Are Hermit Crabs Born With Shells?

[RoyalGrammaPrincessHannah]

So Im guessing that they are born with their first shell. I have 3 little hermit crabs with just plain black shells and im almost positive that I did not purchase them and I had some hermit crabs stuck together for about 4-6 days a while before I noticed them. Does anyone know about this?

 

[RoyalGrammaPrincessHannah]

So no one knows...

 

[superman]

No they are not born with shells.

 

[Navarre]

Nope hermits are not bornwith shells. They sart out as larvae and then into a custacaen form. When this happens then look for homes to move into. I think you will fid that hermit crabs are not actually crabs at all but more closely related to lobsters as they have a similar tail yet unlike a lobster, their tails never become armoured.

 

[Opcn]

They hatch as free swimming plankton, then after a few molts they settle on the bottom and find themselves little homes to move into, I'm sure that you had the little snail shells somewere in your tank, or in your sand if itis the right type.