Acadian Hermit Crab (Pagurus acadianus)
Acadian Hermit Crab (Pagurus acadianus)
Common name: Acadian hermit crab
Scientific name: Pagurus acadianus
Locations: intertidal zones on muddy or pebbly bottoms, found in tide pools
Seasonality: available all year
Color: red
Size: 1” - 2”
Collected: by hand
Quantity: sold by the each
Tidepool Tim says, "Hermit crabs are a lot of fun to watch and keep in a tank. They're naturally social creatures and are often in groups of 100 or more. They're vulnerable without their shell homes, so when they start to outgrow their residence, they keep their eyes out for a new one. They have even been known to help each other look for new shells, and form lines from largest to smallest when a new shell shows up to their environment. They also like to decorate their shells with camouflage and stinging anemones for protection. If you have a hermit crabs, look out for empty shells on the beach to bring home for them!"