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Hermit Crabs
Hermit Crabs acquire empty shells to protect themselves from predators. Hermit Crabs can be popular aquarium pets because they feed on algae and debris. Questions regarding care of pet hermit crabs are welcome here.
1,632 Questions
Can hermit crabs live in only water?
No, there are some hermit crabs called purple pinchers and they happen to be land crabs.
Do land hermit crabs have babies?
Yes, they do but almost never in captivity. A female crab lays eggs which she carries in her shell for a few weeks before releasing them into the ocean.
What kind of plants can you have in a hermit crab habitat?
Some flowers that are safe for hermit crabs include daisies, clovers, lilac, day lilies, chamomile, impatiens, jasmine, violets, tulips, roses, sage, pansies, passionflowers, and milk thistle.
What does a hermit crab do when they moult?
Hermit crabs will eat more drink more and bath in the SEA salt more they will grow a sack under its arm that has the food it will need when it undergoes this process.
Then they will bury itself DO NOT dig them up! If you think they are dead and your tank smells like dead fish then it is dead. Hermit crabs molting can take from weeks to months.
When it comes out of the substrate when it is done molting it will have it's old exoskeleton DO NOT take it away, it has all the vitamins it need i know its gross but let them eat it.
After that they will bath more in SEA salt water and once their new exoskeleton has hardened they wont bath in it was much.
Why would a hermit crab come out of its shell and then become bigger?
Its not that they come out of their shell to become bigger they become bigger and outgrow their shell and are forced to migrate to a new, bigger shell *ESSENTIAL*
Can hermit crabs live in the ocean?
Yes it can but it depends what kind of shell. The shell must be like a conch shell, but not the kind for snails. There would be not enough room for the crab to squeeze his body in. You need a shell with an opening a little bit bigger than the shell opening it already has on if you want it to change into the new shell. But most the time they do not change shells (I have had one for over a year and it still hasn't). I know you probably want it to change into the pretty new shell you bought or found but do not try to manually do it for the crab.
They could eat rice but normally dont and usually chose not to and they mostly like a variety of food like meats,oatmeal,and other things but be carefull what you give them. oh and they really like raisens
Why is it bad for a hermit crab to not have a shell?
Wait-- Whatever you do, don't take its shell away!! They'd rather be torn to pieces than taken away from their shell.
The shell is like its house and clothes. It protects them from predators, provides a safe haven and a warm place to live, it's a nice place to sleep, and everything in between.
How do you help a stressed hermit crab?
Many things can stress out a hermit crab. You should have at least 1 gallon of space per hermit crab. Hermies also need the right temp and humidity which BOTH is between 70 and 80. Most hermit crabs you buy are purple pinchers. They are climbers so have alot of climbing toys such as bark for them (do not crowd the tank) they need distilled water, and SEA salt water as well. you should spray their tank LIGHTLY once a day. and have at least 2 hermies.
Are hermit crabs born with a shell?
yes they do becuse if they dont the part that goes in the shell is very tender and soft and can get dameged very easy so its good to have difernt sized empty shells in the cage so the crab can change the shells when needed
Can you give a betta fish hermit crab pellets?
Betta pellets are designed for Bettas to eat. Hermit crab pellets are designed for Hermit crabs to eat. Goldfish flakes are designed for Goldfish to eat. Are you getting the message? If you wish your Betta to do well, feed it Betta food.
What if you eat crab meat that smells like amonia?
After having called Poison Control to check to see if my friend (who ate the severely affected crab) needed medical attention for having imbibed crab that showed signs of extreme decay through the aroma of highly concentrated ammonia. The attendee on the phone said not much could be done, that the sickness the person was feeling would go away in 24-36 hours. He advised that we keep my friend hydrated, and provide a supportive environment. Not much else could be done. My friend still has a numb throat and sensitive stomach, but her dizzyness and blurred vision have gone. I recommend calling your local poison control center and err on the side of caution, letting them know your particular situation and asking what can be done to alleviate the symptoms.
No hermit crabs inspect a new shell inside of their cage the they pull them self out of the shell and then drop them self into a new shell. there are videos on youtube.com of crabs changing shells. so provide your crab with extra shells. i am a hermit crab owner i have watched my crabs change shells it is called molting.
No, there are chemicals present in paper that can be dangerous for your crabs.
The paper would also act as a wicking agent to pull moisture from the hermit crab. You definitely do not ever want to use any kind of litter or paper meant for mammals in a hermit crab tank.
The best substrates to use for your hermit crabs are an Aragonite sand put out by a company like CaribSea (found in reef stores and pet stores that cater to salt water aquariums) or Coconut fiber bedding (also known as Coir) known by brand names like Eco Earth.
