Dibs

One of my largest hermits found a new shell I'd donated. He tried it on, and, as they do, fussed about for a while, squirming, disappearing into the back spirals, checking the fit and the weight. A second hermit noticed and hurried over.

"If it doesn't fit, can I have it?"

Hermit crabs are usually polite. Hairy Harry, in back, waited patiently while Big Red thought it over, still holding onto the old shell, just in case. When BG decided that the new shell suited him perfectly, and wandered away, HH examined the old shell, realized that it was broken (on the far side, not visible here), and gave up.

No hard feelings.

The hermits are: Hairy Harry, a hairy hermit, Pagurus hirsutiusculus. They like smaller shells that enable them to run and climb easily: and Big Red, a grainy hand hermit, Pagurus granosimanus. They love a shell big enough to completely hide inside; they don't mind if it's heavy and awkward. They're in no hurry.

Hairy Harry is still in his old shell, waiting for me to provide another.

The quest

The hermit crabs in my salt-water aquarium are very tiny, but they're growing fast. And growth, for a hermit, means getting new clothes. I've provided them with a selection of empty shells, but just like growing kids, they have their own preferences.

I caught a couple of the hairy hermits involved in a discussion over a pretty white shell occupied by a green hermit. Brownie, in a boring mud snail shell, wanted to switch.

By the time I had the camera in hand, he had won, and Green was naked.

(Photos taken through algae-coated glass.)

"A perfect fit!" says Brownie.

And, "What shall I do?" says Green. Note the black belly, normally hidden in the shell.

"May I have your shell?"

"No, you certainly may not!" (Pulls hood over head.)

Brownie's discarded outfit.

"Does this fit me?

Taking its measure. Too big.

"Life's not fair! I can't run around in public like this!"

On with the search

Brownie, up in the eelgrass, watches, chortling.

"This one fits, but it isn't my style at all.  It'll have to do. For now."

Shopping time: 12 minutes. A long time for a tiny hermit to walk about in the nude.