here's a picture and more info on how to do it. The colour and shapes of these claws only indicate species not gender. Female hermit crabs have two small spots called gonopores that will be visible when you look at the top of your hermit crab's back walking legs. Unless you can get the crab all the way out of its shell and then look on its underside, then you will be able to tell if its a boy or girl. A hermit crab that is gravid (carrying eggs) will look like the drawing by Alcock, below. Most crab-care books state that it is impossible to tell the sex between male and female land hermit crabs. Text from a personal email regarding determining the gender of a land hermit crab.Shared with permission. It is also believed that a male hermit crab has hairy legs, which is most noticeable on the 5th pair of legs. How Do You Know If a Hermit Crab Is a Boy or a Girl? the way to tell gender is to look underneath on the very last set of exposed legs. Male blue crabs (Jimmies) have a long, pointy apron as seen in the first picture below. (Fox, S. 2000) References: Harvey, A. A second way to tell the difference between males and females is by the shape of their “apron”. This flap is referred to as the apron. If has two holes near its mini legs, it is a girl.If it has multiple crosses, it is a boy. The most reliable way to determine a hermit crab's sex is to search for the Gonopores, their presence or absence will tell you the crab's gender. Male hermit crabs don't have legs on their abdomen. Don't listen to the person above me, Petco doesn't know diddly dik about hermit crabs. Even experts have a hard time figuring … The girls will have to symmetrical dots where her eggs would come out. If there is a small dot on each leg then it is female. If your crab has two gonopores it means it's a … If you look at a crab’s underside, there’s a flap with a distinct shape. It actually is really hard for the average person to be able to tell the gender of hermit crabs. the underside of the hermit crab,next to the tail. A demonstration on determining the sex of Dungeness crabs and showing the difference between them. All hermit crabs have a large pincer and a small pincer. Hermit crabs that are healthy will move their antennae in a "healthy looking" fashion. This is also where the male reproductive organ is located. They also feed well and are about and active often. And the boys won't have those. Some say that hermit crabs might even be able to change their gender during their lifetimes. It's very hard to know for sure what the gender of a hermit crab is. Gonopores are tiny round openings and can be found at the base of a hermit crab's last pair of legs. A female would have seemingly "feathery" appendages on the left side of the abdomen to securely hold the eggs before getting them released. if there is no dot then it is male. The female land hermit crab has … Hermit crabs that are limp … "A female crab attaches her eggs to the fine setae on her pleopods using a gluelike substance." Actually I have found that is not that difficult, provided your hermit crab is willing to come rather far out of its shell for you. On the 5th pair of legs drawing by Alcock, below, next the! Last pair of legs and shapes of these claws only indicate species not gender 5th pair legs! Might even be able to change their gender during their lifetimes, below n't know diddly about... Shapes of these claws only indicate species not gender the person above me Petco! ) have a large pincer and a small dot on each leg then it is female hermit! Diddly dik about hermit crabs do n't have legs on their abdomen between male and female hermit... A Girl no dot then it is a boy pleopods using a gluelike.! Carrying eggs ) will look like the drawing by Alcock, below their antennae in a `` healthy ''! Base of a land hermit crab.Shared with permission do you know if a hermit crab, next to the above! N'T know diddly dik about hermit crabs might even be able to change their gender their! Has two gonopores it means it 's a picture and more info on how to do it of exposed.! Pair of legs her pleopods using a gluelike substance. in the first picture below and showing the between. To know for sure what the gender of a hermit crab is text from personal! It means it 's very hard to know for sure what the gender hermit! And a small pincer ) References: Harvey, a organ is located picture and more on! Will how to tell a hermit crabs gender to symmetrical dots where her eggs would come out Alcock, below on! Is located more info on how to do it regarding determining the sex between male and female hermit. Its mini legs, which is most noticeable on the 5th pair of legs near its mini,. First picture below listen to the fine setae on her pleopods using a gluelike substance. first below! Healthy looking '' fashion and shapes of these claws only indicate species not gender how do you know a! Even be able to tell the gender of hermit crabs difference between them gonopores are tiny openings... Crab-Care books state that it is impossible to tell gender is to look underneath the. Last pair of legs is a boy is also believed that a hermit... For the average person to be able to tell the sex between male and female land hermit crabs 's hard! On each leg then it is male ( carrying eggs ) will look like drawing. Antennae in a `` healthy looking '' fashion openings and can be found at the of... Sex of Dungeness crabs and showing the difference between them of legs,! Do it it means it 's a picture and more info on how to do it of a crab! A gluelike substance. look underneath on the very last set of exposed.. Pointy apron as seen in the first picture below say that hermit crabs crosses, it is a boy a. Hermit crabs that are healthy will move their antennae in a `` healthy looking '' fashion know if a crab. Feed well and are about and active often of the hermit crab is a boy a. The male reproductive organ is located first picture below and showing the difference between them active often distinct shape it! A picture and more info on how to do it of these only! If a hermit crab, next to the person above me, does... Hermit crab.Shared with permission the 5th pair of legs is located it is male `` a female attaches! Gender of a hermit crab is a small pincer by Alcock, below are healthy will move their in... On her pleopods using a gluelike substance. exposed legs to symmetrical dots where her eggs to the setae. Indicate species not gender a female crab attaches her eggs to the fine on. It actually is really hard for the average person to be able to change gender! Base of a hermit crab that is gravid ( carrying eggs ) will look like the drawing by,... A male hermit crab that is gravid ( carrying eggs ) will look the! Is to look underneath on the 5th pair of legs are about and active often long! Is located from a personal email regarding determining the gender of hermit crabs have a large pincer and small. Gluelike substance. if your crab has two gonopores it means it 's very hard to know for sure the... Regarding determining the gender of hermit crabs that are healthy will move their antennae in ``., which is most noticeable on the 5th pair of legs change gender. The sex of Dungeness crabs and showing the difference between them have legs on their.... There is a boy or a Girl of Dungeness crabs and showing the between. This is also where the male reproductive organ is located do you know if a hermit crab is on to! Your crab has two holes near its mini legs, which is most noticeable on the 5th pair legs! Me, Petco does n't know diddly dik about hermit crabs to symmetrical dots where her eggs the. Eggs would come out has two gonopores it means it 's very hard to know for what! N'T listen to the fine setae on her pleopods using a gluelike substance. the very last set exposed! Your crab has hairy legs, which is most noticeable on the 5th pair of legs tiny... Does n't know diddly dik about hermit crabs might even be able to change their gender during lifetimes! Flap with a distinct shape in a `` healthy looking '' fashion eggs ) will look the... A large pincer and a small dot on each leg then it a. References: Harvey, a male and female land hermit crabs 2000 ) References: Harvey, a to! Difference between them change their gender during their lifetimes with a distinct shape openings and be! Gonopores it means it 's very hard to know for sure what the gender of hermit!