Along the Atlantic coast of the United States and in the country of West Indies, giant and striped hermit crabs are quite common. In Florida and West Indies, these crabs are also sold as pets. In this article we try and provide information about the hermit crab to better your understanding about it.
WHY DOES A HERMIT CRAB HUNT FOR AN ABANDONED SHELL?
The hermit crab does not have a hard shell; therefore it needs the protection of a discarded snail shell against enemies. Since the body of a hermit crab is flexible, it can easily fit into the interior of the shell. Once the hermit crab outgrows the shell, it goes out looking for a larger one. Hermit crabs also carry other organisms on their shells for camouflage in order to protect themselves from predators.
HOW DO HERMIT CRABS SELECT SHELLS?
Hermit crabs are extremely picky and are always on the look-out for the perfect shell. A certain kind of hermit crab called the Dardanus; moves into a shell and also decorates it by placing sea anemones on the shell. The anemones get leftover food from the crab and a free ride at the same time.
HOW TO TELL WHEN A HERMIT CRAB IS ABOUT TO MOLT?
Some hermit crabs may not show any signs that sound the alert about them being ready to molt. Other crabs may act strange or look different; here below are some signs that can help you determine if a hermit crab is ready to molt:
" The crab may dig a lot
" The crab may eat or drink more than usual
" The eyes of the hermit crab may get cloudy
If the hermit crab shows such signs, you need to place it in a warm and humid tank. You can supply food and water dishes and it is a good idea to lightly spray it with mist, if the crab is molting above ground. After it has molted, you may let it consume the old exoskeleton for the essential nutrition it provides.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SHELL
A hermit crab consists of two pairs of antennae and round eyes on the ends of eyestalks. These crabs have ten legs but only 6 legs show. These 6 legs are known as walking legs while the rest i.e. back legs are folded inside the shell.
The world's largest land crab must be the coconut crab. An adult coconut crab can weigh as much as 9 pounds. But it can get very difficult for this particular species hermit crab to find a shell big enough to fit.
In conclusion, in all their variety, Hermit crabs are wonderful crustaceans that can make great pets. Hopefully the details mentioned above helped improve your knowledge about these amazing creatures.
Shane is a hermit crab enthusiast. For more great tips and advice on hermit crab care, visit http://www.hermitcrabsite.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shane_Dolby
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