Anomura hermit crabs are unique among decapod crustaceans in that most species carry a protective shell. These mobile shelters are an essential feature of hermit crab behavior.
Your crab may leave its shell during molting. It is a sign that it needs to change to a larger shell that will fit its growing body.
Natural Shells
Using shells to protect themselves from predators and the elements is one of the most important survival instincts for hermit crabs (Coenobita clypeatus). They typically acquire discarded snail shells and other materials to use as shelters, but this doesn’t mean that hermies will take just any old shell. They need to find a shell that fits their body size and will be able to use properly.
Hermit crabs will conduct a series of tests to see if a new shell is the right fit for them. First they will examine the shell opening size to ensure that it is large enough. Next they will reach inside the shell to make sure that it is empty. If both of these tests are passed the hermit crab will move in and begin making it his or her own.
When choosing a new shell, it is best to pick 3-5 shells that vary in size and shape to give your hermit crab a variety of options. The general size of the shell should be slightly larger than the hermit crab’s existing shell. You also want to make sure that the shell has a suitable opening shape. Hermit crabs tend to prefer “O” or “D” shaped openings.
Once hermit crabs settle into a shell, they are often reluctant to leave. If you are concerned that your hermit crab is stuck in their shell, you should never try to force them out of it. They have soft lower sections that are curved around the interior of their shells, and pulling them out of the shell could result in losing these soft legs.
In order to coax a hermit crab out of their shell, you will need to tempt them with a variety of new shells. If you have the right selection of shells, your hermit will eventually decide that one is a better home than their current shell and will choose to switch. If you are having trouble, try re-moistening the interior of the shell to encourage the hermit crab to move in.
When a hermit crab is stuck in their shell, it may be because they are uncomfortable or feel threatened by another crab. The best way to get them to switch is to provide them with a new shell that is the right size and shape for their body. Then they will be able to enjoy their life in comfort and safety.
Conch Shells
Hermit crabs without shells must seek shelter from predators and harsh environments on their own. Without their natural homes, they’re vulnerable to attack and unable to regulate their body temperature or maintain adequate moisture levels. Their soft bodies also need the protection of a hard exoskeleton, but hermit crabs can’t grow or create their own. Rather than relying on other animals for protection, they’ve developed unique adaptations like hard plates and dactyl clubs that let them latch onto hosts such as sea urchins and clams.
Hermit crabs typically use abandoned shells as housing because they’re available in a variety of shapes and sizes. They can often be found in a shell’s mouth, with their legs poking out through the opening to grip the insides.
If a hermit crab isn’t satisfied with its home, it will switch to another shell that’s better suited to its size and shape. It will also attempt to modify the shell’s opening by twisting and bending it until it fits just right. It’s not uncommon for hermit crabs to fight over desirable shells, especially when a new one comes available.
Shells used by gastropods, such as conchs, turbo snails and periwinkles, are the most common hermit crab shells. These shells have a sturdy outer layer with a small opening that’s just the right size for hermit crabs to fit in. They’re also easy to find in pet stores and online, and they’re relatively inexpensive compared to other types of hermit crab shells.
While hermit crabs can’t grow their own shells, they can take the remains of other hermit crabs and gastropods that have died. Hermit crabs will scavenge for any abandoned shells they can find, but they’re particularly fond of those that were once the homes of other hermit crabs. When a hermit crab finds a shell that’s the perfect size and shape, it will begin removing the dead gastropod’s mollusks and using the empty shell as its own.
When a hermit crab isn’t in its shell, it will bury itself in sand to prepare for molting. During this process, the hermit crab will burrow underground for 30 days to grow a new, larger, more protective shell. It’s important to separate a hermit crab from its tank mates during the molting period because it’s more vulnerable when it emerges from its old shell.
PVC Pipes
When hermit crabs have a suitable shell, they will often move inside the shell to protect themselves from predators and harsh environments. They will also use the shell to store food and water, and keep their body moisture levels high. With proper care and diet, hermit crabs can live for several years.
Most hermit crab species have evolved to rely on external shells for protection, but some species, including coconut crabs and Alaskan king crabs, do not carry any shell at all (Laidre 2018a). The fact that these resourceful organisms are able to survive without shells serves as a powerful reminder that it is possible for living things to thrive even when the environment around them is hostile or unfavorable.
The ability to select the right shell for their bodies is important to hermit crabs, and it’s a key part of hermit crab behavior that is not well understood. Scientists have observed that hermit crabs try on many shells until they find one that fits, and they may even modify the opening of a shell to fit their own body shape better. They also have been known to engage in housing wars, where two hermit crabs will fight for the same shell.
However, there are many ways to construct a hermit crab habitat that is safe for hermit crabs, and the metal elements used in hermit crab homes should always be non-toxic and free of heavy metals, which can pose a danger to hermit crabs if they drink the water in these containers. Hermit crabs should be provided with dechlorinated or distilled water that is free of chemicals and minerals, such as copper, calcium, zinc, or iron.
When hermit crabs drink the water in these metal containers, they can get dangerously high levels of corroding iron and other metals. To prevent this, you should never use rusty ocean trash that washes up on the beach as hermit crab shelters, and it is best to stick with store-bought aquarium products or other non-toxic plastics. In addition, if your water source is rusty, you should consider using a dechlorinator or other water conditioner to remove harmful metals before providing it to hermit crabs.
Artificial Shells
A hermit crab without its shell can’t survive, as the inner body is exposed to predators and the elements. It also becomes vulnerable to infections like shell rot, which can create holes in the crab’s body that eventually lead to death.
Because of this, it’s important to provide your hermit crab with a new shell whenever they outgrow one. Luckily, there are many different man-made options available to hermits in need of a home. Among the most popular are PVC pipes, which offer solid protection and are affordable and easy to clean. They also look somewhat natural and blend in with aquarium decorations. However, these aren’t as comfortable for hermit crabs as a shell made of natural materials.
It’s also a good idea to provide hermit crabs with a variety of shell shapes and sizes. Hermit crabs are incredibly picky when it comes to their shells and will only accept a specific shape or size once they’ve explored it and determined that it’s the best fit for them. In fact, hermit crabs will often scavenge for shells by smell and will only take over a shell that’s been vacated by another crab in their size range.
To further test hermit crabs’ recognition of artificial shells, researchers conducted a pair-wise shell selection experiment in which hermit crabs were presented with two different types of artificial shells made from the exoskeletons of the periwinkle snail L. littorea. Hermit crabs were allowed to inspect the shells for 180 minutes and then select one to live in. The researchers found that hermit crabs were able to discriminate between the two artificial shells, and they chose the shell with a more sinistral (right-handed) curve. They also discovered that coating the shell with crushed calcium from the remnants of a natural shell significantly increased hermit crab acceptance.
Given the current shell shortage, these results suggest that hermit crabs may be able to use their sense of smell and other cues to recognize an artificial shell as a suitable home. As a result, 3D printing is an exciting potential tool for creating shells that will allow hermit crabs to escape into them when they outgrow their current homes.