Our Story

At Crustacean Plantation, our mission is to champion the conservation of native, wild hermit crabs in the Florida Keys. It all began in 2019 when Angela and Brian moved to Tavernier, Florida, and discovered that their home was also a thriving habitat for these fascinating creatures.

They soon realized that their property, with its close proximity to the ocean and abundant natural land, was the perfect "hermie highway" for their new crabby friends. Beyond the hermit crabs, the area is also home to a myriad of land crabs and mango tree crabs, creating a vibrant ecosystem. This rich natural life inspired them to create a sanctuary for these animals and a resource for the community.

The name "Crustacean Plantation" itself has a connection to the area's history. Established in 1861, their neighborhood was once a 143-acre farm managed by the Johnson family, and the community that grew around them was known as Planter. This history, combined with the abundance of crustaceans, gave inspiration for the name of their new conservation effort.