However, following the above guidelines will enable you to sex a hermit crab. With over 800 different species of hermit crabs, variations will occur.
Releases pheromones if receptive to mating Slowly and steadily increase in size with age Three feathery appendages left of legs to carry eggs
#BLUE CRAB MALE VS FEMALE HOW TO#
Here’s how to sex a hermit crab: Male Hermit Crab Identification: This table summarizes the variations between the sexes. There are differences in appearance and conduct between male and female hermit crabs. The interested parties will be males hoping to gain her favor.Īs captive hermit crabs rarely breed, this approach is unlikely to get results. If you see several hermit crabs surrounding each other, the object of attention is likely a female. As explained by Behavioral Ecology, guarding behavior can lead to conflict.
Sexually mature males guard females that they want to breed with. These mating rituals can lead to other conduct between sexes. Remaining careful helps hermit crabs live longer and enjoy more mating cycles. More cautious males tend to enjoy greater success with breeding. According to Biological Sciences, hermit crabs with high fecundity breed less due to higher rates of mortality associated with risk-taking behaviors. While this can be linked to basic survival instinct, it may pertain to mating. They may find a range of hiding places, while males are likelier to find one location as they feel safer. In some cases, females are more confident and outgoing, so they’ll explore new terrain. Don’t rely on watching behavior to determine the sex of hermit crabs. There are some obvious differences in temperament between male and female hermit crabs. You may need a magnifying glass to identify gonopores. The sexual organs of the female are called the gonopores these are two tiny openings above the third pair of legs. This enables males to mate without vacating the shell, otherwise leaving it available for a rival. To avoid losing their shells, male hermit crabs develop a large penis. It can be 60% of the hermit crab’s body length, which is an evolutionary tactic to protect the shell.Īs discussed, males grow faster than females, which makes appropriately-sized shells a rare commodity. The Royal Society Open Science stated that this organ could be disproportionately large compared to body mass. Male hermit crabs have a penis below the fifth set of legs. These appendages (pleopods) double as a sac for a female to carry her unborn young. In females, these will be completely smooth in males, the legs are covered in coarse hairs.Īdditionally, females have 3 appendages on the left of the abdomen, and males lack these. Where physical appearance differs is the legs, as male and female hermit crabs have 10 legs. This doesn’t make them any more appealing to females it just gives them a better chance of overpowering rivals for a potential mate. Many males molt ahead of mating and emerge larger. By growing more slowly, a female is likelier to find suitable shells to hide within.ĭuring mating season, male hermit crabs can grow in size. This is a matter of survival because females carry their young in an egg sac attached to their legs, which makes them vulnerable. So, a young male may tower over a female of equivalent age.įemales grow slower as hermit crabs breed while young, usually in the first year of life. Male hermit crabs grow quickly, regularly molting. There are some discrepancies, especially when young, because hermit crabs grow and molt at different rates based on sex. Once grown, hermit crabs stay about the same size. Usually, the male is larger unless the female needs to carry sizeable embryos, but this isn’t the case with adult hermit crabs. In many species, the size of an animal can be used to detect sex. Once you know what you are looking for, sexing hermit crabs will become second nature.ĭifferences can be subtle, so it may take more than just a cursory glance. Instead, you’ll need to review physical characteristics and, to a lesser extent, behavior. Some say that females have larger claws, but this claim has no scientific basis. Some physical characteristics are almost identical between male and female hermit crabs.įor example, it’s impossible to differentiate boy and girl hermit crabs by claw size. How do you know if a hermit crab is male or female? You’ll need to get a look at your hermit crab out of its shell, but never wrench a hermit crab from its home for gender identification. 4.1 Related Articles: Is My Hermit Crab a Boy or Girl?
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