The Karidephians are also adept at creating small appliances and machines, which they export in exchange for food. The basic societal element of the Karidephians is the Hatch, which describes a family of 20 to 30 individuals. It is the Hatches, not the Karidephians themselves, that form the individual personalities of Karideph, as the Karidephians have a true hive society. As a whole, the Karidephians have limited intelligence, but they have developed a system of songs that maintain histories and lessons from generation to generation. Bards are among the most important of the Karidephians, and each Hatch has at least one singer to preserve their history and to communicate with other Hatches.