Native to the Americas, these hermit crabs live on the Pacific seashore ranging from Mexico to Chile,[4] and tend to gather around tidal pools and high-tide zone.

Their bodies have adapted to this seashore existence, and in captivity, they require access to seawater, as they must metabolize the salt in it and bathe in it to maintain gill moisture.

Failure to provide access to seawater (real or artificial) will result in death.

Like most hermit crabs, they are scavengers and consume seaweed, dead fish, and other detritus that washes up on the shore.

This might be advantageous to the crabs, possibly through the consumption of a more nutritionally balanced diet.