Can A Mystery Snail (freshwater) Shell Be Used By A Saltwater Hermit Crab?

Ive been wondering of ways to give my hermit crab shells as he grows. Recently, one of my freshwater mystery snails passed away. I'm sad and was wondering what to do now, and I wondered if I could use his shell and put it in the saltwater tank. And maybe my hermit crab will use it. However, would the shell material not hold up in saltwater, Since the original critter was a freshwater organism? I'm not sure if I can get away with this. Any thoughts would be appreciated. And I'm still not sure if my idea is sweet or just,morbid... Lol

 

Hey, however you choose to honor your pet is your choice.
I'm sorry for your lost though, mystery snails are such great little guys.
Honestly I don't really have an answer as I'm not actually sure. I would think it would last long enough until your crab grows again. Just be sure you have all the, well, snail out of it so you don't cause an ammonia spike.
I don't know if brackish erodes calcium faster, but salt can also preserve a lot of things...
I do think it's a sweet gesture.

 

I've actually wondered before if a really well cleaned out empty mystery shell could be added to a freshwater shell dweller community.

 

I have many empty mystery shells! All colors. Purple, blue, ivory, brown, red/yellow.

 

Hum....I'm not sure the body of a hermit will fit into a mystery shell. I had land hermit crabs and bought them bigger shells at the pet store, but that's been years ago. You can grab up some pretty ones if you're at the beach shops where they sell land hermits! I have a bunch of empty mystery shells too. I always save them....well except for one who died and would not come out of his shell. I wasn't into digging him out. That seemed cruel.

 

Sounds like ill just have to try it! Thanks for the feedback. My crab is still very small, maybe a third of a penny, and the snail was about an inch and a half. So I have time to see if itll fall a part too soon in saltwater before the crab would need it. Didnt know if it had already been,tried or if there's a good reason it shouldnt be tried.

I'm a little in denial. So I will give the snail a few days in a bowl. Maybe he will fall out completely and I won't have to pull? I hate thinking about this!

 

Hum....I'm not sure the body of a hermit will fit into a mystery shell. I had land hermit crabs and bought them bigger shells at the pet store, but that's been years ago. You can grab up some pretty ones if you're at the beach shops where they sell land hermits! I have a bunch of empty mystery shells too. I always save them....well except for one who died and would not come out of his shell. I wasn't into digging him out. That seemed cruel.

Well the hermit crab I have isn't a land crab, I think it might be... Red leg cortez? Completely underwater. But very small and a bit,blue. He (and some bristleworms, yay....) came along with a live rock.

And the cruel part, I relate... I feel this way about,my snail now, even though he is definitely dead. Sigh.

 

Usually they will just fall right out of the shell when you pick them up. I had mine isolated because he had been floating for weeks. He would come out of his shell like he was trying to move but just couldn't. I checked him every day but he would still close up when I touched him. I knew he was gone when I opened his little quarantine cup and smelled him. He died tightly closed up. Usually I can just take them to my flower bed and give them a shake and the fall out. I just decided he wanted to be in there so I buried him. I have to say I've left empty shells in my freshwater tank because they were pretty. They tend to degrade pretty quickly but that may be because the smaller snails eat at the shell...for calcium I suppose. I'm not positive if that's it or not.

I understand that land hermits and water dwelling hermits aren't exactly the same. I think those tiny little guys are so cute. I had a land hermit get huge one time and it reminded me of a huge spider. Kinda creepy... I wasn't crazy about fooling with him after he got that big...

 

I recently bought some second hand aquarium stuff and there was a purple painted hermit crab shell in there (not too sure what to do with it lol), pretty sure it's a mystery snail shell(?), so I'm guessing you probably can?

 

I recently bought some second hand aquarium stuff and there was a purple painted hermit crab shell in there (not too sure what to do with it lol), pretty sure it's a mystery snail shell(?), so I'm guessing you probably can?

It wouldn't hurt to try and just keep a close eye on him if he moves in...

 

Just be sure you have all the, well, snail out of it so you don't cause an ammonia spike.

Not sure if you or anybody knows, but how can I make sure everything is out?

He didn't fall out yet, so I have him one last good look before giving a small, small tug. Everything came out in one piece, (eurghh) is there any other prep I should do before putting it in a saltwater tank?

 

Personally I put them in my pond/ ramshorn snail tank and they take care of it....
If everything came out though, I don't think there's anything else you need to do