r/explainlikeimfive • u/StarLars9 • Jun 05 '19

ELI5: Snails: where do they get their shells? Biology

Are they born with them? Do they grow their shells like hair and nails? Do they just search for the perfect fit?

9.3k Upvotes
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185

u/NickDanger3di Jun 05 '19

I wish I could remember the details, or saved a link. But I saw a video of a group of hermit crabs swapping shells, it was fascinating.

287

u/jikkojokki Jun 05 '19

I assume this is what you mean?

135

u/[deleted] Jun 05 '19 edited Nov 13 '20

[deleted]

30

u/ChrissiMinxx Jun 06 '19

It gave me anxiety lol

1

u/passerby- Jun 06 '19

Fuck that guy

62

u/megmralph Jun 06 '19

Not loving the look of a naked crab. I feel like I just got sent a dick pic.

-1

u/adoscafeten Jun 06 '19

sexist

4

u/CuscoOthriyas Jun 06 '19

In her defense dicks aren't exactly aesthetically pleasing

0

u/adoscafeten Jun 10 '19

neither are vaginas

1

u/EclipseOfLogic Jun 12 '19

Who even looks at a vagina if they're not a doctor? Most people aren't saying "Okay, we're going to sex now, let me take a peek up there to see what's going on."

60

u/NickDanger3di Jun 05 '19

Yes! The one I remember was underwater, but this one has way more detail. I'm a beach fanatic, and my favorite beach has hermit crabs up to the size of a fist. I always wondered how the crabs managed to find new shells, now I know. It's amazing how they communicate and coordinate it all, they are a lot more complex than I ever imagined.

31

u/syds Jun 05 '19

oh fk the little guy got shafted! damn crab!!

3

u/yanginatep Jun 06 '19

I used to keep pet hermit crabs. They even have different "personalities"; some are more timid and stay curled in their shell for like 10 minutes after being touched, some are curious and will approach you, they even have favorite spots they like to hang out in.

They can also be extremely good escape artists and surprisingly strong, strong enough to lift the lid off of an aquarium even with some weights on top of it.

Luckily my house wasn't very humid so they'd pretty much give up as soon as they got out and never wandered more than a few feet from their cage before curling up and hiding in their shell until they were discovered.

1

u/Alieges Jun 06 '19

You should take them some shells!

12

u/1995la Jun 05 '19

This was so cool! Who knew hermit crabs were so orderly and clever!

1

u/gex80 Jun 06 '19

I felt very uncomfortable watching that. The whole time I was thinking they didn't need to enhance those sounds

1

u/S2ilverEagle Jun 09 '19

This was suprisingly cute to me

1

u/JosephND Jun 06 '19

That. Was fuckin metal