Pet Hermit Crab

Tips On Caring For Your Hermit Crab

The Basics Of Hermit Crab Care
Anyone who is considering getting hermit crab as a pet should learn some hermit crab care basics, since there are quite a few things you need to do in order to keep these little shelled creatures happy and healthy.

The most important thing is that you must provide them with the proper environment. The tiny box you took them home in just won’t do. In fact, the more room you can give them the better. Don’t forget your hermit crab can get lonely so you probably want to have more than one.

Hermit crabs have certain environmental needs as well so you want to be sure their new home meets their needs. First, you must provide them with a good substrate that they can dig in. Either sand or crushed coral calcium or special coconut fibers will do. You need to keep the habitat humid, but at the same time keep down the growth of mold and watch out for gnats which like to nest in the coconut fibers. You also need to maintain temps of between 75-84 degrees so an undertank or reptile heater will be necessary as well as a thermometer so you can adjust the temperatures accordingly.

One big part of hermit crab care is making sure they have enough shells to “move into” when they want to upgrade. Offer a variety of different sizes but avoid painted shells because they could have harmful toxins.

You want to keep your crab habitat clean so periodically sifting the sand to remove waste and debris is a good idea, but if your crab is in a deep molt leave the sand alone. Also, be sure to remove any uneaten food each day especially if you give your hermit crabs treats like fresh fruits or veggies. Hermit crabs are very sensitive to chlorine so you must get a good commercial dechlorinator and use it on any water you put in the tank for drinking or swimming. This is usually quite easy as it involves simply adding a drop or two of liquid to the water.

To provide your pet with proper hermit crab care, you should keep him entertained! Yes, your hermit crab can get bored so be sure to put a lot of toys in the tank and rearrange the habitat every so often. Don’t forget to provide your pet with friends (other hermit crabs) but keep a close eye on them to be sure they get along. Finally, when your crab is molting do not touch him - they are very fragile at this time and you could harm him. Also don’t remove the exoskeleton afterwards, the hermit crab loses a lot of calcium when he molts and he’ll much on the exoskeleton to replace that.