Do hermit crabs need a shell?

Here's why:

* Protection: Shells provide vital protection for hermit crabs from predators and the elements. Their soft abdomens are vulnerable without a hard shell to shield them.

* Home: The shell acts as their home, providing a safe and secure place to retreat into when threatened or when they need to molt (shed their exoskeleton).

* Molting: Hermit crabs must molt their exoskeletons as they grow, and they use shells as a safe place to do so. They can be extremely vulnerable while molting, so the shell is critical for their survival.

Important Note: Hermit crabs don't create their own shells. They find and inhabit empty shells left behind by other creatures.