Written by
Mrs. DeBord’s Second Grade Class

A Book All About Hermit Crabs!
http://www.treknature.com/gallery/photo146283.htm
Written by Mrs. DeBord’s Second Grade Class
DeBord Publishing Company Copyright 2011
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• What is a hermit crab?
• Life Cycle/Life Span
• Diet
• Can you carry your house on your back?
• Predators and Protection
• Cool Facts
• The Perfect Pet
• About the Authors
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The hermit crab's relatives are the spider and lobster.
http://cronkyberry.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/crab_6001.jpg
http://hermitcrabpetcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/hermit20crab1-300x206.jpg
A hermit crab is part of the crustacean family.
However, a hermit crab is not a true crab. It’s shell is not attached to its body like other crabs.
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A hermit crab changing shells.
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A hermit crab must borrow a discarded shell from another animal. Hermit crabs usually scavenge a shell from a mollusk snail.
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A hermit crab strolling on the beach.
A hermit crab crawling on the ocean floor.
ehow.com
robots4farms.com
Hermit crabs can live on land or in the water.
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There are over 500 species of hermit crabs, found all over the world. Ocean hermit crabs are found off the coast of Europe,
North and South America, and
Australia. Land hermit crabs are found in warm places like the
Caribbean, Florida, and Australia.
8 http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/willow/hermit-crab-info0.gif

Herman, our class pet
A hermit crab has four sets of jointed legs and one set of pincers.
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A hermit crab climbing up a stalk. http://www.flickr.com/photos/susandaniels/2442527076/
The claws or pincers are used for eating, climbing and defending itself against predators.
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Blue leg Hermit Crab http://www.culturedaquaticlife.com/products/livestock/invertebrate/crab/dwarfbluelegCrab_Detail.shtml
The first two sets of legs are used for walking and finding food. The back set of legs are used to hold the hermit crab inside its’ shell.
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A teeny, tiny hermit crab.
A BIG surprise when taking out the trash!
http://www.squidoo.com/hermit-crab-gifts http://www.buzzle.com/articles/a-giant-spider-that-can-crack-a-coconut-no-its-a-crab.html
Hermit crabs can be many sizes. If you look closely you may find one while playing on the beach. A coconut hermit crab can grow to gigantic proportions!
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http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NW1e9RsoDyw/SHYzhaOk3NI/AAAAAAAABsU/7g765WtoYN8/DSC03703.JPG
A hermit crab has antennae and two large eyes that protrude from stalks. These eyes help the crab stay alert for predators and find food.
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budd-eaze.com
Female hermit crabs keep the eggs inside their shells until they are big enough. When they are ready, she releases them into the ocean.
Hermit crabs will eat the exoskeleton that they shed to get extra calcium to help grow a new one.
They hatch into a zoea larva. It grows by molting and then growing into a new exoskeleton. The claws and antennae develop during this time.
Every time the hermit crab grows, its exoskeleton doesn't so it needs to molt and grow a new one. It then needs to find a new shell to live in that fits. Some hermit crabs only live for 2-3 months but they can live up to 15-20 years. http://hermitcrabpetcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/
After one more molt it becomes a hermit crab. Now it is ready to find a shell to keep it safe. crabstreetjournal.com
14 http://www.biology.duke.edu/johnsenlab/new%20gallery

Plankton
Sea Worm junglewalk.com
http://www.mindfully.org/Water/2005/Plankton-Vanishing12jul05.htm
Hermit crabs eat both animals and plants. For example: mussels, small plankton and worms. They also are called scavengers because they will eat dead plants and animals.
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Strawberry Hermit Crab http://www.crabbytalk.com/wp-content/eating2.jpg
Hermit crabs pick its food off the bottom of the ocean with its claws. If the food is too big, it rips it into pieces with its claws.
They drink by dipping their claws into water and putting it into the gills or mouth.
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Many people think anemones are plants.
They are actually animals!
http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/ http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jvsM6klryUg/SXc4gheOBnI/AAAAAAAACPM/musrCqG2lBU/s400/ane mone+hermit+crab.jpg
A hermit crab carries its home where ever it goes. When it travels it doesn’t even need to pack. Sea anemones often attach to hermit crabs. The anemone provides camouflage for the crab, while the crab provides food for the anemone.
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http://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/octopus.jpg
http://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/octopus.jpg
A hermit crab’s enemies are sea birds, fish, octopi, crabs, and other hermit crabs.
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Get ready to rumble!
http://www.picassodreams.com/photos/nature/fighting-hermit-crabs.html#tp
The crab fights off other crabs with its claws.
Their main defense is to crawl back into their shell and they use their claws to block the entrance.
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http://cultivateyourwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/hermit-crab.jpg
A hermit crab has a special ability! When a predator attacks, a hermit crab will detach a leg or pincer to escape. The hermit will grow a replacement leg fairly quickly.
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Hermit crabs are usually nocturnal. That means they move around more at night than during the day.
Hermit crabs have been heard making croaking sounds. Scientists are still trying to find out what they mean.
It's very hard to tell if a hermit crab is a boy or a girl.
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What you need:
* a cage/tank
*gravel
*extra shells
*food dish
*sponge
Hermit crabs make great low maintenance pets! They are also very entertaining animals; they can climb, dig, and even hold on to your shirt with their claws as you walk.
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scavenge – pick over junk or garbage to use proportions – size, number, or amount of something protrude – to stick out maintenance – up keep
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We are second graders at Yadkinville Elementary School in
Yadkinville, North Carolina. We were inspired to write a non-fiction book about hermit crabs by our own class pet,
Herman the hermit crab!
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Mrs. DeBord’s Class 2010-2011
Alkhansaa Alshaif
Gage Blakely
Lauren Brown
Reid Coe
Alex De La Torre
Susy Gonzalez
Kendall Irvin
Dazey Messer
Janeth Payan
Hayden Reavis
Chloe Rucker
Zola Sheek
Allen Smith
Chance Stephens Sebastian
Zachary Vanhoy
Hedilberto Velasquez-Torres
Mackenzie Warden
Treasure Wilds
Aryel Rameriz
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