Seattle Aquarium

The animal that carries its home on its back

Hermit crabs evolved from free-living crabs—and some hermit crab species have evolved back into free-living species, including Alaskan king crabs and porcelain crabs. There are over 500 species of hermit crabs around the world, and they’ve evolved a unique body shape to fit into their shell homes. Unlike free-living crabs, their abdomens aren’t covered in a hard exoskeleton but rather a thin, soft one; their abdomens are also twisted to fit the spiral cavity of the snail shells in which they make their homes.

Opportunistic eaters

Hermit crabs are pretty easygoing about what they eat. In fact, they’ll dine on just about anything they can find in the water that surrounds them, including small fish, invertebrates such as worms, plankton and any food particles that happen to be floating by.

Delicious morsels

Hermit crabs are also high on the list of desired foods for many predators. Fish such as pricklebacks, gunnels, clingfish and snailfish prey on hermit crabs, as do sea stars, larger crabs, gulls and crows.

Aggressive house hunters

Contrary to popular belief, hermit crabs don’t kill the snails in whose shells they make their homes. They’re actually able to smell dead or dying snails, which can lead them to a potential shell. But competition for such shells can be fierce. Hermit crabs may fight to the death in pursuit of a shell. And, as they grow, they must seek out new shells in which to live.

Night owls

Hermit crabs are nocturnal, which means they’re much more active at night than they are during the day. To see them scuttling around, visit a Puget Sound tide pool at night during a low tide—be sure to bring a flashlight! You can also see hermit crabs at the Seattle Aquarium, in our Life on the Edge exhibit.

Not truly hermits

Contrary to their name, hermit crabs aren’t solitary creatures. In the wild, they’re found in groups of 100 or more. Social behavior in hermit crabs is also sometimes observed during mating, when the male may stroke and tap the female’s claws—or grab her shell and carry her around!—before mating begins.