Hermit crab caught on camera swapping shells in rare video

By Sejal Mandal

A hermit crab was captured swapping shells in rarely seen footage.

The fascinating video shows the tiny creature cautiously inspecting a new shell before slipping out of its old one and moving into a larger one.

Angela Sayre, who captured the footage, is the founder of Crustacean Plantation, a non-profit organization dedicated to crab conservation and rehabilitation.

Angela started the initiative due to shell shortages caused by tourists collecting them as souvenirs.

Angela, a banker from Tavernier, Florida, said: "Seeing the hermit crab change shells was amazing.

"It’s nature at its finest.

"They’re completely vulnerable without a proper home, so finding a good shell is critical to their survival."

Angela founded Crustacean Plantation in 2019 after discovering that crabs were forced to live in bottle caps, broken shells, and other debris due to shell shortages caused by tourists taking shells.

Since then, Angela has collected over 18,000 shells, donated by people from around the world.

Angela regularly places these donated shells at one of her designated “transfer stations" to help the crabs find better homes.

Angela said: “It’s like an elephant graveyard, but for shells.

"The crabs seem to know it’s a safe place to find a new home.

"Seeing a crab successfully change shells is incredibly rewarding - it’s a sign we’re making a difference.”

Hermit crabs rely on shells to protect their soft bodies from predators and to continue growing.

Without suitable shells, they struggle to survive.

Angela organizes workshops at schools, libraries, and state parks to raise awareness about the vital role hermit crabs play in their ecosystem.

She said: "When people take shells from the beach, they’re taking potential homes away from hermit crabs.

"It stunts their growth and shortens their lifespan.

"These crabs play a vital role in the ecosystem, breaking down debris and aerating the soil.

"But without proper shells, they can’t grow or defend themselves."