Exotic Pets™

The Purple Claw and Other Charming Hermit Crabs

Tracie Hotchner

#283: Dr. Doug convinces Tracie that hermit crabs make delightful pets — as those who belong to online hermit crab clubs can attest — some of which can grow as big as a grapefruit and live 25 years! He explains how they need ever-larger shells as they grow, adapting to discarded shells in the wild, as well as human detritus that can meet their housing needs.