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Justine M. Almanon
Jowanna Marie L. Burce
Romnick J. Feraldo
Juaymah B. Policarpio
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Hermit Crab, common name for any member of a family of marine crabs
and for several related terrestrial crabs. They are found on or just off the coasts
of Europe and the Americas. Hermit crabs, also called robber crabs, are
armorless animals, the largest of which are found along the Pacific coast and
attain a length of up to 46 cm (18 in). They insert their abdomens into gastropod
mollusk shells that they carry about with them for protection. The abdomens of
the crabs are soft and asymmetrical, flexed and twisted to fit into the whorls of
the borrowed shells. Their abdominal appendages are especially modified for
keeping the shell firmly supported on the body (Redmond, WA: Microsoft
Corporation, 2008)
According to Hazlett (1996) hermit crabs are often forced to seek new
shells because they have outgrown their old ones; they change their housing
whenever chancing upon another shell into which they can fit. Most hermit crabs
are marine. The few terrestrial forms are tropical and of the same family as the
coconut crab. Tricarico & Gherardi (2007) stated that Hermit crabs are ideal
an animal’s motivation and to what extent. The survival, growth, and reproduction
size and shape. A shell that is, for instance, too small can inhibit the growth of
the inhabiting crabs, reduces their protection against predators and their survival,
and affects reproductive success in both sexes. By contrast, a shell that is too
large makes locomotion energetically wasteful (as found in terrestrial hermit
crabs, and affects female reproduction. Shell fit may also alter hermit crabs’
a strong selective pressure for hermit crabs to obtain a shell of the appropriate
size.
Hermit crabs display clustering behavior and daily movements which are
closely related to the tidal rhythm (Turra & Leite, 2000). Clusters are typically
formed during low tides when hermit crabs stay in physical contact with each
other, presenting low activity and preference for shady substrates. The clustering
endogenous factors related to the tidal cycle. In this way, environmental stimuli
(air exposure, hydrostatic pressure, light, food availability and small scale water
movements) seem to play an important role in the determining the activity of the
hermit crabs.
shell is available.
Review of Related Literature
Cenobita spp., commonly known as Hermit Crab, unlike true crabs have
soft, vulnerable abdomen. In order to protect their soft bodies from predators,
hermit crabs use abandoned shells of other marine animals, mostly snails. Once
it has outgrown its shell, it discards it and looks for a new shell. This behavior of
the hermit crab gives rise to competition for shells among the members of this
species (Bose, 2010). As the distribution of hermit crabs is very wide, the have
been able to adapt to several different kinds of habitats. Though they are usually
found in shallow waters, some hermit crabs even live in plant stems, while
several species are found in kelp forests. Possibly the best know hermit crabs
facts is that their bodies do not have a hard, protective carapace. They need a
shell to protect then from predators, which is why they use discarded snail shells
or other hollow objects. They move around by dragging their shell with them, and
There are almost 500 different species of the hermit crab. Some are
aquatic whereas there are others that are terrestrial. The hermit crab habitat of
the aquatic forms range from the shallow waters of the coral reefs and shores to
the depths of the bottom of the sea. The best places to look for hermit crabs are
the inter-tidal areas, for example the tide pools where a large number of
planktons can be found. The terrestrial forms are usually found in the tropics.
There is also the Caribbean hermit crab that is known to be capable of climbing
up trees (Bose, 2010). Among the 500 listed species of Hermit crabs,
approximately only 15 species are terrestrial, while the rests are aquatic. Most of
the species of Hermit crabs popular as pets are terrestrial in nature. These
include prominent species such as the Caribbean hermit crab, Australian land
hermit crab and the Ecuadorian hermit crab. Other than these species, a few
more species are becoming popular due to their longer life span and availability
in abundance. The average life span of the species kept as pets initially, seldom
exceeded a few months. More recently, it has been observed that some species
of Hermit crabs tend to live for relatively longer period, if proper care is provided.
In fact, species like the Caribbean hermit crab have an average life span of 23
years; with some individuals even living for 30 years or more, though such
all the animals on Earth. Hermit Crabs belong to one of the largest groups of
that have jointed legs and a hard outer covering called exoskeleton. The Phylum
Arthropoda is further broken down and includes the Class Crustacea. It is divided
into Order such as crab, lobster, and shrimp which are all in the Order
Hermit crabs can’t reproduce in captivity as they do in the wild. When mating, the
Hermit Crabs extended about ¾ of the way out of their shells. The male uses his
flexible fifth pair of legs to place his spermatophore into the female’s gonophores.
