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A red hermit crab has inhabited a very large horse conch shell in the touch tank at Tarpon Bay Explorers, Sanibel Island, Florida. The naturalist on duty at the time told us that the crab had recently molted …..
Here’s the exoskeleton of the red hermit crab – nope, he’s not in there! That’s just his old skin. I think it’s remarkable that it comes off all in one piece like that, right down to the claws. I did a little reading about molting hermit crabs, and discovered that while or directly after molting, a hermit crab can appear to be limp and lifeless. It’s apparently pretty easy to believe they are actually dead, when they are just molting. Many times they will dig down into the sand and do it underground, but they can also do their molting on the surface. How lucky the naturalists at Tarpon Bay Explorers were – they got to see it happening!
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I have never seen a hermit crab that big!
Fasinating post Tink.
My post is here: Carletta’s Captures</a
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Great photos of the “shell”…and wonderful information. I don’t think I’ll find too many here in Minnesota.
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That’s one big crab!
My Camera Critters
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That’s just pretty darn amazing! Kind of gross too but amazing nonetheless!
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Wow! Pretty, amazing, educational, you were in the right place at the right time!
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Nice shots, I didn’t know they shed their skin. Thanks for sharing:)
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Whoa, that’s truly fascinating! I’ve heard of that but haven’t actually seen it. That’s cool!
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That was really cool…and what a great horse conch!
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Very interesting! From wikipedia I understand that the crab was not one actually the building the shell but instead takes over an abandoned shell.
So…who is the one who builds it?
purrs and love
Luna(from Brazil)
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Never ever seen a red hermit crab. Interesting critter.
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wow tink!! that’s amazing, I learn so much every camera critters day
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That is so cool. I’ve neever seen one so big.
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Wonderful photos. Amazing animal.
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Awesome!!
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Why did I imagine them to be much cuter? Too many years watching catoons with the kids I suppose!
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That crab is huge !!
Friends have hermit crabs in their aquarium, but they are tiny compared to this fellow !
Great post
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