The Hermit Crab Trivia Quiz

Raised as pets or viewed in the wild, hermit crabs are fascinating. How well do you know them?

A multiple-choice quiz by indigowulf. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
indigowulf

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
190,251

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1074

Last 3 plays: Guest 68 (5/10), Guest 93 (7/10), Guest 185 (1/10).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. Can hermit crabs be bred in captivity? Hint

Only the white variety

Only with tide simulation

Its not possible

Only in temperatures above 80'F

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2. What is the proper way to hold a hermit crab? Hint

By the back of its shell

On a flat palm

By its large pincer

Using a tool

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3. A hermit crab out of its shell most resembles what? Hint

A lobster

A snail

A spider

A seahorse

NEXT>

4. A hermit crab in the wild feeds on... Hint

All of these

Decaying meat

Leaves and foliage

Plankton

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5. In which scientific subphylum do hermit crabs belong? Hint

Arachnida

Crustacea

Amorphic

Nocturnal

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6. What is the pincer sometimes called? Hint

Killepod

"The finger"

Defense Claw

Cheliped

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7. Including the pincers, how many legs do hermit crabs have? Hint

NEXT>

8. Do hermit crabs have a shell that covers their whole body?

Yes

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9. What do anemones do to hermit crabs? Hint

Sting them

Live on their shells

Compete for food

Entangle their feet

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10. What should a captive hermit crab's food be served in? Hint

Wood

Stone

Glass

Shell

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Can hermit crabs be bred in captivity?

Answer: Only with tide simulation

Hermit crabs are difficult to breed in captivity because they need natural ocean currents to be simulated, and plankton for the young to feed on.

2. What is the proper way to hold a hermit crab?

Answer: On a flat palm

While hermit crabs can pinch, it is difficult for them to grab hold of flesh on a flat palm. Beware, they can scuttle very fast and fall!

3. A hermit crab out of its shell most resembles what?

Answer: A lobster

A hermit crab looks very much like a small lobster, except their tails are curved to hold the inside of their "borrowed" shell, and are not covered by shell (fleshy).

4. A hermit crab in the wild feeds on...

Answer: All of these

Wild hermit crabs have a huge variety of things they will eat. Some other things include worms and fish eggs.

5. In which scientific subphylum do hermit crabs belong?

Answer: Crustacea

While many people think hermit crabs look like spiders, they actually have very few similarities.

6. What is the pincer sometimes called?

Answer: Cheliped

The two front claws are not used for locomotion. The larger is used for defense while the smaller is used to bring food to the mouth.

7. Including the pincers, how many legs do hermit crabs have?

Answer: 10

The hind 2 pairs of a hermit crab's legs are usually inside the shell, used for grasping the borrowed shell.

8. Do hermit crabs have a shell that covers their whole body?

Answer: No

Actually, hermit crabs do have a shell of sorts, better known as a carapace. The back of their bodies, the tail area, is the only area that does not have full protection, making them require borrowed shells for complete coverage. Besides, a whelk shell (hermit crab's preferred type) is much harder than their natural shell, and provides greater protection.

9. What do anemones do to hermit crabs?

Answer: Live on their shells

The hermit crab provide locomotion for the anemones, and the anemones offer protection in the form of stings and camouflage.
Many hermit crabs will actually tend "gardens" of anemones, moving them from shell to shell as the hermit crab grows out of old ones.

10. What should a captive hermit crab's food be served in?

Answer: Shell

It is said that shell food containers offer some calcium to the crab's diet.

Source: Author indigowulf

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Most Recent Scores

Mar 25 2023 : Guest 68: 5/10
Feb 28 2023 : Guest 93: 7/10
Feb 24 2023 : Guest 185: 1/10
Feb 21 2023 : es1210: 7/10
Feb 04 2023 : Guest 35: 4/10

Score Distribution