After the crabs have mated, the female attaches the eggs to her abdomen inside
her shell and carries them around with her until they are ready to hatch. Hermit
crab eggs must be hatched in salt water in order to survive. They use the tiny
pinchers on the end of her fifth pair of legs to snip each cluster of eggs from her
body. The eggs hatch upon contact with the sea water and the little creatures are
released.
Hermit crabs are one of the most extraordinary pets because of their
ability to make attention-grabbing, easy care friends. They have very distinctive
characteristics; have vigorous and inquisitive nature, and their unique personality
with low maintenance charges make them appealing to us as good pets as long
as we provide them proper environment and food. Basically, Hermit Crabs are
omnivores, which mean they feed on both vegetation and animal material. There
are two types of Hermit Crabs found, marine and land hermit crabs. Usually,
Land Hermit Crabs are considered as good pets (Pakhare, 2010). Their feeding
behavior is highly fascinating retreat for eyes. In the wild, land hermit crabs eat
almost anything like fallen fruit, leaf litter, decaying wood, plants and grasses.
Although they are not specific in their diet, recent studies have shown that hermit
crabs need calcium, carotene and antioxidants (McGuigan, 2010). It can witness
the fading in their color at the time of molting if their diet is carotene deficient. It
can supplement their diet with brightly-colored vegetables, like corn and carrots
to make up the deficiency of carotene. It can feed them meat, fish, vegetables
and fruit as they are omnivorous in nature. They also like tannin-rich foods like
tree bark and oak leaves. (Pakhare, 2010). Hermit crabs are nocturnal
scavengers that will eat almost anything. Based on the article of Land Hermit
Crabs (2002), they are terrestrial crabs that carry their shells on their backs. And
like the other crabs; they are decapod (ten-legged) crustaceans. In addition,
Choosing Crustaceans: All about Hermit crabs (n.d.) states that hermit crabs
have long abdomen that curl under their bodies. They also use only three pairs of
legs for walking and have longer antennae than the true crabs. In the same way,
hermit crabs are actually quite sociable creatures. In the wild, they live in
colonies and often travel in packs of up to 100 crabs. Fight occasionally breaks
out among these crabs as they outgrow their shells and look for larger ones to
inhabit.
During the day, hermit crabs conceal themselves from the harsh sun and
predators by hiding out under trees, driftwood, leaves, and rocks or by burying
themselves in the sand. But during the cooler evening hours, they wonder the
beach looking for food, searching for new shells, and mating. However, they are
very particular about their shells, which offer them much needed protection in the
wild. The crabs always seem to be looking for newer, bigger or better shell to
move in.
this time that it requires a lot of care and concern. Molting is a natural process of
growing for a hermit crab wherein it sheds its exoskeleton and forms a new one.
The frequency at which a crab molts depends on the growth rate and size of
individual crabs with smaller ones molting every 3 to 4 months and larger ones
molting once every year. This is a time that the hermit crab needs to be treated
fiercely fighting off rival suitors with their big claw. The male will drag his potential
mate around until she is ready to molt. When the female crab molts she is
receptive and the male can then fertilize her eggs. Hermit crabs are mainly
scavengers and can often be seen digging for food, preying on smaller
Hermit crabs are common in tropical intertidal areas of the world and
occupy the empty shells of marine gastropods. However, unlike the original
gastropod owner of the shell, they are unable to completely seal off the aperture
water. These factors may make hermit crabs better indicators of changes
occurring in intertidal conditions and community structures than snails, clams and
conditions. Further, hermit crabs, like many other decapods, tend to have a
water. Species, however, may differ in their tolerance to dilution of their blood
and body fluids, and therefore, in their survival during episodes of freshwater
decision making are impressive. They rely on the use of gastropod shells for
shelter and shells of adequate size, shape and strength, but without being too
heavy, are key resources. A hermit crab gathers information about shells by
vision (Reese 1963) but this information is enhanced during approach and
contact. After contact it grasps the shell with its walking legs and chelipeds and
explores the exterior, moving its chelipeds over the surface, and then turns the
shell so that the aperture is uppermost and begins to investigate the interior by
information as to the size, internal volume, shell species (shape) and weight
during this process and assesses the overall quality relative to that of the shell it
is currently occupying. The crab may move into the new shell and test the inside
of the shell by thrusting the abdomen back and forth. It might also investigate the
interior and exterior of the original shell and even move back into it, assessing
which is the better of the two. Hence these crabs demonstrate sophisticated shell
the investigation, and also remembering specific shells for up to 40. They may
also fight another crab over ownership of shells in which case information about
the shells and the opponent is integrated with information about their own
physiological state. They can remember previous opponents for up to 4 days and
it has been suggested that they may select which crabs to fight on the basis of
their perception of how their current shell might suit the opponent. Thus crabs
have the ability to gather and use information from a variety of sources and to
make comparisons between shells and between opponents (Elwood & Appel,
2009).
chemical stimuli. For example, marine snails can distinguish between predatory
and non predatory brachyuran crabs, starfish and snails as well as between
crabs fed conspecific or other snail species. Freshwater snails respond differently
urchins, and burrowing bivalves can distinguish between feeding and starved
crabs. Similarly, snails, polychaete worms and crabs can all distinguish chemical
related prey. Hermit crabs respond differently to different chemical stimuli in their
environment. They can distinguish their own scent from that of other individuals.
