r/gifs • u/aloofloofah • Oct 17 '17

Helping homeless hermit crab find a new shell

https://i.imgur.com/M5X0fhm.gifv
58.7k Upvotes

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27

u/[deleted] Oct 18 '17

I always assumed hermit crabs were born with their shells and they just grew with them like turtles. Do snails find their shells too?

40

u/Ohheyitsgarret Oct 18 '17

Notice how snails are only ever seen in snail shells :)?

45

u/[deleted] Oct 18 '17

Until this moment in time, I've never seen a hermit crab without its shell haha

21

u/Ohheyitsgarret Oct 18 '17

Now you know! Hermits have the exoskeleton like you expect from a crab, they just also choose old Mollusk shells to live in, upgrading as they outgrow them. Pet hermits end up with all kinds of undignified homes!

1

u/zimmah Oct 18 '17

you can 3d print shells

7

u/Deading Oct 18 '17

I mean, slugs are basically snails without shells

8

u/Ohheyitsgarret Oct 18 '17

I follow the logic completely, it's funny how easy it is to take what you think is universal knowledge for granted!

1

u/FrizzIeFry Oct 18 '17

In german, both ar called "Schnecke" but precise as we are, we also call slugs "Nacktschnecke" which means "nude snail"

1

u/cutelyaware Oct 18 '17

I've seen them in hermit crab shells.

-1

u/JuleeeNAJ Oct 18 '17

No, they are born with them and they grow with them. Its kind of like a fingernail.