Why Do Hermit Crabs Need So Many Shells?

As one of the most unusual animals in the family of crustaceans

, hermit crabs are born in the ocean, hatched from eggs and without a shell. Given only a soft abdomen and hard exoskeleton which molts or regenerates many times throughout their lives, the crab is forced in nature to find the shell of a discarded sea snail to maintain protection from predators in the wild. Throughout their lives, hermit crabs borrow the shells that were otherwise discarded in nature, an interesting feature unique only to hermit crabs in the crustacean family.

In nature, not only do hermit crabs without shells have to find a shell out of necessity, when changing or outgrowing their shells, they also must find new shells to occupy and quickly. Sometimes in actions of dominance, hermit crabs have been known to fight with each other to obtain an otherwise occupied shell.

As you can see, it is important to have as many shell options available to these crabs as possible so scarcity issues do not arise and each crab feels comfortable searching for new shells which fit them perfectly.

Each hermit crab is different in their shell preferences, since some crabs stay in their shells for a very long time, while others move from shell to shell much more frequently. Some crabs will hold on to their shell even if it is partly damaged or they have outgrown it, like some people holding on to their prized and most comfortable T shirts even though there are holes, it is dirty, and smells bad.

The exposed parts of the crab, mainly the legs and claws, are protected by their natural exoskeleton, which they shed multiple times in their life in a natural process called molting. Usually after the crabs molt, they usually go in search of a new shell.

To recreate the natural environment and to put your crabs at ease, it is best to offer them many shells in their cage. This will help prevent territorial issues and fights from breaking out, and may save the life of your hermit crabs by preventing such issues since fighting crabs can fight to the death by ripping their opponent out of their shell.

You can usually find a large selection of shells at your local pet store, craft store, or even street or local fairs. More designs and decorations are becoming popular as shells are painted. Be sure to collect a variety of shapes, sizes, and different types of shell openings to add to your cage as your crabs can be very picky where they want their next home.

Take special notice of the types of shells your crabs currently use and the types of openings. Hermit crab shells have different openings such as slit, circle, and D shaped. Your crab will enter the shell they feel most comfortable occupying, so be sure to add a lot of variety to your cage.

by: Jessica Peloski

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