Kids picked up shells on vacation in outer banks didn’t know crabs where in them tilll we got home.

[Boarder101]

While on vacation in outer banks my kids where picking up shells on sound side beach didn’t know they had crabs in them now I am trying to figure out what to do done some research and I believe they are marine hermits and judging by the barnacles growing on them it makes sense. We rescued some hermit crabs from my neighbor that were near death nursed them back to health and now doing well. But I’m not exactly sure what to do now I’m back home and not near an ocean but don’t want them to die.

[RawrSean]

Without a photo, no one can really help.. we have to identify the species.

That being said, call your local fish store and ask for some saltwater. It must be made for saltwater fish. Otherwise they are as good as dead. A proper species ID will give us an idea of how much time you have before they die (without saltwater).


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[Boarder101]

I’ve been trying to get a photo but they are really shy. Any time I get anywhere close the hide but as far as I can tell they have yellowish stripes that run the length of there legs. And they appear to be a brownish color. They found them on the beach in sound side of mags head at end of oregan inlet bridge.

[JoeHermits]

It is most definitely a marine species since terrestrial hermits are not native to the Outer Banks.


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