Hermit Crab’s New Home

Here he is again carrying his very distinctive red, tube style home.

Here he is again carrying his very distinctive red, tube style home.

Hermit crabs or Soldier Crabs are usually very particular about their shells. Shell switching is not uncommon as the crab searches for the perfect shell. Barry and I had laid out four shells we had and it seemed that his preference was for the West Indian Top Snail shell.

We helped him shed the red tube and he gradually worked his way into his new home.

We helped him shed the red tube and he gradually worked his way into his new home.

The hermit crab has four tiny legs to hold the shell in place…a fourth leg that clasps the shell and the fifth that holds the shell.

Here's a close up of the Hermit Crab's fourh and fifth legs that grasp onto the shell.

Here’s a close up of the Hermit Crab’s fourh and fifth legs that grasp onto the shell.

Another view of the additional much smaller legs as the Hermit Crab moves into his new shell home.

Another view of the additional much smaller legs as the Hermit Crab moves into his new shell home.

In the wild, Hermit or Soldier Crabs feed off of coconut trees, leftovers from humans, and they will scavenge dead organisms, such as fish and other crabs. By the way, if they can’t find an adequate shell, they will use such man made things as plastic glasses, tiny one person jam jars, PVC pipes or whatever they can scrounge.

OK..........finally it's time to move in !

OK……….finally it’s time to move in !

Almost set to go and settling in.

Almost set to go and settling in.

Home Sweet Home and we're on the road again.

Home Sweet Home and we’re on the road again.

Hope you enjoyed these photos as much as I enjoyed photographing this little guy and helping him along in finding his new home.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Hermit Crab’s New Home

Four new homes lie ready and waiting for this Hermit Crab I found in our wild area today

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.

The reddish pipe or tube like container didn’t look all that comfortable.

Checking out a Tulip Shell for size and fit??

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.

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!!

Hermit crabs are the only crabs that are able to walk forwards!!

This shell is also known as the Magpie Shell as is a species of large edible sea snail

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