Behind Closed Groups: The Online Black Market for Hermit Crabs

A message from FJ Ong Pramono

Dear hermit crab enthusiasts,
Following a discussion with Stacy Griffith, I decide to make this post. As an Indonesian hermit crab enthusiast and researcher, I want to make you aware that some fellow Indonesians join many different Land Hermit Crab care groups only for the sake of searching new information – e.g. about new species – but mainly to make SALES!

Poachers have many tactics.

1. Beware of poachers posing as owners looking to re-home their crabs.
   • Some poachers may also pretend to be legitimate sellers or exporters who will claim they are able to ship directly to the U S A.
     • And yes, some small-scale sellers may approach hobbyist worldwide and he/she may send the hermit crabs benefiting from a large-scale exporter’s activity that have the business license and can ship the hermit crabs legally.
2. Social Media has vastly increased the opportunity for poachers.
   • In the past, Indonesian poachers rarely had the opportunity to ship small orders of land hermit crabs illegally to U S A (e.g. using registered mail / parcel). I believe that the existence of social medias like Facebook has made the excessive land hermit crab hunting in Indonesia a little bit “out of control” since 2015 – including excessive hunting of the new species that I have discovered. 
     • Chinese and Vietnamese buyers also contribute to this because they sometimes contact poachers and even uneducated fishermen and lure them with the promise of regular, large quantity orders per month.
3. Buying crabs from poachers has many more problems than most people realize.
   • There are significant legal risks from accepting an illegal animal import via U S customs.
     • Purchasing live hermit crabs from someone international who does not have the proper license is a violation of many customs regulations. 
   • There is a very high risk that the animals will die, escape, or be confiscated in customs.
     • Poachers may not label their package as “live animal” to avoid interception. That can delay delivery and is technically illegal to both send AND to receive. 
     • Poachers may be willing to ship during poor weather or ship without proper packaging/care. 
     • Hermit crabs are quite durable, but if they are sent as regular parcel and are detected through x-ray, they will be euthanized and sender and buyer can be fined or face charges.
     • Buyers drive the poaching industry. Buying from international unlicensed sellers help support a cycle where animals are harmed and poor citizens are exploited. 
4. How to spot poachers and some sellers (exporters) whose real intention in joining this group is to make SALES and FIND BUYERS.
   • There have been many fellow Indonesians creating Facebook groups about land hermit crabs trading (where fishermen, poachers, wholesalers, sellers, and potential buyers can interact each other).
     • And those persons who only consider hermit crabs from the business point of view, they do join such groups, as well as some land hermit crab care groups (which are genuinely intended for educational purpose). 
     • Miserably, I also have the proof that some individuals who offer land hermit crabs for pets, in other group(s) they also offer land hermit crabs (that have been collected from the wild massively) for FISH BAIT!
     • In this case, to all admins & moderators of this group, I would be happy to help you to screen which joining request from any profile (especially Indonesians) should be accepted or rejected.
       1. And I would also suggest to the admins & moderators to take a look at these screenshots and the groups that they come from. These are Facebook groups which have been formed for land hermit crab transactions, where sellers and buyers trigger poachers to catch more and more hermit crabs.
       2. Dear admins & moderators, please put RED FLAG on the admin(s) and moderator(s) of such hermit crab buying & selling groups, as well as their members who has promoted land hermit crab massive catching and hunting – if any of them have been joining this hermit crab care & education group, I strongly encourage you to:
          •  Kick them out immediately
          • Tell other land hermit crab care & education groups that you know to do the same thing (put “red flag” or perhaps put those profiles in the “black list” to join).
          • Report the group to Facebook administrator because actually animal sales have been banned from Facebook.

Just this week, poachers were caught with 998 Coenobita purpureus (Blueberry hermit crabs,) which are a protected species.

Legal Risks of Accepting an Illegally Imported Shipment of Live Hermit Crabs in the U.S.

Importing live animals into the United States is heavily regulated under federal and state laws to prevent environmental damage, disease transmission, and illegal wildlife trade. Accepting an illegally imported shipment of live hermit crabs could result in severe legal consequences under multiple laws.

Potential Legal Violations & Consequences

1. Lacey Act (16 U.S.C. §§ 3371-3378)

• Crime: It is illegal to import, transport, sell, receive, or acquire wildlife (including hermit crabs) that have been taken, transported, or sold in violation of foreign, state, or U.S. laws.
• Penalty:
  • Civil fines up to $10,000 per violation.
  • Criminal penalties:
    • Misdemeanor: Up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
    • Felony (if knowingly involved): Up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

2. Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. § 1538)

• Crime: If the hermit crabs are a protected species under the ESA, importing or possessing them without permits is illegal.
• Penalty:
  • Criminal fines up to $50,000.
  • Jail time: Up to one year per offense.
  • Civil fines up to $25,000 per violation.

3. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

• Crime: Some species of hermit crabs are listed under CITES Appendix II, meaning strict import permits are required.
• Penalty:
  • Seizure and confiscation of the crabs.
  • Fines or criminal charges depending on the severity of the violation.

4. Federal Animal Welfare & Public Health Laws

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Regulations
  • Requires permits for importing live wildlife.
  • Failing to declare the shipment at customs is illegal.
  • Penalty: Fines up to $10,000 per violation.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Regulations
  • If hermit crabs are suspected of carrying zoonotic diseases, their importation may be prohibited.
  • Penalty: Criminal and civil fines.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Regulations
  • If the species is an invasive threat, it may be banned from import.
  • Penalty: Seizure and destruction of the shipment.

5. Smuggling and Conspiracy Charges

• Crime: If the shipment was intentionally mislabeled to evade detection (e.g., labeled as “toys” instead of live animals), this is smuggling under 18 U.S.C. § 545.
• Penalty:
  • Up to 20 years in federal prison.
  • Fines of up to $250,000.
• Conspiracy Charges (18 U.S.C. § 371)
  • If two or more people knowingly participate in the illegal import, they can be charged with conspiracy.
  • Penalty: Up to five years in prison.

What Should You Do if You Receive an Illegal Shipment?

1. Do NOT accept the package – Refuse the shipment and notify the carrier.
2. Contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) – Report the shipment to avoid legal liability.
3. Do NOT distribute the animals – Giving them away or selling them may result in criminal charges.
4. Consult a lawyer – If you suspect you received illegal wildlife, legal advice can help mitigate risks.

Final Warning: High Legal Risk

Accepting an illegally imported shipment of live hermit crabs could result in federal criminal charges, heavy fines, and even imprisonment. If you knowingly keep or distribute the animals, you could face additional penalties under wildlife protection laws.