How do you take care of baby hermit crabs?

Answer 1

NO NO NO NO NO! WRONG! I will answer.

Hermit crabs need a place to hide in. So like a hermie hut or anything that they can hide in and be away from others. You need a food bowl and a water bowl. You need water that's in a bottle NOT tap water. You need to have the correct substrate so like jungle bedding, Gravel, sand. Don't do your whole tank with Gravel they can't burrow. You need a spray bottle to mist them and keep humidity up and a temp gauge and humidity gauge to see what the temp is. Your tank needs to be 70-85 degrees F. To help keep humidity up you can get a undertank heater. If you do get an undertank heater you need to put it on the side of your tank not the bottom. You don't want it on the bottom of your tank because if a crab burrows down and gets to close they could get over heated. You need salt water which you can get at your local pet store so like Petsmart, Petco, or any other like pet store. Give them salt water once a week. I would recommend HBH hermit crab salt. You can get oceananic. You may want a sponge in your water bowl to help with humidity. You need something to climb so like drift wood, rocks, or choya wood. You also need some extra shells. 2 smaller then your crab. 2 bigger then your crab and 2 the same size of your crab.

to take care of a hermit crab you need a castel or a thing to hide in . you need a food bowl and extra shells for them make sure u have moss so they can sleep or relax in it .hermit carbs like attenchen so watch them alot i recommed not to pick them up too much !! make sure you have food and water change or clean tub ever 5 days give them salt

Answer 2

Hermit Crabs have over 5000 different species. Both land and water crab care is basically the same: a sand bottom about 2-3 inches for burrowing. Added rocks or dirt (only pet store bought, NOT OUTSIDE) can be safely added and is recommended especially for larger tanks 20 gallons and up. Hermit crabs are great climbers and require a screen top. To keep this need for fun climbing, branches, rocks, etc. should be added. Temperatures should be kept around 60-90 degrees Fahrenheit during all day hours. A UVA long bulb should be included for "artificial" sunlight which they need for survival. A daylight bulb can be a bit pricey around $10 each. UVA bulbs and holder $30. Day bulbs should turn on at about 7-8 o'clock in the morning shut off at 6 o'clock same with UVA. At night hermit crabs temperatures can drop to about 50 degrees f. Hermit crabs are nocturnal so don't be scared if they don't come out during the day a lot (they will come out at day but not a lot). Hermit crab cost 3-10 dollars (less for smalls more for big ones) so purchasing them shouldn't really be a problem. When I first bought my crabs, I played with them. BE CAREFUL. When they pinch, they DON'T LET GO. When i got pinched, I got a cut followed by a rash. I had to dip the crab underwater to get it off me. Small crabs can live with big crabs. With mine, fighting has never happened. I have 6 crabs living in a 15 gallon tank with no problems. Hermit crabs will eat almost anything but feeding is difficult due to the fact they can't eat common food we have because its loaded with salt or butter. REMEMBER NO SALT OR BUTTER or your crabs CAN die. Hermit crabs prefer different diets day by day and some food can just be found in your backyard such as nuts, fruits, leaves (preferably crunchy and dry), tree bark (always clean), grass (no pesticides), vegetables. other food include peanut butter, crackers (NO SALT!), popcorn (NO BUTTER OR SALT!), and other freshly dead fish or crustaceans. Most foods should be removed the day after you put them in for they will rot in your crab's humid climate. Food and water should be put in a bowl (shallow and preferred a ramp bowl for easy getting in and out). WATER HAS TO BE SHALLOW WITH A SPONGE IN THE BOWL OR THE CRAB WILL DROWN (sponges found at pet stores). Water includes fresh water (must be cleaned with water cleaning products found at pet stores) and salt water (same clean same as fresh water).

I forgot to put spray your crabs tank aka "crabitat" at least twice a day to keep humidity above 50-60 (as seen on humidity gauge found at pet stores).

The total cost for my healthy, long living hermit crabs was $118 (glass aquarium not included).

