How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Questions about designing a terrarium.
Post Reply
User avatar
Mr.Crab
Megalopa
Megalopa
Posts: 576
Joined: 07 Jul 2008, 19:19
Hermit crabs: 3
Location: Massachusetts

How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Post by Mr.Crab »

I've heard to boil the shells in hot saltwater- but do I need to chip the paint off after I take it out? How do I chip it out? and whats underneath?, a natural shell? I've never done this before. I have about 2 painted shells and I want them good.


Thanks.
!!! pictures of my medium pp (take a look and plz comment)
http://hermitcrabparadise.com/forums/vi ... 911#p17911

[[NO PAINTED SHELLS, PAINTED SHELLS ARE TOXIC!!]]
[[PLEASE, ONLY BUY NATURAL SHELLS, WITH NO FINISHES OR SHINES. OR CLEAR COATS!!]]
User avatar
krabby_katie
Coenobita
Coenobita
Posts: 1389
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 07:02
Hermit crabs: 9
Location: Boiestown, New Brunswick

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Post by krabby_katie »

You boil them. Then, if you have nails, peel it off. If you don't have nails you can improvise with a toothpick or something. You can get it out with tongs or something.
-Katie Forbes
Es: Mr. Krabs*Xena*Hubert*Clarice*Tank*Paras
PPs: Cosmo*Unknown*Darla

RIP: Sandy + Calypso + Kaluha + Jorgen von Strangle + Daisy + Mojo (assumed) + Stella
See them: http://s173.photobucket.com/albums/w69/katelynforbes/
User avatar
Chermo
Megalopa
Megalopa
Posts: 720
Joined: 16 Jul 2008, 13:51
Hermit crabs: 6
Total gallons: 20
Total tanks: 1
Location: Johnsburg, IL

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Post by Chermo »

I boiled in salt water then removed with tongs and it just peeled right off in mostly 1 piece then for the rest I put back in the water and let it sit again for a minute and took a tooth pick to it and the rest came off. I found a beautiful natural shell under both of the painted ones I had. I hate to find pretty shells under paint.
Proud mommy of 2 beautiful daughters Kytana and Danica, 1 cat Princess and 1 dog Liebschen

Due to family issues my crabs have been adopted out to wizkidsmom (Cheryl), I know she will care for them like I did. Thanks Cheryl

RIP Orangy June 2009
HermieLove19
Megalopa
Megalopa
Posts: 875
Joined: 16 May 2008, 07:57
Hermit crabs: 19
Total gallons: 70
Total tanks: 2
Location: Dirty Jersey

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Post by HermieLove19 »

I've peeled a few completely with just my nails. boiling them first helps to take it off easier and get everything out of the inside of the shell.
Kerri :)
Fozzy+Bloo+George+Richard+Tabitha+Mr.Krabz+Sandy+Eugene+Tigery
Gumby+Philip+Nameless+Breuer+KVD+Sonya+Patchie+Patrick+2 adopted hermies

Rufus Shawn
User avatar
krabby_katie
Coenobita
Coenobita
Posts: 1389
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 07:02
Hermit crabs: 9
Location: Boiestown, New Brunswick

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Post by krabby_katie »

I might try that tonight with some painted shells I bought before I knew they were bad. Luckily enough I know they were bad before I got my hermies, but bad because I had already bought them. :( They're nice to decorate the outside of the tank though. :)
-Katie Forbes
Es: Mr. Krabs*Xena*Hubert*Clarice*Tank*Paras
PPs: Cosmo*Unknown*Darla

RIP: Sandy + Calypso + Kaluha + Jorgen von Strangle + Daisy + Mojo (assumed) + Stella
See them: http://s173.photobucket.com/albums/w69/katelynforbes/
User avatar
Mr.Crab
Megalopa
Megalopa
Posts: 576
Joined: 07 Jul 2008, 19:19
Hermit crabs: 3
Location: Massachusetts

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Post by Mr.Crab »

Ok I tryed boiling them. I tryed to scrape out the paint but it was all melted and discusting it smelled like burnt plastic. I threw away both of the shells. it didn't work. god damnit
!!! pictures of my medium pp (take a look and plz comment)
http://hermitcrabparadise.com/forums/vi ... 911#p17911

[[NO PAINTED SHELLS, PAINTED SHELLS ARE TOXIC!!]]
[[PLEASE, ONLY BUY NATURAL SHELLS, WITH NO FINISHES OR SHINES. OR CLEAR COATS!!]]
User avatar
krabby_katie
Coenobita
Coenobita
Posts: 1389
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 07:02
Hermit crabs: 9
Location: Boiestown, New Brunswick

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Post by krabby_katie »

I did it with mine. I only got a little off and it was a really ugly shell, so I threw it out.
-Katie Forbes
Es: Mr. Krabs*Xena*Hubert*Clarice*Tank*Paras
PPs: Cosmo*Unknown*Darla

RIP: Sandy + Calypso + Kaluha + Jorgen von Strangle + Daisy + Mojo (assumed) + Stella
See them: http://s173.photobucket.com/albums/w69/katelynforbes/
User avatar
kellisdomain
Zygote
Zygote
Posts: 12
Joined: 25 Aug 2008, 12:52
Hermit crabs: 4

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Post by kellisdomain »

and just think that the crabs may eat the paint chips..

i still have one i got last month that is wearing his painted shell.. i am hoping he will find another one soon.

the painted shells wind up in the trash when they change
*DILBERT*JERRY*HERBIE*HUMPHRY*
User avatar
Wai
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 2892
Joined: 01 Nov 2004, 14:12
Gender: Male
Hermit crabs: 2
Total gallons: 45
Total tanks: 1
Location: Victoria, Australia
Contact:

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Post by Wai »

Mr.Crab wrote:Ok I tryed boiling them. I tryed to scrape out the paint but it was all melted and discusting it smelled like burnt plastic. I threw away both of the shells. it didn't work. god damnit
Perhaps the temperature was too high and the paint melted. I just dump the painted shells in hot water. It's enough to break the bonds between the paint and the shell's surface, but it shouldn't melt the paint.

By the way, there are two types of painted shells out there. Some shells are painted with acrylic (or some hydrophobic substance) while others are sprayed with paint. I'm not sure if boiling with tear off spray paint, but it works with acrylic paint.
Wai
Image
Foxydiva3
Zoea II
Zoea II
Posts: 207
Joined: 17 Sep 2008, 08:28
Hermit crabs: 27
Total gallons: 65
Total tanks: 2
Location: East Coast

Re: How do I remove the Paint on my Hermit crabs Shells?

Post by Foxydiva3 »

I throw All My Painted shells in the garden LOL! They Are pretty out there, I Really Dont like it when I get crabs with the paintied shell because there is so much they go through to get them in there. :'( :'( :'(
C
Post Reply