Shell and food acquisition behaviors: Evidence for Contextual Decision Hierarchies in hermit crabs

► We compare behaviors acquiring food and shells by the hermit crab, Pagurus samuelis. ► Visual, chemical, tactile cues were presented separately and in combination. ► Tactile cues elicit the strongest response when searching for shells. ► Chemical cues elicit the strongest response when searching for food. ► Hermit crabs order information for responses by 'Contextual Decision Hierarchies'.