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When we talk of crabs, all we think of are their scary pincers and hard shells. They are considered to be the most hard-shelled crustaceans in their family, but what about one of their cousins, the hermit crab, which lacks protective covering on its abdomen. The interesting thing about the hermit crab is, that it uses another creature’s property for its own use, so to speak. It’s snail’s shell to be exact.
Hermit crabs are amorless species of crabs that use other sea animals’ shells like the gastropod mollusks shells to cover their body. They use shells to cover their soft abdomen for protection and housing. Their abdominal appendages help them secure a firm grip on the shells so as not to accidentally be pulled them away as they crawl.
Here is a cute and funny video of some hermit crabs doing their regular ritual. The little creatures come out of their hiding places and gather around not for a party, but for a housing upgrade. Everyone must be present or else they won’t have the chance to be part of the ceremony. Hermit crabs of different sizes line up from the largest to the smallest waiting for the largest to signal the beginning of the chain reaction to move into its new larger shell. This triggers the rest of the crabs to leave their previous shell to be used by the smaller one next in line, and they do it all at the same time.
It’s interesting to see how their instinct gets active. They perfectly know how to size each other up and line up according to size. They do it by doing something like a wrestling match. That way they are able to roughly measure their fellows’ sizes, and every one of them knows their place in the waiting line. What an amazing thing to behold. It’s a lot more interesting than watching a movie. Well, at least for me. It’s so exciting seeing nature displays a wonderful event that only a few actually know of.
Hermit crabs are strongly compelled to do this because they’re outgrowing their old shells, that’s why they seek for new and bigger ones right for their size. There are some that find their new housings on their own as opportunity arise, coming across one that suits them. They just simply get out and tuck in to another one. It’s a must that each one of them gets something to tuck itself in, because if they don’t do that, chances are they’re going to get baked in the sun’s intense heat.
This is actually my first time to see such an amazing scene, not personally, but at least I now know. I use to catch some along the shore whenever I’m on a beach. It’s not hard to catch them. You just keep an eye on the shells on the shore. If you see one moving, then it’s a big possibility that it’s an hermit crab. So, if you find one yourself, don’t force them out of their shell. It’s their real property. Just kidding.
