Are you feeling crabby today? If so, cheer up! We’re going to
learn about some interesting creatures that make great pets at
home or at school. Hermit crabs can live either on land or in
water. They’re not true crabs, though. In fact, they’re more
like squat lobsters than true crabs. True crabs have abdomens
protected by hard shells. To protect themselves, hermit crabs
search for abandoned shells — usually sea snail shells. When
they find one that fits, they tuck themselves inside it for
protection and carry it with them wherever they go. This habit
of living in a borrowed shell gave rise to the hermit crab’s
name. Since hermit crabs often retreat completely into their
borrowed shells for protection, some people think they act like
hermits. Hermits are people who live alone and do not interact
often with others. Hermit crabs aren’t really hermits, though.
They tend to be quite social animals that enjoy living in
groups. In the wild, they can often be found in large groups of
100 or more. As hermit crabs grow,