Those most alien looking creatures

Jun 302016
 
Hermit crabs are fascinating little pets, with their alien appearance and unique lifestyle. Properly caring for these small crustaceans is a bit different than most people think, but it’s a rewarding experience! They
are, sadly, often considered a throw away pet, but a properly cared for hermit crab can live 15 years or more! We’re here to change that perception and help you get the most out of your new crustacean friend!

A few tips to get you started:

Hermit crabs, despite their name, are quite social and do better when kept in small groups. They can be quite active and love to climb, so give them plenty of space and some vertical surfaces.
Hermit crabs like high humidity and access to both fresh water and salt water. Provide fresh water with a sponge, and giving them a bath twice a week in salt water.
For more information on how to care for these fascinating creatures, check out our care sheet here. Stop by to see these cool little guys for yourself and talk to our trained staff about how to properly care for them.
And to help get you started right, we’ve made our own hermit crab kits! These convenient homes contain everything you need to get started at a GREAT price!
Kit includes:

Hermit crab home
Shell for their food
Sponge for humidity
Substrate coconut/calci-sand mix
Marine Salt
Decoration
plus food and treats!

Hermit Crab Care

Nov 162011
 

Download the care sheet (pdf)

Adult Size
Between 0.5-4 inches in length

Life Span
Potentially 6-15 years

Male/Female Differences
In males, the reproductive organ is located below the heart and open to the outside at the base of the last pair of legs, whereas in females, it is located at the base of the middle pair of walking legs.

Compatibility
Hermit crabs generally get along with one another as long as there are enough shells for them to hide in. Since they often outgrow their shells, there are often competitions for any available shells.

Origin
Most hermit crabs come from the Caribbean.

Climate
Coming from the Caribbean, hermit crabs enjoy a heated environment.

Day Cycle
Hermit crabs are mostly active during night.

Temperature
Hermit crabs enjoy a temperature between 70 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lighting No overhead light is necessary for fear of drying out the habitat. Regular house lights are sufficient enough for them.

Humidity
Humidity is key when it comes to the hermit crabs. It should stay between 70-80%.

Habitat/Territory
If there is more than one crab in a tank, there should be sufficient space between them to prevent them from running into one another. Shells varying in color and size should also be distributed around the tank in order for the crab to change shells.

Substrate/Bedding
Clean gravel or sand may be used as a substrate for the hermit crab. Using crushed coral will aid in calcium absorption for a strong exoskeleton. Provide a molting box with at least two inches of moist sand to encourage healthy molting.

Hiding Place/Den
A hiding shelter should be provided for the crab so that it has a place to sleep during the day. As mentioned before, scattered shells are also great to have.

Cage Type
Generally speaking, there should be about one gallon of space per two hermit crabs. The size of the glass aquarium strictly depends upon how many hermit crabs there are and how much space is to be allotted to them.

Diet
Hermit crabs are omnivorous meaning they eat both animal and plant matter. Bloodworms and baby shrimp are great choices for these fellows.

Supplements
Crushed cuttlebone is a great supplement for it provides them with calcium. This helps to strengthen them especially during the stages when they start to molt.

Diet Precautions
Although they are able to eat plant matter, hermit crabs should also be fed vegetables.

Feeding
Hermit crabs should be fed one teaspoon of prepared food in a powdered form. Hermit crabs are scavengers therefore, a variety of proteins such as fish meal and plant matter should be provided. Preferences are vegetables and fruits with natural sugar content.

Water Source
It is recommended to provide a soaked natural sponge with dechlorinated water.

Grooming
Hermit crabs are molters, which means that they shed their outer skin every so often. When it does this, gently clean it. However, a small bathing bowl should be provided with water that has no chlorine in it. This way, the crab may bathe when it wishes to.

Oral and Foot Care
Hermit crabs have very sensitive abdomens and should not be squeezed or dropped.

Proper Handling
Hermit crabs are docile animals and respond well to being handled however if frightened, they may pinch the hand that holds it. In this case, submerge the hand in temperate and dechlorinated water to get the crab to release. They will only snap their claws if they feel threatened or if they are pinched too tightly.

Habitat Maintenance
A deep cleaning of the tank every one to two weeks is highly recommended. Uneaten food and any molten skin should be removed daily. Water should also be rinsed and changed daily.

Health Concerns
Since the hermit crab molts, they become highly sensitive to their environment. They bodies are soft and sensitive to everything. If there are other crabs with it, it molten crab should be isolated from the others until it recovers. A shallow dish of dechlorinated water should be provided for the crab to walk around in to rinse the shell from excrement and to freshen the primitive gill. This should be done every two to three days for about ten to twenty minutes.