0
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.
HousingI 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 crabSome 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.
DietHermit 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.
HeatingHermit 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.
WaterHermit 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.
HabitatHermit 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 HandlingHermit 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.
What else can I help you with?
Where do you find hermit crabs?
On some beaches and especially in the Caribbean. But PLEASE don't take hermit crabs from the beach or other wild places, they WILL die. Buy them from pet stores instead.
Do your hermit crabs get water?
What I do for my hermit crabs is I take a shallow hermit crab dish (found at pet stores), fill it with fresh NATURAL SPRING WATER (all other water will kill crabs. trust me!), and put in a hermit crab sponge (also found at pet stores). This way they can pleasantly have their NATURAL SPRING WATER (remember that!) without drowning.
What stores sell hermit crabs?
Pet stores
Does pet smart sell hermit crabs?
yes
Are hermit crabs decreasing or increasing?
the wild populations of land hermit crabs are decreasing because of people collecting them for the pet business :(
Do hermit crabs use snail shells?
not pet hermit crabs... they are too weak and fragile to keep the hermit crab save although wild hermit crabs might use them the would be sea snails which have harder shells
How did hermit crabs get to pet stores?
well that's a very great question,and i will do my best to ansewer it. hermit crabs start to live out in the wild, at a beach is the best known place for a hermit crab to live.people take them to the pet stores for people to by them as pets.if you get a hermit crab its best to leave it by its self for a week or two,you've never known what its been through from the ocean to the pet store
Were can you get hermit crabs and hermit crab tanks?
You can buy hermit crabs at stores such as Petco. They have many hermit crabs things to meet your needs.
When is hermit crab season?
Hermit crabs do not have a designated season in the wild; they are typically available year-round. However, the availability of hermit crabs in pet stores may vary depending on breeding cycles and demand. It's best to check with your local pet store for more specific information on when hermit crabs are available.
Is there any information at all about hermit crabs?
There are entire sites about hermit crabs, my favorite is in the following paragraphs: Hello! Welcome to HERMIT-CRABS.COM. My name is Christa Wilkin, and I've owned land hermit crabs for over 35 years. First things first -- congratulations on having made the decision to own pet land hermit crabs! Hermit crabs need a bit more care than generally assumed, but you'll find the results to be very rewarding! Here you'll learn all about keeping pet land hermit crabs healthy. You'll read about what kinds of food they like and don't like, what they like to do at night while you're asleep, and (very importantly) what do when your pet crab molts (sheds his skin). You'll also learn how to tell the difference between a male and female crab, and even how to tell the different species apart! It gets even better -- you'll read the very latest information in crab care, and check out all the links I use to purchase my hermit crabs the very best internet shopping has to offer them.
How long do pet hermit crabs last for?
usually two or three years
Are pet hermit crabs born with designs?
Hermit crabs are very plain looking; they don't ever have designs. Here's pictures of a hermit crab. http://www.thecrabbagepatch.com/crabanatomy.html When they find a shell to inhabit the shell may have a pattern, but the crabs themselves are plain.
