Table of Contents
Born Without a Shell
From the moment they hatch, hermit crabs are unlike other crabs — they are born without a protective shell of their own. Tiny and vulnerable, newborn hermit crabs must quickly find shelter to survive. They usually seek out empty seashells left behind by dead marine animals as their very first “home.”
They carefully select shells that perfectly fit their small bodies, providing both protection from predators and ease of movement.
As hermit crabs grow, their bodies become too large for their original shells. They must embark on a new journey — constantly searching for a bigger, more suitable shell. This cycle repeats throughout their lives:
“As they grow, they must find a new home.”
When Trash Becomes a Dangerous Home
Today, with oceans increasingly polluted by human waste, finding natural shells has become harder.
Many hermit crabs, unable to find proper shells, are forced to use trash like plastic bottle caps, soda cans, broken toys, and other debris as emergency shelters.
But these makeshift homes come at a terrible cost:
- Plastic and metal trap heat, causing hermit crabs to overheat.
- Toxic chemicals from waste materials accumulate in their bodies.
- Sharp edges of garbage can injure or infect hermit crabs, often leading to premature death.
It’s not just a matter of living in an unnatural home — it’s a heartbreaking reduction of their chances of survival.
Help Protect Their True Homes
At Love Andaman, we believe every life in the ocean matters — not just the majestic corals or turtles but also the small and fragile hermit crabs.
Every time you visit the beach:
- Never leave trash behind.
- If you find garbage along the shore, please help pick it up and dispose of it properly.
A hermit crab’s true home should be a beautiful natural seashell, not a piece of plastic left carelessly on the sand.
Protect the ocean. It starts with us. 💙
