How Hermit Crabs Choose Their Shells

In the tropical paradise of Belize, the hermit crabs have a problem.

**More info & videos below**

“Spy in the Ocean: Deep Thinkers“ premieres October 25, 2023, at 8|7c on PBS and YouTube.

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Nature is a production of The WNET Group for PBS. Throughout its history, Nature has brought the natural world to millions of viewers. The PBS series has been consistently among the most-watched primetime series on public television.

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In Belize, hermit crabs have outgrown their homes, or their shells have become worse for wear. To find out how they resolve their housing issues, Spy Hermit Crab goes undercover.

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[thomasthumbs]

Imagine being a hermit crab and stumbling on a video of you with your whole bare ass out for the world to see, in what was such a vulnerable time of your life. Lol

[OliviaLovesPugs]

That little hermit crab robot camera was so cool! It’s so amazing to watch how organized and cooperative they all were with each other, and it seems like everyone left content. Great footage, super interesting!

[themeadowsgroupchat]

The hermit crab felt something off about the Cam shell caught a bad feeling like this ain’t homemade like the rest lol

[nelsona]

Oh my the crab realized he's not suited to become a cameraman

[StarfleetUnderground]

My mouth dropped when that crab took the camera/shell! This video was so cool! Thank you!

[Sonworshipper]

I have a hermit crab as a pet. They had HUGE crabs. I picked mine bc he didn’t have a crusher claw to protect himself. He is now regenerating a new one.

[stephanieyee]

This video is fantastic. I had no idea hermit crabs were so fascinating. Thank you for teaching me something new. 🐚🦀

[alanvanwyk]

The house swop meet is so cool... Was worried that one would be with out a home that fits but they where so organized

[mycelium_]

Even the “hermit” crabs have social outings to get together that’s so sweet

[creamlass]

Amazing footage, i wasnt aware of the shell shuffle

[momogato]

I like watching my hermies do this. There is ALWAYS some drama with one crab wanting the shell of another. Gets rather violent occasionally with limbs being pulled off to get to the shell.

[amberv]

I absolutely love this series!! I really wish i could watch the full series but I can't find it anywhere!!

Honestly so cool how they line up by size and everyone trades shells!! It would've been so cool too if that one had taken the camera shell and was the new spy without even knowing it!! would've had such better footage!!

[twinflowerfioretta]

Haha fantastic shots ! I love Hermit Crabs, saw once one without a shell surching for a new one - he looked so fragile ! he found finally a nice bigger one, i was so lucky 🤩much Thanks PBS 💙👍

[paulafigueiredo]

👏👏👏 You never disappoint Nature on PBS 🦀

[RestoAyetah]

Amazing how well hermit crabs behave in their own world much better than us, human race… we should follow their example to make it better world for our future generations.

[maxtan]

He began to have second thoughts as he constantly felt like someone was watching👀 him after putting on the shell🐚 with the camera🎥. He even wondered if it might be haunted👻 and switched back to his old house🏠! In real estate, it’s all the same — whether it’s a human🤵 or a hermit crab🦀!🗿 😄😂🤣

[segasonic]

It's so hard yet so easy to believe these things are related to Coconut Crabs.

[verioffkin]

Wow!
You know what I really like about wild nature? There are no permanent wars in that world, there are no hates and tortures. It's only about prey and predator, it's only about game that always ends... Sometimes I feel our big and superior brain is so waste of energy and only leading by our emotions rather than intellect 😔 And that day I drink a lot...

[PrestonDavidson]

I like how the crab stole the fake shell with the camera

[kennedyworn]

That is like rules in the society. It seems there was fighting in the past over shells so they made rules.