Ocean City Hermit Crab to Appear on Animal Planet

Friday, 02 December 2011

Martin Z. Mollusk on National TV - OCEAN CITY’S WEATHER PREDICTING HERMIT CRAB TO APPEAR IN ANIMAL PLANET SEGMENT, DEC. 10TH

Martin Z. Mollusk, Ocean City’s relatively famous hermit crab, will appear on “Animal Planet,”  Sat., Dec. 10 at 8 p.m., during a one hour segment devoted to Pets.


A crew from the popular, national TV network visited Ocean City in May to film the acclaimed crustacean, it was announced by Mark Soifer, the crab’s spiritual advisor, chef, biographer and publicist.

Martin resides at Old Salt on the City’s Boardwalk where he hangs out in a plush Hermit Crab Condo. His caretaker, Stacey Klause, attends to Martin’s day to day needs including health care. She explained the importance of providing the proper maintenance for hermit crabs during the filming.

It seems that many folks who adopt hermit crabs as pets are unaware of their nutritional and housing needs. Martin insists that literature is distributed explaining these necessities during his annual beach creep to determine the arrival of spring and at other personal appearances.

Animal Planet also filmed Martin riding in his miniature surrey on the boardwalk, eating pizza with friends, creeping on the beach during the resort’s annual “opening of the ocean” ceremony and enjoying a spin on the Merry-Go-Round at Wonderland.

Martin will share the limelight with an Ant, Box Turtle and Salamander during his TV segment. Martin is not accustomed to sharing the limelight with anyone but agreed to do so because of the importance of airing the health care segment.

A famed weather prognosticator, the hermit crab made his initial appearance in Ocean City in the spring of 1974 when he saw his shadow thus ensuring that summer would arrive one week early at this family resort. Since then he has seen his shadow every year except 1983 when he projected a partial image and correctly predicted that summer would arrive 3 ½ days early.

Over the years, MZM, as he is affectionately known by his close friends and hangers on, has been featured on TV, radio and publications throughout the world.

His biography, The Martin Z. Mollusk Story (Rhyme and Punishment) was recently reprinted due to popular demand. Copies are available at City Hall Annex, 901 Asbury Ave., (609)525-9300 for $5 with all proceeds donated to the Ocean City Food Cupboard.

NOTE:  Martin’s Animal Planet segment will also be shown in re-runs throughout 2012.

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