You do NOT want any sort of bedding that contains conifers such as cedar or pine, as it is an irritant to hermit crabs an can also possibly cause them to sicken.
Play sand is a questionable substrate, as you never can know if it contains contaminants that cannot be sterilized or washed out, and may have no color or odor. Some have had crabs die from choosing this cheaper option, so it's not worth the risk.
for more comprehensive and up to date hermit crab care info, visit http://www.crabstreetjournal.com or http://www.hermitcrabparadise. com
Join the forums. There are crabbers there who have had their crabs for 10+ years. They know what to recommend and what to stay away from.
What is a hermit crab and what do they eat?
Hermit crabs are scavengers so in the wild they will climb trees to eat insects and will eat fallen fruit from trees. in captivity you should have a food bowl and change the food once a day. the food you should be fruit and veggies.
Do hermit crabs eat small spiders?
Not usually. They should be the same size, and eat or harm each other when threatened. If your crabs seem aggressive, separate them. If they fight over food, feed them separately. That should solve the problem!
In a way yes they do, but you can't tell really. they show there emotions physically not mentally though.
How does the crab spider protect it self?
the way the green crab protects itself is by using its claws and or its larger pincher
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.
How do you make treats for hermit crabs?
Hermit crabs will eat just about anything humans eat. So you could try making them a fruit salad with apples, bananas, grapes, and you could even through in a few carrot pieces to help boost their carotene ( carotene helps them keep a bright, healthy color in their skin)
Why does your hermit crab have a white eye?
If the eyes went white before the crab died, it is possible that the crab was having a problem molting. Molting is a strenuous process where the hard outer skin (called Chitin) of the hermit crab's body is shed to allow the crab to grow, much like many reptiles do. Many hermit crabs will start to lose a little of their color before they molt, and the area around the eyes can often go completely white before the molt.
It is also possible that the crab is not dead. The shed outer skin often looks like a still-living crab.
A good way to tell if you are looking at a discarded outer skin or a dead crab is to smell the place where the crab lives. Dead crabs give off a very, very distinctive fishy smell. If their is no smell, and the crab is easily accessible, pick up the crab by the shell on its back and look closely at the opening. If the crab is alive, it will in fact be all the way in the back of the shell, hiding behind the discarded skin. Donot attempt to remove the outer skin or possibly dead crab from its shell, and do not attempt to help in any way. If you cannot see far enough into the shell to tell for sure, and their is no smell, assume your crab is alive without further investigation. Unless their is an excessive stench, you may want to consider waiting a day before discarding a potentially dead crab to ensure it is, in fact, actually dead.
If the crab is not dead, or you are unsure, the best thing is to immediately return the crab to the position you found it, as well as the discarded outer shell. Hermit crabs usually eat most or all of their discarded outer skin to replenish the nutrients they need for the new skin.
If you have multiple crabs in your tank, and the crab was out in the open, consider trying to segregate the molting crab from the others (some crabs my try to steal the shed skin and eat it themselves). The crab will not be moving around much, so anything simple you can use to help protect and shelter the crab will work (at times, I myself have used a paper cup and the bottom of a plastic soda bottle). Don't forget to punch air holes for the still living crab.
You can also cut the TOP off of a 2 liter soda bottle, and place it down over the molting crab, with the lid off of course. This keeps the other crabs out and keeps air flow to the crab. Be sure to provide him with water dishes and some calcium and protein rich foods.
yes because they think you will harm them so stay away from them
I think they eat apples all the time to ceep them selfs red.
Does a hermit crab have to have sand when it is molting?
It depends on the size of your hermit crab. They can take as little as one week, up to several months. The average time for a smaller crab is 3-4 weeks, but can take much longer, so don't be tempted to dig them up if they are under for a very long time.
While molting under the surface, your crab is shedding his old exoskeleton. His new exoskeleton needs some time to harden, and then he will eat his old exoskeleton. He needs this as it helps him replenish the calcium and protein to help his new exoskeleton harden and to give him energy. He may surface before his new exo is fully hardened. He may appear pale, and lethargic. Do not disturb him at this time. Wait until he is acting normal, with normal energy and color, before you pick him up and play with him. He needs time to recover without being disturbed.
Make sure you provide him with plenty of protein and calcium and chitin sources after he surfaces, such as shrimp with the tail still on, dried mealworms, freeze dried shrimp (without preservatives, ethoxyquin and copper sulfate are toxic to hermit crabs). Give him a little honey or coconut (unsweetened) in his dish for some added energy.
