Once ashore and hermit crabs go through a metamorphosis, developing modified gills that act as lungs to enable them to breathe air. Once on land they live in a variety of environments including trees, mangroves and areas up to 1-2 miles away from the shore. In the wild some land hermit crabs can spend a long time away from a water source, some only returning to the sea when they are heavy with eggs which they will flick into the intertidal pools to start the cycle over again. Land hermit crabs are instinctive and will access moisture from dew drops found on leaves of plants. They are able to go without food for a time if necessary and store water in their shells for drinking later .
Hermit crabs are able to regenerate any lost or broken limbs during the moulting process.
Hermit Crabs moult because their hard exoskeleton does not grow with their body, and so they must shed it and infuse the new tissues with moisture, then harden these tissues to develop into an exoskeleton with the aid of 'chitin'. During this time you will need to keep your hermit crab in a comfortably warm and m oist environment and offer substrate into which they may burrow within. Some hermit crabs like to dig down deep into the substrate and hide out while their new exoskeleton hardens and they will return to normal activity. For the next 10 or so days heir new skin hardens with the aid of 'chitin' which hermit crabs will obtain by eating their discarded exoskelton. During this time of natural wonder you will find your hermit crab is soft, vulnerable, and inactive.