What is Autotomy? Comes from the latin words autos for “self” and tomos for “cut Autotomy can be described as self-cutting, Websters dictionary describes autotomy as a “reflex separation of a part (as an appendage) from the body: division of the body into two or more pieces.” Hermit Crabs can autotomize (drop) and regenerate…
Land Hermit Crabs have adapted to live on land and can drown if submerged in water. The abdomen of a hermit crab is very soft and vulnerable; unlike ‘true’ crabs, hermit crabs do not have a hard shell to protect themselves. To survive, they must tuck their abdomens within the abandoned shell of a marine…
Look closely at the hermit crab environment and ask questions about the food, bedding, housing and temperature needs for your new pets. If you have never owned hermit crabs before a book on caring for hermit crabs is a wonderful resource. There is a list of hermit crab guides listed under Books to the left. Make sure…
IN THE WILD The life cycle of the land hermit crab is unique. In the wild, it starts by the release of eggs into an ocean tide pool, where the zoea go through a series of moults and development stages. A baby hermit crab zoea will be a part of plankton until it grows and starts to resemble hermit crab…
Age is measured by counting the otoliths, or growth rings, at the base of the antennae post-mortem. Size is hard to calculate, as hermit crabs will grow and moult depending on environment, diet, exercise, species and other random factors. However, you can observe the change in the size of Carol of Crab Works’ hermit crabs…