorated?
No, Zoo Med's growth shells are natural and unpainted.
