Do hermit crabs need a shell?

Answer 1

Yes! It is very important that a hermit crab has a shell, it is used to protect their bodies.

It also saves them from getting eaten by other animals! Though sometimes, you find hermit crabs that haven't found a shell that isn't the right size or shape, and instead of a shell, they might carry things like bottle tops. Usually, hermit crabs try to avoid situations like this but, when they urgently need to change into another shell because their current shell is too small, it will be unavoidable.

Answer 2

Yes, of course, shells are a big and important part of hermit crabs' lives. Hermit crabs live inside shells, and must keep changing into bigger and bigger shells as they grow, and they can grow to be very big indeed (though please don't get carried away with your imagination, they don't grow any bigger than a small potato, at least I don't think so.)

Answer 3

Yes the hermint crab can use it if it is a bigger shell AND cleaned out.

Answer 4

Hermit crabs do not get shells. They have to find them in the wild. If they are in a cage they rely on you to give them shells.

Answer 5

yes they do