Answer 3

Flooring

The ground of a hermit crabs tank should include sand, a little dirt, rocks and broken coral pieces (all store bought only or can carry mites or diseases). Maintaining clean sand isn't really a problem because hermit crabs aren't really messy.2-3 inches or sand is required for burrowing of the crabs.

Housing

I have 6 healthy hermit crabs living in a ten(10) gallon tank. Size differences will not be a problem because hermit crabs get along well. It is highly recommended that your crabs have cage mates because in the wild there pack animals.

Selecting a healthy hermit crab

Some pet stores will allow you to hold or observe their crabs before choosing the one you want. Look for moving antenna noticing your looking inside their cage and if there running away from you. Look for a crab that is a bright red in color, no swollen limbs. If a pet store does not have a giant collection of empty shells in the tank, then don't buy any. Hermit crabs NEED extra shells to switch into and if don't have a big selection of them, are probably not healthy and may die due to stress. Avoid hermit crabs that are just hanging out in the middle or the cage unaware that anything is going on.

Diet

Hermit crabs will eat just about anything from tree bark to other dead crustaceans. This includes leaves (preferably dry and crunchy),peanut butter, popcorn, fruits, vegies, crackers, applesauce, nuts, grass ,fish(dead only), cereal and everything in between. MAKE SURE NOT OF THESE PRODUCTS CONTAIN BUTTER OR SALT BOTH CAN POISON YOUR HERMIT CRAB!!! Remove all food the day after you put them in for in the hermit crabs humid habitat they will rot quickly. All foods found outside should be cleans WITHOUT soap.

Heating

Hermit crabs come from a tropical environment so temperatures should stay around 70-83 degrees daily and night time temperatures should cool to around the high 60s to the low 70s.If your house is colder at night they make inferred bulbs so the animal can think its night because they cant see red and heats them up also it makes nocturnal viewing possible. Commercial goods like the hermit crab heater can be bought at pet stores. A UVA bulb is also required for sun rays.

Water

Hermit crabs do need oxygen as well as they need water. You may think they breath to get oxygen, but no, hermit crabs have gills like fish. Oxygen is assimilated through water in the bloodstream, so it is very important to keep the humidity in your crabs enclosure at least 60 as seen on a humidity gauge. A humidity gauge isn't required as long as your smart enough to know you sprayed their cage enough. I say this because humidity gauges are very pricey, 15$ for a small one. Fresh and salt water is needed in their cage for drinking and salt water transfers calcium and keeps limbs hard and healthy. KEEP A SPONGE IN EACH WATER BOWLS AT ALL TIMES. Without the sponges, your hermit crabs have a very larger chance of drowning. Sponges can be bought at most pet stores. Tap water requires conditioner to take chlorine out and other harmfull materials.

Habitat

Hermit crabs need lots of different hiding spots especially for a colony of crabs in one enclosure. All pet stores that sells anything at all in the reptile region should cover this. Pet stores with this sell artificial and real little tree chunks with a hollowed center or for decoration many sell "hermit hotels", a tall "building" with a hermit crab logo with a welcome sign on the front. For my crabs I found in the aquarium section a sponge bob squarepants and squidward house which i put in their habitat. I found that with those, the windows are small holes which the crabs use to climb to the top of the house.

Behavior and Handling

Hermit crabs are very sensitive animals and have moods. All but one of my hermit crabs have let me hold them and the last one pinched me. WARNING:HERMIT CRAB PINCHES HURT!!! Their rough skin along with rigid edges on the inside of the claw, provide a very hard pinch. When they pinch its either you made them made or there in a bad mood. When I got pinched the little guy wouldn't let go and it took dipping him upside down underwater to get him off. NEVER TRY TO TAKE YOUR HERMIT CRAB OUT OF THEIR SHELL!!! The inner soft tail of the crab is their most sensitive part and the crab will fight to the death to stay in the shell. Rarely you can catch a glimpse of your crab out of there shell which they only do when they molt. I saw it myself and its an amazing sight because they come out for less than 5 seconds about once every two months. To hold your hermit crab place it on for hand flat and if hes in a happy mood he will come out and walk. You will notice the crab will walk around upside down under your hand. Make sure you catch him if he falls. Avoid walking around with your crab because that ticks them off encouraging pinching.

