When Morgan Bentley stepped outside to water her plants one afternoon, something strange caught her eye — a small piece of PVC pipe lying in the grass.
At first, it looked like any other bit of plastic debris. But then, it moved.
Curious, Bentley knelt down for a closer look — and that’s when she realized someone was inside.
“I have found another hermit crab, and look at the shell that he’s in,” Bentley said in a video she later shared on TikTok. “It’s not even a shell — it’s a PVC pipe. Luckily, he came to real estate Morgan, ’cause I’m going to get him a new shell.”
The poor little crab had been making do with a piece of discarded pipe as his makeshift home. It wasn’t just sad — it was clear he could barely move.
“That’s so sad that he’s in this thing,” Bentley said. “He can really barely move.”
Bentley, who’s helped other hermit crabs before, knew exactly what to do. She gently placed the crab and his “shell” into a cooler for safety, then gathered a handful of proper seashells for him to choose from.
After inspecting the options, the little crab took his time deciding. Bentley stepped away to give him some peace — and when she returned ten minutes later, he’d already made his choice.
He’d traded in his plastic pipe for a shiny, natural shell — one that fit him perfectly.
Bentley watched proudly as he adjusted to his new home. “He didn’t pick the one I thought he would,” she said with a laugh, “but he looks happy.”
After an hour of rest, Bentley carried the newly housed crab to a nearby safe spot — the same area where she’s released other hermit crabs she’s helped find new homes.
“This little buddy’s hopefully gonna go into the wilderness and live a long, happy life,” Bentley said. “And maybe I’ll see him again.”
