Woman Brings Home Bag of Shells, Internet Horrified by What Happens Next [Video]

A video showing hermit crabs unexpectedly crawling out of a bag of beach shells has stirred both shock and concern among millions of viewers on TikTok.

The video, posted by @ryleeslappey, has amassed over 3.1 million views since it was shared on June 5. The clip begins with text overlaid on it saying: “Not my SIL [sister-in-law] filling an entire BAG full of shells thinking they were empty & coming home from a bike ride to this.”

The video shows hermit crabs slowly emerging and scuttling across a paved floor next to a parked bicycle. A follow-up caption assures viewers: “They’re all free, no one worry.”

The incident highlighted the vital role that empty shells play in coastal ecosystems, particularly for hermit crabs, which rely on them for survival.

According to an article published by the Ocean Conservancy, a nonprofit focused on ocean protection, “hermit crabs are very resourceful. They have exoskeletons like other …