Four new homes lie ready and waiting for this Hermit Crab I found in our wild area today
This little Soldier Crab was maneuvering quite easily with his four inch, closed pipe for a home. Barry watched him while I ran to get my camera and play realtor by looking for some shells that might make a new, more traditional home for him.
The reddish pipe or tube like container didn’t look all that comfortable.
Checking out a Tulip Shell for size and fit??
Here’s a West Indian Top Snail shell that our hermit crab is taking a look at.
Hermit crabs are the only crabs that are able to walk forwards!!
This shell is also known as the Magpie Shell and is a species of large edible sea snail
The West Indian Top Snail shell is very popular indeed as “housing” for the large land hermit crab species and over the years we have gathered quite a few for occasions such as this. They are found at water’s edge and the snail is known as “wilks” or sometimes as “whelks” in the islands here where they are popular food item.
Tomorrow’ post will show the hermit crab moving into his new “shell” home.
Marta
