Hermit Crabs
Hermit Crab Care Lesson 2 – the Hermit Crab is a What?
Hermit crabs are part of the crustacean family. And no it’s not an organized crime family from New York City. Crustaceans are a class of animal that is characterized by their lack of a backbone. They have no vertebrae, unlike mammals. Instead, their bodies are protected by what’s called a exoskeleton. In its simplest terms, the exoskeleton is nothing more than a skeleton that crustaceans have on the outside of their bodies.
And unlike our skeleton, your hermit crabs exoskeleton doesn’t grow with him. When he experiences a growth spurt, he sheds it and grows a larger one that fits his new body.
The exoskeleton though is just one trait all crustaceans share. There are several others. Each crustacean also has a head with two compound eyes. The compound eye is vastly different from the type of eye we have.
It’s actually made up of many parts, each part basically “eye unto itself.” Each section, called an ommatidia, is really a “separate visual receptor” containing its own lens, transparent crystalline cone, pigment cells and light-sensitive visual cells.
Each crustacean – hermit crabs included – also possesses three pairs of mouthparts. In scientific jargon, these are called maxillipeds. They are not, as you may be thinking part of the mouth itself.
These “mouthparts” are actually appendages whose main function it is to move the food into the crabs mouth. Now you can understand the name. Additionally, you may see your hermit crab using these appendages to groom himself.
These are just a few of the characteristics a crustacean shares with his cousins, whether he lives in “captivity” as your pet or if he’s found on shore in his natural environment. Knowing this can help you understand some of the natural behavior of your crab . . . which initially may not seem so natural to you.
About the Author
To learn more about hermit crab pets please visit: http://www.HermitCrabHelp.com
Hermit Crab Shell Change
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Tawny Hermit Crab Specimen (Coenobita rugosus) – in clear Lucite $9.99 |
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Zoo Med Proper Care and Maintenance of Hermit Crabs $0.75 |
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HERMIT CRAB TREATS 55 2×2 BAGS GREAT VARITY FOR CRABS ORGANIC $9.99 |
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Biedermann Pearlized Glass Seashell Pillar Candle Plate $11.95 |
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Real 5 inch Hermit Crab in seashell taxidermy # T-570 $12.99 |
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HERMIT CRAB Natural SEA SPONGE SPONGES – MEDIUM 3″-4″ $2.95 |
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Xia Xia Hermit Crab Blue Tobago Brand New Hot Toy for 2011 HTF $7.94 |
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HERMIT CRAB Natural SEA SPONGE SPONGES – LARGE 4″-5″ $3.95 |
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HERMIT CRAB Natural SEA SPONGE SPONGES – JUMBO 6″-7″ $8.95 |
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★ Repi-Warm Reptile & Pet Warming Heat Mat | Snake Lizard Turtle | 3 Sizes ★ $99.99 |
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20 Blue Leg Hermit Crabs – Dwarf Saltwater Crabs $9.99 |
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Hermit Crab Pack – Sponge & Graduating Shells – 11 Shells Plus $4.99 |
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Is This a House for Hermit Crab? $1.00 |
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Hermit Crabs II Art Print by Frederick P. Nodder, 10×13 $9.99 |
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5 LPS HERMIT CRAB LOT~#62 188 1008 1775 1141 Hot Pink~Littlest Pet Shop F94 $15.00 |
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Littlest Pet Shop Portable Pets HERMIT CRAB & FROG -NIP $9.99 |
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NICE HANDMADE GLASS BLOWING WITH HERMIT CRAB : 001 $7.99 |
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NICE HANDMADE GLASS BLOWING WITH HERMIT CRAB : 002 $7.99 |
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NICE HANDMADE GLASS BLOWING WITH HERMIT CRAB : 003 $7.99 |
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NICE HANDMADE GLASS BLOWING WITH HERMIT CRAB : 004 $7.99 |
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NICE HANDMADE GLASS BLOWING WITH HERMIT CRAB : 005 $7.99 |
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LITTLEST PET SHOP LEAPIN LAGOON WITH FROG-BONUS SET-HERMIT CRAB-FROG-TURTLE $3.99 |
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HERMIT CRABS – SUE FOX (PAPERBACK) NEW $8.15 |
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Xia Xia Hermit Crab – TOBAGO – *NEW* $1.55 |
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Xia Xia Hermit Crab – TRINIDAD – *NEW* $3.51 |
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Hermit crab inside a Sponge – Suberites ficus, 135 mm # 08212 $13.49 |
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A House for a Hermit Crab by Eric Carle $18.19 |
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Toyrific Wind Up Hermit Crab – Colour Vary $1.55 |
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11 Hermit Crab Shells, All Differant Sizes $7.99 |
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Is This a House for Hermit Crab? $1.00 |
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Littlest Pet Shop NEW release pink hermit crab #952 $5.99 |
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Littlest Pet Shop Hermit Crabs Lot 2 Tank Orange Purple Rare $7.99 |
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6 MEDIUM SEA SHELLS FOR HERMIT CRABS $4.99 |
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6 MEDIUM SEA SHELLS FOR HERMIT CRABS group 2 $4.99 |
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2 HERMIT CRABS Water Dish Drinking SEA SPONGE SPONGES $3.29 |
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Cholla Wood 5 pcs.10 to 12 in. Orchids, Pets, Crafts, Hermit Crabs & Windchimes $5.99 |
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RARE/Exclusive Littlest Pet Shop LPS Purple & PINK Shell, HERMIT CRAB #257 $4.75 |
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8″ Hermit Crab Plush Stuffed Animal Toy $5.91 |
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STERLING SILVER NECKLACE HERMIT CRAB PENDANT #1953 $35.99 |
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1 Japanese Land Snail Seashell Hermit Crab crafts display decor $3.32 |
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Coastal Beachy Hermit Crab Stove Top Spoonrest $15.88 Gourmet Nautical Hermit Crab Stove Top Spoonrest… |
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Hermit Crab Wine Hand Blown Wine Glass Sculpture from Yurana Designs – W195 $38.00 Hermit Crab wine glass. Hand Wash Only… |
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Reading Rainbow: Is This a House For Hermit Crab? Finding the right home becomes particularly important when that home is carried around on your back. Written by Megan McDonald, illustraated by S.D. Schindler and narrated by Eartha Kitt, “Is This a House for Hermit Crab?” takes a light hearted look at animal habitats and shows LeVar bulding a house for his favorite flying friends in his own backyard…. |
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