0
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
Why do hermit crabs live on land?
Some hermit crabs are land hermit crabs like the ones you buy at ocean city. They have modified gills which means they CAN'T breathe underwater. Hermit crabs need moist air so they need humidity between 70 and 80 and temp 70-80.
How do you know a hermit crab is angry?
they could possible get up to a size bigger than a water ballon i had one get bigger than my dads hand ♥
Why does a crab have two different sized claws?
the big one is so big because it blocks the entrance to the shell when they retract into it to help protect them. it is also used to climb and for defence. the small claw is for grooming and eating.
Do pet hermit crabs bite and pinch?
Hermit crabs do not bite, but they may pinch you with their claws.
Hermit crabs may pinch very hard and it might hurt but some can be very social I have 4 hermit crabs and I named one Mr. Crabs and he loves to come out of his shell and play!
Yeah i have 4 crabs too and i love one of them the most. his name is gummbie. <3 well crabs pinch but some like to climb on you (like my gummbie) and they have sharp little claws but they only mean to play with you unless you are bothering them. but that would be mean so dont bother them! : P
What does it mean when the hermit crab leaves its shell?
A hermit is a person that keeps to themselves and does not live with others. They tend to be loners. The Hermit Crab is named that way because they live alone in a shell that was not theirs to begin with. They find an empty shell and move in. Kind of lika a squatter who moves into an abandoned house away from others.
What are the characteristics of the hermit crab?
Besides the use of the shells of other animals hermit crabs have many other adaptations.
Land hermit crabs have developed modified gills that allow them to live on land. They use the humidity in the air to breath and their shell water to lubricate their gills.
Hermit crabs have one small feeding claw and one large defence claw. When retreating into their shell the defence claw seals the opening protecting the hermit crab inside.
The defence claw can also be used in dominance displays towards other crabs. Or to scare off small prey. It has a powerful pinch and a hermit crab will hold on until they feel safe once more.
Because land hermit crabs moult they have the ability to regenerate damaged or missing body parts. Legs, claws, anteni, eyes can all be regrown in one or two moults depending on the health of the animal.
They have a strong sense of smell. they can detect food from distances away. They like to try new foods every day and can remember the smell of a previous meal.
Land hermit crabs have adapted to live in large colonies. The safety in numbers helps defend them against predators. They will also find food together.
Hermit crabs are scavengers and will rarely eat live food. This adaptation lets them scour the beaches or ocean floor and enjoy the left overs of other animals. They will eat both animal and plant matter.
How ofeten do you feed a hermit crab?
It depends on what your hermit crab eats, if you feed your hermit crab food you found at the pet store, just read the directions! If you feed it food from your home just give him how much you think he would eat ( be sure to remove old food daily)!
Can a dead hermit crab poison other hermit crabs?
Yes, they are scavengers and will eat their own kind. They can smell the weakness of a hermit crab when it molts and some kill the molting hermie to eat. They dont stop to think thats my own kind, they just have a sense that says eat.
Should hermit crabs be kept in pairs?
I'm not so sure if they need a companion, but they certainly enjoy company. If you are getting pet hermit crabs it would be advisable to get three or four, and as hermit crabs aren't too expensive, you should think about it.
Can sea hermit crabs eat normal hermit crab food?
im pretty sure that not all crabs eat hermit crab food. unless that u mean that do all hermit crabs eat hermit crab food? then the answer to that is yes. all hermit crabs eat hermit crab food.
Is it okay for a dog to eat a hermit crab?
There are several dozen foods that are perfectly fine for humans but very bad for dogs/animals. Normal fish, If fed exclusively or in high amounts, can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. Lobster is a shell fish; not quite the same but it's better not to risk fido's life for a tasty treat. A tiny bit of anything now and then (even chocolate or grapes) won't kill them depending on the size of the animal but their food is based on their dietary needs for a reason.
Can hermit crabs and sulcata tortoise live in same habitat?
It depends how large the Sul is and the hermit usually yes but you should in mind that hermits need sponges and there own hideout plus the food.