Predator effluent may interfere with mating, and odors from living, damaged or
dead snails or conspecific hermit crabs attract them or increases shell grasping
behaviour. Hermit crabs also respond to visual stimuli in their environment, and
important predators of hermit crabs. Although hermit crabs clearly respond to the
effluent from predatory crabs, whether they can distinguish between predatory
The survival, growth, and reproduction of this taxon strictly depend on the
occupancy of gastropod shells of appropriate size and shape. A shell that is, for
instance, too small can inhibit the growth of the inhabiting crabs, reduces their
protection against predators (e.g., Angel 2000) and their survival, and affects
reproductive success in both sexes. By contrast, a shell that is too large makes
locomotion energetically wasteful and affects female reproduction. Shell fit may
also alter hermit crabs’ responses to environmental cues and their general
obtain a shell of the appropriate size. Empty shells (hermit crabs are unable to
directly prey on living snails; for an exception, are in acutely short supply in the
habitat. Most often, they can be found after snail death at gastropod predation
through negotiation or interference competition. In any case, except for very few
instances, appropriate shells are extremely difficult to recruit. As a result, the vast
majority of the hermit crab populations studied so far chronically suffers from a
empty shells for hermit crabs on the one hand, and of their scarce availability on
the other, is that these organisms have evolved the ability to make fine
distinctions between the quality of a shell found in the habitat, either empty or
Pagurus bernhardus. For instance, escalated shell fights occur in this species
when the shell at stake is of a higher quality than the attacker’s domicile shell.
Similarly, individuals enter an empty shell more quickly when there can be an
increase in quality, whereas the speed of rejecting the shell correlates with its
hermit crabs first by the means of sight and later by tactile stimuli acquired during
their manipulation of both the exterior and the interior of the shell–shell
decision making are impressive. They rely on the use of gastropod shells for
shelter and shells of adequate size, shape and strength, but without being too
heavy, area key resource. A hermit crab gathers information about shells by
vision but this information is enhanced during approach and contact. After
contact it grasps the shell with its walking legs and chelipeds and explores the
exterior, moving its chelipeds over the surface, and then turns the shell so that
the aperture is uppermost and begins to investigate the interior by inserting one
to the size, internal volume, shell species (shape) and weight during this process
and assesses the overall quality relative to that of the shell it is currently
Makati Extension, Pasay City. They were separated randomly into three groups
with three samples each that were submerged with different water condition.
Hermit crab were gathered immediately transported to the laboratory where they
temperature at 25-27°C in aerated water for at least two weeks before being
exposed to treatments.
affected by water types, the hermit crab were submitted to individual and
combined saltwater and Artesian well water taken in Pateros. Using groups of
three Hermit Crabs submerged in water with different conditions have been
tested: (1) Artesian well water (groundwater, GW); (2) Saltwater (SW); (3)
Artesian well water + Saltwater (GW+SW), and (4) Control (aerated water).
exposure have been completed. They have been selected for testing without
regard to the shell type, weight, and no effort was made to mate the individuals.
For setting-up the videos, these were created by filming the natural environment
of the hermit crabs. Using 30 cm wide colored video monitor was placed outside
of the aquariums. The duration of filming were recorded every Friday between
September 17, 24, and October 1, 2010. Extraneous sound, vibration and visual
stimulation were minimized during the experiment and all the filming were
Survival Test
In laboratory, hermit crabs were kept in three glass aquarium with the
volume of two liters of saltwater for Aquarium (SW), two liters of Artesian well
water for (FW), 1 liter for (SW) + 1 liter of FW for SW+FW aquarium and for the
control, Aerated water (AW) was used. The crabs were fed thrice a week with
for signs of life. Individuals that did not respond by the movements of antennules,
walking legs, chelipeds and with foul odor, were considered dead and are to be
removed from the aquarium. The interval in which each hermit crab died was
recorded.
Behavioral Physiology
The behavior of the Hermit crabs was observed for a total of 5 hours. Two
The locomotion was examined in the laboratory. This was the only
According to McGaw et. al, (1999), locomotion activity were quantified each time
the hermit crab changed the speed whether it is fast, slow or moderate as they
movement which Herreid & Full (1986) observed. It can be move forward and
sideways.
