Whether you’re a seasoned advocate or just getting started, this is your one-stop shop for downloadable materials, campaign ideas, and educational tools. Together, we can protect wild hermit crabs and promote responsible pet care.

Why Advocate for Hermit Crabs?

Threats Facing Wild and Captive Hermit Crabs

Wild hermit crabs are under growing threat from the exotic pet trade, where millions are taken from beaches every year, often dying before they even reach a pet store. This mass collection disrupts coastal ecosystems and depletes natural shell resources.
Captive hermit crabs face a different danger: misinformation. Most are sold with improper care advice, leading to high mortality due to inadequate humidity, temperature, or habitat conditions. Without access to deep substrate, fresh and saltwater, and natural shells, they cannot thrive — and many suffer silently.
Education and ethical advocacy are crucial to ending unnecessary suffering and protecting wild populations.

Ways to Advocate

1. Educate the Public

  • Handouts and Printables
    • Flyers and infographics for vet offices, pet stores, classrooms, and events
    • Visit one of the many boardwalk/beach shop areas and hand out free infographics to anyone you see with a hermit crab.
    • 🔗 Free Downloads Library – CSJ
  • Social Media Campaigns
    • Create graphics and captions to share across platforms
    • Share social media posts to drive engagement to your favorite crabby organizations
  • Wearables – sport a catchy shirt or hat from your favorite crabby organization as a conversation starter
  • Share social media posts to drive engagement to your favorite crabby organizations
  • Remember to always be friendly and polite and avoid disparaging stores or employees

2. Report Illegal Activity

To report animal sellers on Instagram, you can report the specific post or the seller’s account for violating Instagram’s Community Guidelines regarding animal abuse or the sale of endangered animals. You can report content anonymously and the platform will review the report.

What to do if you see poaching or illegal sales on Facebook?

To report animal sellers on Facebook, report the post as violating community standards against unauthorized sales. Specifically, report posts that appear to be selling animals, especially those disguised as selling pet supplies, to Facebook’s review team. You can also report the seller’s profile directly

What to do if you see poaching or illegal sales on TikTok?

To report animal sellers on TikTok, long press on the video, select “Report,” then “Violence, abuse, and criminal exploitation,” and finally “animal abuse”. If the content involves suspected illegal activity, select “Report illegal content”. You can also report the user’s account by going to their profile, tapping the 3-dot icon, selecting “Report,” and choosing the appropriate reason. 

What to do if you see poaching or illegal sales on Instagram

To report animal sellers on Instagram, you can report the specific post or the seller’s account for violating Instagram’s Community Guidelines regarding animal abuse or the sale of endangered animals. You can report content anonymously and the platform will review the report. aching or illegal sales

🔗 How Hermit Crab Keepers Can Help End Poaching

3. Promote Adoption, Not Shopping

  • Share and support the LHCOS Adoption Program
  • Direct others to proper rehoming channels
  • 🔗 LHCOS Adoption Program

4. Join or Start a Local Initiative

A variety of seashells placed around a tree trunk
Crustacean Plantation 200 Canal ST Tavernier FL 33070

5. Raise Funds and Awareness

6. Advocate Through Art and Creativity

7. Speak Up in Online Communities

8. Support Ethical Sellers

  • Only purchase from LHCOS approved sellers
  • Educate others on safe and legal product options
  • 🔗 Approved Sellers Program

Join the Movement

Download and Share

Poster collage depicting land hermit crabs wearing pieces of garbage instead of shells.
Shawn Miller
PSC 567
BOX 6636
FPO AP 96384 USA
https://www.patreon.com/MakeTheSwitch4Nature
Don’t have shells to send but want to help? Donate via Patreon.

Did you create a graphic or other resource you would like to share? Upload it to our DropBox. We are always interested in new and meaningful art to help hermit crabs.