Answer 4

baby hermit crabs are not very easy to take care of and some may die but there is a very good chance for them to live if you have searched up alot about them and know how to take care of them very well. Hermit crabs need a very big salt water aquarium, at least 10 gallons and the temperature has to be from 72-80 degrees. You also need brine shrimp for the babies when they are born (they need to be hand fed.) You need to also be around alot for the babies. That's all it takes! Good luck! ;)

Answer 5

Tank-

A glass aquarium is the most appropriate tank for a hermit crab. You can also use a plastic tank.

You can house up to 2 hermit crabs per gallon. I have a 5 gallon take with 5 hermit crabs living in it. The tank would comftorbly fit around 5 more hermit crabs.

Feeding-

You can buy food at your local pet store. Anywhere from "Crab Meal" that you can either mix with water or serve dry, to just plain pellets. However, these little guys LOVE fruits and veggies! You can feed then Oranges, bananas, apples, raisins, and even avocado. They can have ANY fruits and veggies. Without them their diet would not be stable.

"Bedding"- You can use mulch(coconut bark from the pet store), sand or even gravel for fish tanks. IF you choose gravel, only put it in half the tank because the crabs cant burrow in it, and burrowing is their favorite thing to do! So do either half gravel half sand or half gravel half mulch. Or all sand, or all mulch.

Moisture-Spritz the cage once a day to keep the mulch/sand/gravel moist.

Hope this helps.! :)

Answer 6

Flooring

The ground of a hermit crabs tank should consist of a mix of about 5 parts playsand to 1 part Eco Earth, moistened. The depth should be three times the height of your largest crab.

Housing

Hermit crabs should be kept in a glass or acrylic enclosure with a good lid to hold in their essential heat & humidity. It should include lots of things to climb and places to hide.

Selecting a healthy hermit crab

Some pet stores will allow you to hold or observe their crabs before choosing the one you want. Look for moving antenna noticing your looking inside their cage and if there running away from you. Look for a crab that is a bright red in color, no swollen limbs. If a pet store does not have a giant collection of empty shells in the tank, then don't buy any. Hermit crabs NEED extra shells to switch into and if don't have a big selection of them, are probably not healthy and may die due to stress. Avoid hermit crabs that are just hanging out in the middle of the cage unaware that anything is going on.

Diet

Hermit crabs will eat just about anything from tree bark to other dead crustaceans. This includes leaves (preferably dry and crunchy), popcorn, fruits, veggies, crackers, applesauce, nuts, grass, fish, cereal and everything in between. PROVIDE YOUR CRABS WITH PROTEIN AND CALCIUM SOURCES AT ALL TIMES TO KEEP THEM HEALTHY & DISCOURAGE CANNIBALISM. Remove all food the day after you put them in for in the hermit crabs humid habitat they will rot quickly. Items like wood & leaves should be pesticide free and can be baked in the oven at low temperatures to kill germs/mites.

Heating

Hermit crabs come from a tropical environment so temperatures should stay around 80*F daily and night time temperatures should cool to around the low 70s. You can accomplish this with heat pads (always on an end or back of the tank, NEVER under), heat bulbs, etc.

Water

Hermit crabs have modified gills and need high humidity in order to breathe and also to molt. Your crab's home should have humidity around 80% as seen on a humidity gauge. A humidity gauge is absolutely required (as well as a thermometer) to know your crabs' conditions are ideal. You can get good digital (dual) gauges online for as low as $7 each. Fresh and salt water is needed in their cage for drinking and bathing (all water needs to be treated for chlorine & chemicals first). Their salt water must be marine-grade & made with a salt like you'd use for a salt water fish tank (Instant Ocean & Oceanic are good), but DO NOT use products with stress coats or slime coats. Tap water requires conditioner to take chlorine out and other harmful materials. Your crab's (2) water dishes should be deep enough for him to dip his shell into & scoop in water. Use stones or shells to provide an easy way in & out for any smaller crabs you may have.