Flicking of antennae
continuous rapid flicking movement while extended, but for periods of time they
would be folded backwards into a depression in the carapace; the approximate
percentage of time and the antennules were retracted was observed (McGaw et
al, 1999).
Shell Acquisition
Using the empty shell, we were offered the hermit crabs empty shells and
observed the movement of their resource, the empty shell or vacancy, a chain of
interactive events.
Three Hermit crabs for each sample were randomly assigned three empty
shells for observation the movement of their resources, the empty shell or
Hiding Times
To determine the hiding times of hermit crabs: the time elapsed from the
moment of the tap until the hermit crab emerged fully from its shell, was recorded
Survival test
10% of the total body weight after 10 days. No change in weight was observed
Table 1 shows the survival rates of the hermit crabs in SW, SW + GW and
AW in low pH. From this table, it can be clearly seen that hermit crab survive
notably in SW, better than GW in 7 pH. Survival of hermit crabs for all water
(AW), 3 hermit crabs had 100% survival after 21 days of exposure, respectively.
In SW and SW + GW, all hermit crabs are still alive while in GW, one hermit crab
Alive Total Dead Total
SW GW SW+GW AW SW GW SW+GW AW
September17 3 3 3 3 12 ---- ------ ---------- ---- 0
Shell acquisition
Hermit crabs rely on shell for their survival. A total of ten observations
were made resulted in 6 fights. This observation was analyzed because the
hermit crab initiated shell fight. Fights were most possible observed in GW and
stated that once the hermit crab loss limb, they begin to restore their limbs by
growing a gel limb. This is a natural process called molting wherein hermit crab
shed its exoskeleton and forms a new one. According to Childress, it is a time
where hermit crab needs to have a new empty shell to fit in. in fact, empty shells
are extremely rare in some environment, all except the most damaged being
occupied by the crabs. As a result of the limited nature of useful gastropods shell,
there is competition associated with highly ritualized aggressive display and shell
breaking crab is probably adaptive because it would abandoned their shell and
Locomotor activity
Cenobita spp. Increased as the pH decreased. In SW, there was a large variation
greater activity in low ph. Locomotion of hermit crabs was move to manifest in
increased in activities of the crabs as the pH lowered. However, the pattern was
decreased during the 2 hours of exposure and in AW was largely inactive after
30 minutes. They covered themselves in the sand and rocks, and move from
branches for them to submerged in different water conditions. Mortality was low
after 3 weeks of exposure and the acclimation time used would be a good
conditions .Cenobita spp. Walk forward on six legged using an alternating tripod
gait similar to that of insects. The first walking leg provides the driving force for
locomotion aided secondarily by the second walking leg, while the cheliped act
largely as support. The left appendages are longer and heavier that the right and
they extended further laterally from the midline during their stride, thus
compensating for the asymmetry of the crab which has dextrally coiled shell and
abdomen displaced to the right. The abdomen is normally carried off the ground,
but it is dragged when the shell is large. This has been confirmed by other
Flicking of Antennae
having a chemo sensory role in water exposure (Mcgan et al., 1999). Both the
antennae and antennules were flicked up and down during the experiments.
up and down, on the average, 2-3 times per minutes, and it did not change with
the water condition. There was also no significant change in antennae flicking in
The antennules of all the crabs were flicked rapidly while oriented in
different directions, but were also retracted into the carapace for period of time.
In GW, each species retracted the antennae for about S-20 second of every
minute, but distinct differences between the species occurred in the lower pH.
Crabs in AW retracted its antennules upon initial exposure, but after 10 minutes
the antennules remained extended. For the entire experimental condition, the
pattern was similar in SW + GW, with the antennules exposed for longer periods
in all. In SW and GW, the opposite response was seen, in low pH, the HC
+ GW, as occurred in HC. However, with such variability within and between the
detection (Mcgan et al.,1999). The percentage of time that the antennules were
folded dack into the carapace was recorded because flicking was too rapid to
allow accurate determinator of rate. According to Van Weel et at., possibly these
HC avoid low pH exposure with an isolation type response. These results as well
as other behavioral and physiological work suggest that the antennules are more
important than the antennae for salinity setection. In addition to the antennae and
Hiding time
homogenized the variances. Mean hiding times varied by a factor of two among
the experimental condition and those differences are highly significant. Hiding
time (time to emerge from the shell after disturbance) is a convenient behavior of
might increase either in the presence of predators that are unlikely to break
Survival Test
Behavioral Physiology
Observation
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