"The hermit crab is not, in fact, hermetical: they're sociable, often climbing on top of one another to sleep in a great pile. When a crab comes across a new shell that turns out to be too big, it waits nearby until another crab comes to inspect it. If it's too small for a second crab, they hold claws and form a queue until a crab who fits it arrives, then the next crab in line claims the newly-housed crab's shell ... "
from 'The Golden Mole', by Katherine Rundell #Crabs#Nature#Bookstodon
There are some wonderful people who go around offering empty shells to hermit crabs in exchange for the plastic litter (bottle lids, film pots etc.) that they’ve been using. Offering them a choice 🥺.
@fkamiah17 there’s a couple I’ve come across. One account I follow on Instagram is a guy in Okinawa doing just that - maketheswitch4nature. It’s really wholesome.
@helenclayton OMG it's the best. A documentary about a guy who makes friends with an octopus. Totally heart-melting.
I've got that on my shelf somewhere, I'm sure I'll get round to it eventually. If you've not read The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley, let me persuade you by saying that it has a character called Katsu, who is a clockwork octopus who steals socks.
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