Do gift shop hermit crabs come from Myrtle Beach area? What to know about the crustaceans

When walking into a beach store, it’s hard to not stop and admire the hermit crabs crawling around in their environment.

The crabs may have a shell painted to look like beloved cartoon characters, such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick, a sports team or a fun pattern. They could also have chosen a natural looking shell as their home.

Usually one hermit crab will come free with the purchase of a cage and people can buy more if they’d like. Beach stores sell critter keepers and small wire cages for under $20.

The sale of the crustaceans as a beach souvenir has been a classic activity in Myrtle Beach, and other coastal towns, for decades.

But where do the crabs come from? Here’s what to know about the complex crustacean.

All retail hermit crabs are wild caught

Every hermit crab sold in Myrtle Beach was caught in nature and brought there, said Florida Marine Research owner Paul Manger. Florida Marine Research supplies crabs to various beach shops, including Eagles Beachwear.

Manger said the hermit crabs he sells are caught in Central America near the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. This can include the Bahamas, Jamaica and Belize.

Pet hermit crabs are wild because it is extremely difficult to breed them in captivity, hermit crab expert Mary Akers said. She successfully bred crabs in captivity but said it took a lot of trial and error.

It is not economically feasible to breed and sell hermit crabs at gift shops, Manger said.

There is little impact on the environment when the crabs are taken, Manger said. He said they are “prolific reproducers” and still have a large population despite the fact that thousands are taken from the wild every year.

The San Francisco Zoo describes hermit crabs as “common and not endangered.”

Myrtle Beach once banned the sale of hermit crabs

In July 2001, the city of Myrtle Beach made the sale of hermit crabs illegal, by classifying them as a “feral animal,” according to The Sun News archives. City code states it’s illegal to sell or possess a feral or wild animal.

Council members said they thought hermit crabs could carry bacteria and diseases, which is untrue , according to the Florida Marine Research website.

After backlash, the ban was reversed a month later in August 2001, The Sun News archives show.

Hermit crabs can live for decades

Although they are sometimes thought to have a short lifespan, Akers said she’s seen hermit crabs live for decades.

“The oldest one in captivity lived 45 years with its owner,” Akers said.

When given a good habitat — which can include a large tank and deep substrate — hermit crabs will happily survive longer than a few months. They often die quickly due to an inadequate care.

How to care for hermit crabs

Hermit crabs in gift shops are typically sold with a small cage that works well for taking the critter home but not to keep long-term. Akers recommends around 10 gallons per hermit crab, meaning two hermit crabs should be kept in a 20-gallon tank.

“If (the small habitat that shop sells is) the only thing they’re going to buy for them, and that’s the end result, the hermit crab is not going to be a happy camper,” Manger said. “We really try to resonate with our retailers and anybody that the larger the habitat the better.”

Within a habitat, the crab should have enough sand or dirt to be able to dig, as well as bodies of water, Akers said. Hermit crabs are also social creatures so having multiple crabs will keep them happy.

They should be offered multiple shells of different sizes at all times. Akers said she’s noticed crabs typically prefer natural shells over painted ones.

Many gift shops will sell hermit crab pellets, but Akers said to stay away from the pre-made food. A diet filled with a variety of fruits, vegetables and meat will create a happier and healthier hermit crab.

To find out more information on how to care for hermit crabs, Akers recommends visiting Reddit and Facebook. There, other hermit crab owners share tips.