The Crab Street Journal

Most land hermit crabs sold through the conventional pet trade began life in the wild. They were collected from coastal habitats, moved through wholesalers and distributors, and eventually sold in pet stores, tourist shops, online marketplaces, reptile expos, or private sales. Small-scale captive breeding has become possible, but captive-bred land hermit crabs are not yet pro...

One of the most alarming things a new keeper may see after a molt is what appears to be a hermit crab eating part of its own body. The crab is usually consuming its shed exoskeleton, called the exuviae. This is normal postmolt behavior. The exuviae contains minerals and organic material that the crab can recover rather than lose after molting. Unless there is an immediate saf...

A hermit crab habitat must do more than maintain the correct temperature and humidity. It must also give the animals meaningful opportunities to move, climb, dig, forage, hide, investigate shells, reach water, and choose between different areas of the enclosure. This is the purpose of habitat design and environmental enrichment. Enrichment does not mean adding brightly colore...

Shell jacking is the common keeper term for one hermit crab attempting to take the occupied shell of another crab. The interaction may involve shell inspection, gripping, rocking, pulling, repeated pursuit, or an attempt to force the occupant out. Some encounters end without injury. Others can leave a crab exposed, injured, or completely without a shell. Not every crab touchi...

Hermit crab mating can look awkward, forceful, and surprisingly similar to fighting. One crab may follow, grip, hold, drag, or repeatedly reposition another. Their shells may knock together, and the interaction may continue even after one crab briefly moves away. These behaviors can indicate courtship or mating, but they can also occur during shell disputes, resource competit...