Hermit crab (Lat. Pagurus sp.). Hermit crabs range from the deep sea to just above the shore line. Hermit crabs are rarely seen out of the gastropod shells they inhabit. All hermit crabs have a twisted soft abdomen protected by an empty shell into which the animal can retreat when threatened. As the hermit crab grows, it must find a larger shell and in some dense populations, fighting for shells is a frequent event. They also have symbiotic relationships with some organisms, such as anemones. The anemone crab will even take the anemone(s) with it when it moves to a new shell! They are scavengers, eating dead animals and whatever else they can find. Female usually lay their eggs shortly after copulating but can also store sperm for many months.