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You little hermie crabs come in a variety of beautiful and vibrant colors, particularly the marine species, which range in color from bright yellow, blue to scarlet and are chosen for reef tanks largely for their appearance and habits. feeding. However, it is natural for hermit crab shells to turn white and set off alarm bells in the heads of most owners, though thankfully most of the time this is not too serious and can be treated quite easily.

As you probably all know, you hermits are born without a shell of your own and consequently spend a lot of time searching for and moving on to the discarded shells of other creatures, like sea snails, that you can call your own. Now snail shells naturally contain a high level of calcium bicarbonate and any drop in these levels will cause them to look discolored and eventually turn white. Hermie shell discoloration can also be caused by excessive exposure to salt, which acts like bleach. This is a natural occurrence for snail shells that have been submerged for long periods in the ocean or even on shore and been washed away by waves and is not a cause for concern as your little hermie is likely to jump out of shell in shell numerous times. occasions and may well opt for a more colorful home next time.

When your hermie’s shell begins to turn white in a reef tank it’s a different matter and points to your crab definitely being deficient in calcium and possibly magnesium. Since hermies are omnivores, like us humans, they need a well-balanced diet of meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables to function efficiently. A calcium deficit can cause them to become soft and it is important for the owner to supplement their hermie’s diet with foods rich in calcium, such as cuttlefish and crackers. Cuttlebone can be easily found in the poultry section of any decent pet store and can be grated and added to food, plus you can buy commercially prepared Hermie foods that contain all the necessary supplements including calcium and magnesium.

When a crab molts, it usually eats its nutrient-rich exoskeleton, but sometimes part of it is discarded and left on the surface. It tends to look pale and faded, and many new owners have mistaken this discarded fur for their hermie’s shell starting to turn white and have feared the worst: that their beloved hermie has, in fact, died. In fact, it’s probably curled up in the snail’s shell, recovering from its moult.

So, I hope you’ve stopped worrying so much about the color of your hermie’s shell. After all, she is a demanding little creature and will often fight to the death in her search for the perfect house, regardless of color. Hermit crab shells turning white is no big deal and can be controlled by supplementing their diet with calcium-rich foods, so kick back and have fun with your new friends.