Habitat

Hermit crabs need lots of different hiding spots especially for a colony of crabs in one enclosure. You can make one out of a coconut shell using a knife and a bit of patience, or you can go and buy one. All pet stores that sells anything at all in the reptile region should cover this. Pet stores with this sell artificial and real little tree chunks with a hollowed center or for decoration many sell "hermit hotels", a tall "building" with a hermit crab logo with a welcome sign on the front. For my crabs I found in the aquarium section a SpongeBob SquarePants and Squidward house which I put in their habitat. I found that with those, the windows are small holes which the crabs use to climb to the top of the house. The funny thing is that hermit crabs spend more time on top of the houses then inside them, so you might want to get some things for them to climb on, remembering that hermit crabs climb better when there are little knobs and things for them to grip.

Behavior and Handling

Hermit crabs are very sensitive animals and have moods. WARNING: HERMIT CRAB PINCHES HURT!!! Their rough skin along with rigid edges on the inside of the claw, provide a very hard pinch. When they pinch it's because they are frightened or afraid of falling; that's all. DO NOT USE WATER TO GET YOUR CRAB TO LET GO!! This can traumatize or even drown him. Simply put your hand in the tank or on the floor & let him walk off. To hold your hermit crab place it on for hand flat and if he's in a happy mood he will come out and walk. You will notice the crab will walk around upside down under your hand. Make sure you catch him if he falls. Avoid walking around with your crab because that will scare them & throw them off-balance, thus encouraging pinching. Don't handle them too much, they like being left alone so they can attend to their own business. NEVER TRY TO TAKE YOUR HERMIT CRAB OUT OF THEIR SHELL!!! The inner soft tail of the crab is their most sensitive part and the crab will fight to the death to stay in the shell. Sometimes you can catch a glimpse of your crab out of their shell when they try on a new shell. CHANGING SHELLS IS NOT THE SAME AS MOLTING.

Molting

Molting is how your crab grows. This is also how crabs replace lost or damaged limbs. Their hard outer skin (exoskeleton) will get tighter as they grow underneath & they will need to shed it & grow a new one. To do this, he will pig out on food & water & bury for a length of time from a couple weeks to several months (depends largely on size), during which time he sheds that old skin, and starts hardening up his new skin by eating the old stuff. This helps replace those lost nutrients. He is very vulnerable during this time & should be left alone. When he is done, he will come back up with a hairier body (it often looks smaller at first) and pointy black tips at the end of his feet. Smaller crabs molt several times a year for shorter periods; larger crabs only once or twice a year for longer periods.

Answer 7

okay ill first tell you everything you need. youll need: 1 gallon per crab (say if you wanted 3 crabs then get a 3 gallon tank), a water dish, a sponge, a food dish, a couple different shell for it to molt into, flooring (this should include some softness maybe some sand, gravel, and mine has jungle flooring its like dirt and it has some wood chips in it to), some decorations (hermits love to climb get them like a climbing grid and a twig or something)

Now you know what you need ill tell you how to use all that, first you need to arrange all the things in its tank as desired. You put a little water in the water dish but DO NOT FILL IT because hermit crabs like to sit in their water dishes and bathe in it.Next put your damp sponge in the water dish it should take up the whole water dish if it doesnt its okay though. The hermit crabs drink out of the sponge.Now you will pour in 1 tablespoon of food per hermit crab so i f you have 3 hermit crabsyou pour in 3 tablespoons. Now its cage is set up and you know about them why dont you see if its a boy or girl? gently flip over the crab look in the abdomen area if there are 2 little dots they are called gonopores ITS A GIRL if theres not 2 little dots ITS A BOY

Answer 8

First, and most importantly you need a fish tank. (I have a 10 gallon tank, that works the best!) You need some sand in the bottom of the tank. You need about 2 inches so that the Hermit Crabs can dig if they want to. You need 2 water bowls and one food bowl. You need 2 water bowls for fresh and salt water. Lastly some decorations/fun stuff.

Answer 9

A water dish with a proper sponge

A food dish

Extra shells

And strainer