HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Sorry if this question is ridiculous, I just don't want to regret anything later
My family is going to Pawleys Island/Myrtle beach later next month. I've been doing some research on what shells can be found there. They've got Horse conches, whale's eyes, whelks, banded tulips and others. While I'm trying not to get my hopes up about what I might find, I was wondering if it's okay to take them from the beach. I know they say not to take them from where hermit crabs live. But is it different where land hermit crabs don't live?

You'll need to look into the laws in that area - there are places where it is illegal or extremely limited. If it is allowed, you'll still need to be cautious about marine hermit crabs.

I looked into the laws there, but can't seem to find much I'll keep looking. I also plan on being very careful about checking shells for no snails or MHCs thanks

I contacted the city, they said it's fine to take what I want, as long as I don't disturb turtle nests, sand dunes or the sea grass.
I have a feeling I'm going to come back with waay more shells then my crabs will ever use

I went down to Hilton head, (It's like 45 minutes ahead, it's a shoe shapes island really easy to spot on a map of SC) and there were a bunch of shells but I decided against it because there were hundreds of marine hermies all over and there weren't a lot of shells

Here in New England we only have marine hermit crabs up in the tidal waters during the summer months, otherwise they are in deeper waters. The only times we find empty shells on the beach is after a good storm over the ocean, usually any shell I find is occupied by a snail or hermit. I wouldn't take more than a shell or two during the months when there are marine hermits in the tide pools as they need them more than I do. The last big storm we had there wasn't a live snail to be found, there were thousands of empty shell along the beach. I found one shell that was over 3" across.

I love near the jersey shore. Rarely find shells intact, but I've taken one or two, no one's ever complained

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Just be really really careful they are empty. We're getting an email a week now from people who brought home shells that then started moving. MHC are tiny, hide deep, and are hard to see.

This is just my personal opinion so you are welcome to take it with a grain of salt. The National Park Services recommends that you leave shells, etc. on the beach. We were just discussing in another thread that there is a shortage of shells for hermit crabs in the wild. You could always make pretty arrangements of shells and photograph them on the beach and leave them. You would still have the memory of all the shells you found, but you would be leaving them for crabs that really need them.

There are also usually lots of broken shells, shell bits, and shells hermits can't wear, at least on the beaches I have visited.

Yea i agree most of the shells on the jersey shore are broken and it was the Dame in rohobeth. I was a child the last time i was in Myrtle beach and virginia beach, but I don't remember seeing many if any intact shells.

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