Species Of Hermit Crab In The Wild
Author: Jerry Montgomery
Owning an exotic pet, such as the species of hermit crab, can be both interesting and enjoyable. It is indeed no secret that most crab enthusiasts and pet owners wonder what it is like for this lovable "crab with attitude" when living in the wild. For if we as hermit crab enthusiasts, can understand how they live naturally, then it will go a long way in making sure that our crabs stay healthy and happy even in captivity.
So where does the species of hermit crab originate from? Well the answer is that they tend to live in and around oceans in warmer/tropical
areas such as the Caribbean, Australia and Ecuador, to name but a few. This is because they just love the heat and humidity! The simple reason for this is that even though they are land animals, they breath through gills. These gills take the moisture from the air.
Unlike the name suggests, hermit crabs are very sociable creatures and prefer being in groups or small colonies. They do not really do well on their own. In fact they are most definitely not hermit like at all!
Hermit crabs are born with no shells and are therefore prone to attack. So to avoid danger from predators they will seek out empty shells (usually that of snails) and make their home in them. The hermit crab will carry this shell wherever it goes and when it outgrows that particular shell, it will discard it and find another one that is better suited. If the crab cannot find a shell then it will often cover itself with pieces of coconut shell or bamboo. If you are keeping the hermit crab as a pet from small, then always make sure that you have a wide variety of shells on hand.
It is important to remember that the species of hermit crab is a very inquisitive creature and loves to burrow and investigate things. When they come across an object they don't always go around it. Instead they tend to walk right over the top. This can prove difficult especially when the obstacle is another hermit crab.
Sea going hermit crabs pick up hitch-hikers. By this I mean things such as sea anemones. They attach themselves to the shell of the crab and will make their home there. This also helps camouflage the crab against predators and in return the sea anemone picks up free scraps of food from the crab.
All species of hermit crabs are born in the ocean including land or terrestrial going ones. With the land hermit crabs, the expectant female lays her eggs in the sand near the water and when the tide comes in it carries all the eggs into the sea. From here they hatch and develop. They are able to survive because they have gills very similar to that of fish! Eventually after a period of time the baby crabs make their way back on to land. Once they hit land they have to find their first home! A small shell.
Humidity is incredibly important to the hermit crab because they need moisture for further development of their gills. This explains why, if you walk down to a beach at night there are hundreds of baby crabs down at the shoreline. They are breathing in the moisture and the dew that falls on the beach.
Now that you have a little insight into these lovable creatures or "species of hermit crab"and what makes them tick, you will have a better idea of how to look after, and keep your crabs happy and healthy.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/species-of-hermit-crab-in-the-wild-3324798.html
About the Author
Jerry Montgomery is reviewing a book to help you raise healthy Hermit Crabs http://www.ugothermitcrabs.com