Land Hermit Crab (Coenobita clypeatus)

PLEASE NOTE PICTURE IS ONLY AN INDICATION AND WILL NOT BE ACTUAL CRAB SUPPLIED

The Caribbean hermit crab (Coenobita clypeatus), also known as the tree crab, the tree-climbing crab, the soldier crab, and the purple pincher, is a species of land hermit crab commonly sold in the United States and is now available over here. The last of its common names is due to their distinctive purple claw. They can live to be over 30 years old (and over 40 years in exceptional cases). DO NOT COPY THIS TEXT    

The Caribbean hermit crab lives in the Arabian Sea, the Caribbean Sea, southern Florida, Venezuela, and the Bermuda Islands. They are omnivorous scavengers who live in colonies of 100 or more near the inland areas and who like to hide in caves or the roots of a tree. They prefer a relative humidity level between 70% and 78%, and a temperature of 24°C (75°F). WE ARE WATCHING

The land hermit crab uses a shell to protect its delicate body. The shell is sometimes that of a land snail when the crab is young, but usually that of a marine snail. Once deceased, the snail body decomposes and the empty shell eventually washes onto shore. The hermit crab can then occupy the shell. Larger shells are necessary as the crab grows, but that growth is quite slow. ALL OUR CONTENT IS COPYRIGHT

Hermit crabs are very particular about their shells and shell switching is not uncommon as the crab searches for the perfect shell. A desired characteristic of that shell is an opening about the size of the large claw, plus about 2½–3 mm (1/10 in to 1/8 in) all around (more for larger crabs). When threatened, the crab withdraws into the shell and blocks the entrance with the large claw.

Fierce shell fights can occur if the shell supply is not adequate. The loser often dies since many hermit crabs will not release their grip on their shell until they are torn apart. The loss of limbs in shell fights is common, but may not result in death especially since the hermit crab can choose to drop (autotomize) a limb to disengage from the conflict.

Growth and molting

The Caribbean hermit crab, along with all species of hermit crabs, grows through a strenuous and hazardous process called molting where the exoskeleton of the animal is shed and a new, soft exoskeleton is exposed from beneath. A molt may also allow the crab to regrow lost appendages. The smallest Caribbean hermit crabs will molt many times per year while the largest (about the size of a baseball) may only molt once every 18 months.

Before a molt, the hermit crab will attempt to eat enough to survive the molting period. It will obtain sea salt from salt water to aid in shedding the old exoskeleton and will store a supply of water. The crab may even seek out a smaller, tighter shell for easier digging or a larger shell for room to shed. Normally the molt is started by digging down into the moist substrate (with its shell) and creating a little cave. There total darkness triggers the secretion of the molting hormone ecdysone.

Over a period of up to three months (larger crabs require the most time),

• the buried, molting crab sheds the old exoskeleton in a process called ecdysis,
• lost appendages may be regrown (completely or partially),
• the new exoskeleton hardens,
• the old exoskeleton is eaten to recover calcium and other nutrients,
• the crab regains its strength and returns to the surface.

Sometimes the land hermit crab will molt on the surface where other crabs may eat the shed exoskeleton or even kill the defenseless, molting crab. Circumstances that may cause a surface molt include illness or the lack of a substrate in which the crab can bury itself.

Land hermit crab reproduction

(Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_hermit_crab)

To download a care sheet visit http://www.hagen.com/pdf/aquatic/Crabworx-care-guide_UK.pdf

As these Land Crabs are Land Invertebrates we are legally able to post these directly to you. We dont believe in causing unnecessary  stress to these creatures so even though they are Invertabrates we will only post them Via Royal Mail Special Delivery Next Day before 1pm service, You must provide an address where you will be available to take receipt of these creatures.

Crabs supplied will roughly be between 2 - 6cm Please note we can not specify sizes you will receive