Before You Contact Us

Due to limited volunteer time and organizational resources, not all inquiries submitted through this form will receive a response.

Many of the most common questions we receive—including care questions, adoption requests, shell donations, purchasing inquiries, and application follow-ups—are answered below or through the linked program pages and email addresses. Submissions that duplicate information already provided, fall outside the scope of this form, or are routed to the wrong program may be redirected or ignored.


Contact Us – Frequently Asked Questions

I have a hermit crab care question. Can you help?

Individual hermit crab care questions are handled through Crab Street Journal, our primary educational partner.

Crab Street Journal provides:

  • Comprehensive care guides
  • Housing, nutrition, and molting standards
  • Troubleshooting for common issues
  • Community-based support

Please start here:
https://crabstreetjournal.org


I’m interested in the Claws in the Classroom program. Who should I contact?

Claws in the Classroom (CIC) provides hermit crab food and habitat supplies to qualifying classrooms. It does not place hermit crabs and does not provide instruction.

Program details and application information are available here:
https://lhcos.org/claws-in-the-classroom/

Application follow-ups or program-specific questions:
cl*****************@***os.org

Please do not use the general Contact Form for CIC application status checks.


I want to volunteer with LHCOS. What should I do?

All volunteer roles, expectations, and opportunities are listed on our Volunteer page:
https://lhcos.org/volunteer/

Volunteer application follow-ups:
vo********@***os.org


I want to adopt a hermit crab. How do I apply?

LHCOS does not place hermit crabs directly through the Contact Form.

Ethical adoption and rehoming information is available here:
https://lhcos.org/adoptions/

Adoption or surrender application follow-ups:
ad*******@***os.org

Please note that adoption and placement options are limited and cannot be guaranteed.

Please do not use the general Contact Form for Adoption application status checks.


I need to surrender my hermit crab(s). Can LHCOS take them?

LHCOS does not accept surrendered hermit crabs and does not operate an intake or holding facility.

If you are seeking rehoming options, please review:
https://lhcos.org/adoptions/

If your need to re-home is urgent, please reach out to one of the rescues found here:

https://tatteredratscrafts.square.site/hermit-crab-rescues

Hermit crabs should never be abandoned or released into the wild.


Can I ethically purchase a hermit crab, including exotic species?

At this time, there is no truly ethical commercial market for land hermit crabs. Nearly all hermit crabs sold in the pet trade—domestically and internationally—are wild-caught, even when marketed as ethical or captive-bred.

This includes requests for “exotic” or non-U.S. species.

The only exception occurs when Hermit House has captive-bred babies available through their conservation breeding program. Availability is announced publicly on:

LHCOS does not manage availability, reservations, or placement.


Do you accept shell donations?

No. LHCOS does not accept, collect, store, or redistribute shells.

If you wish to donate shells for conservation or restoration purposes, please contact established shell restoration or shell recycling programs directly to confirm their needs and guidelines.

Hermit Crab Shell Restoration Projects – Land Hermit Crab Owners Society


Where can I ethically buy hermit crab supplies, including shells?

For ethically sourced hermit crab supplies—such as shells, food, and habitat items—we recommend vendors listed in the Approved Sellers Directory.

https://lhcos.org/approved-sellers/


I want to apply as an Approved Seller. How do I do that?

All eligibility requirements, standards, and application details are listed on the Approved Sellers page:
https://lhcos.org/approved-sellers/

Approved Seller application follow-ups:
ap*************@***os.org

Please do not use the general Contact Form to check application status.


Is the Local Representative program accepting applications?

No. The Local Representative program is currently on hold and is not accepting new participants.

If you would like to get involved, please explore our Volunteer Program:
https://lhcos.org/volunteer/


I want to advocate for hermit crabs. How can I help?

Advocacy is a core part of LHCOS’s mission. Our advocacy work focuses on education, ethical standards, conservation awareness, and reducing harm caused by the commercial pet trade.

If you’re interested in advocating for hermit crabs, we encourage you to start with our existing advocacy resources rather than submitting a general inquiry.

These resources include:

  • Educational materials you can share publicly
  • Ethical care, housing, and sourcing standards
  • Guidance on reducing demand for wild-caught hermit crabs
  • Conservation-focused messaging and campaigns

You can explore advocacy resources here:
https://lhcos.org/advocacy/


Can LHCOS help me contact a store, breeder, school, or individual?

LHCOS does not intervene in individual disputes, private transactions, social media conflicts, or direct enforcement actions.

We also do not:

  • Contact pet stores or sellers on behalf of individuals
  • Mediate disagreements
  • Provide legal advice or regulatory enforcement

Instead, we focus on public education, systemic change, and ethical standards that can be applied broadly.


I want to run an advocacy campaign or awareness effort. Can LHCOS support it?

LHCOS supports advocacy efforts that align with our mission and standards. However, we are not able to endorse, manage, or amplify all external campaigns.

If you are interested in supporting LHCOS advocacy work, the best ways to do so are:

  • Volunteering with an advocacy-aligned role
  • Sharing official LHCOS educational materials
  • Participating in approved campaigns when announced

Volunteer opportunities can be found here:
https://lhcos.org/volunteer/


What should I use the Contact Form for regarding advocacy?

The Contact Form may be used for:

  • General questions about LHCOS advocacy efforts
  • Media or educational collaboration inquiries
  • Advocacy topics not already addressed on our website

Requests for direct intervention or enforcement will not receive a response.


What should I use the Contact Form for?

The Contact Form is best used for:

  • General organizational questions
  • Media or partnership inquiries
  • Governance or administrative matters
  • Program questions not answered above

Using the correct program pages and email addresses helps protect limited volunteer capacity and ensures faster responses.