Hermit
crabs "have 5 pairs of Peripods (walking legs) like other members
of their Order, Decapoda (Sea-crabs, lobsters and crayfish). The
first pair called Chelipeds, bare the large claws which are referred
to... as "grasper hands" because of the non-aggressive way he
uses them. The larger one is usually purple in colour and the
smaller one, orange. The purple hand is always visible even when
he is in his shell, because he uses it as a barricade to the entrance
of his home. You should NEVER attempt to forcibly remove your
crab from his shell, because he will let himself be torn in half,
rather than allow you to pull him from his protective 'hideout'.
"
(abstract
from Merv Cooper's Crazy Crab Handbook)
In the
wild, they can live for many months out of water but usually return
to the shore quite regularly to wet themselves, change shells
and release larvae from hatching eggs. Hermit Crabs do not breed
in captivity. Find out how to sex your hermit crabs in the caresheets,
under Gender.
