With many animals, it is very easy to spot the difference between a male and female. This is not true in the case of a hermit crab. Due to its size, delicate bodies, and shells, finding the hermit crab gender is very difficult. If you are up to the challenge, we’ll help you identify the gender of your hermit crab.
Here’s a word of caution: Never force a hermit crab out of its shell. If finding the gender of your hermit crab proves to be too difficult (and it is), rest assured that knowing whether it’s male or female is not worth putting them in harm’s way.
Reproductive Organs
Female land hermit crabs have what are called gonopores. These genital openings are located on the the back pair of their walking legs. What makes them hard to identify is that they are very small and positioned very close to their body. So the only way you will really see them is if your crab is hanging out of its shell and upside down.
Males will get close to the female and places his spermatophore into the female’s gonopores. The male crab reproductive organ is tiny and will be near impossible to see with the naked eye,
Other Differences
There are other differences between a male and female hermit crab. When it comes to their physical appearance, male hermit crabs tend to have hairy legs with none on their abdomen. In contrast, females have smooth legs and has legs on the left side of their abdomen.
Another difference is that male hermit crabs tend to be more territorial and grow faster. Females are more active, but grow slower. While these behavior differences are not as clear cut as reproduction organs, they at least provide another way to guess whether it is a male or female.
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To learn more about hermit crabs, please continue to browse this website where we cover everything from essential items to frequently asked questions.
