Hi James, I assume you want to get the critter out alive. If you didn't, it could be removed by any of the methods that would have removed the original inhabitant - freezing, cooking, etc. Two possibilities come to mind. First, you could put the shell and crab in a plastic bucket of sea water with several empty shells about the same size or slightly larger (which you don't need for your collection). With a little luck the crab might decide to move into a new home, leaving the current one vacant. If that doesn't work, you could try anesthetizing the beast by adding epsom salts (magnesium sulphate), available at any pharmacy, to the water. When the crab becomes weakened or limp, you can shake him out of the shell, and when placed in fresh sea water he HOPEFULLY might revive (no guarantees!). However, if you toss him back in the ocean without a shell, his chances of survival are slim, unless he can find another suitable shell in a hurry. An unprotected hermit crab is fish bait. Regards, Paul M.