The thing is that the hermits food is meat and meals and that is not good for the Sulcata.
Also Hermits Need A few shells and a climbing area.
So yeah the do make a good mate for the sulcata Tortoise.
Any other of the tort species will most likely eat it.
I have a Sulcata Tort Named Gordan and he has a hermit crab with him.
Doing fine!
-Matthew
How does a hermit crab eat and breathe?
Well they do NOT breathe air, they just can be out of the water because they store it in their shell to breathe. This means that if you want to take your hermit crab out, you must give it a bath -no soap- so it can get breathing water in its shell.
yes also that's another way it can hide from something
What are the external features of a crab?
Eyes on stalks, a hard shell covering the back and other limbs, two front-positioned claws, 6 (?) legs.
How often do you spray a hermit crab?
DISTILLED water, only spray them lightly if they need more humidity, i dont spray my hermies, i only spray their crabitat when the humidity is too low. use DISTILLED water because the chlorine in tap water can sofacate them.
Hermit crabs are very social and LOVE company they usally don't live as long as they do when their with others. They can live over 2 years mine lived for 3 years.
Hermit DO FIGHT they fight over shells. one likes a shell the other has (make sure your hermies has alot of shells, NOT over crowding the tank!) and they fight. The victim usally dies over the fight.
But if you are there when it happens, you should blow on them if they still fight pick them up (do NOT pull them one will lose a limb!) if that doesn't happen you need to LIGHTLY mist them with distilled water.
I'm not 100% sure but if you picked one up and sniffed the hermit crab then maybe but when I first had some hermit crabs I used a type of sand. At first I thought they died or something but i realized it was the sand that smelled but make sure you change out the sand, dirt or whatever you use every month or so. 1. their bodily waste, 2. it could be the food that smells, 3. change the water every other day with the food. Maybe the sponge you use smells since it was sitting in the water.
Is the relationship between hermit crab and snail shell commensalism?
This would generally be viewed as a symbiotic or mutual relationship. The anemone benefits by being transported to different locations, some of which may be richer in food supply. The crab benefits from the camouflage the anemone provides, the partial protection of having a stinging anemone in close proximity and also from pieces of food which the anemone may drop.
How do you take care of a hermit crab leg injury?
I actually did get pinched by a hermit crab earlier today. I did not do anything . You probably felt a little sting but you do not have to do anything. (to prevent any pinches keep your hand flat as you can when you hold your hermit crab)
Will mealworms prefer damp or dry places?
Yellow Mealwoms is a kind of warehouse pest, and is subjected to be Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae, Tenebrio.It is also called bread worms.
Yellow mealworms is known as "Protein Warehouse" for its highest nutrition (protein, calcium) in live animals.In recent years, yellow mealworms is developed as pet feed gradually and also becoming super nutritious food for human beings. Even the UN adopts yellow mealworms products in the Saving African
Children Project to supply protein which is in need for them. Insect food will be the full- nutrition food for human beings in 21 century with great development potential..
Main Purpose Of Mealworms:
1. For pet feed. birds, turtles, lizards and hamsters all like it.
2. For high-class health-care product or medicine
3. For cosmetic. It is excellent cosmetic material due to its high protein
http://little-q.cn/mealworms_meal.htm
Why are hermit crabs nocturnal?
the reason they dont like daylight is because they are noctornal, they are most active during nite if you have one mostly always keep they light off and they like warm places to be next to or close by.
What are the perfect conditions for a hermit crab?
at LEAST a 10 gallon glass tank with sand or eco earth, or a mix, as substrate. The substrate needs to be at least twice the height of your crab and it's shell - to allow for molting. Substrate should also be a little damp - but not wet - more like sand-castle consistency so the crabs can dig tunnels and not have them cave in on them.The sand should NOT be calci sand, the colored sand most pet stores carry. It is not meant to become wet, and when it does, it dries rock hard. There are horror stories of hermit crabs becoming trapped under the sand, or the sand becoming lodged in their shells and drying and trapping the crab in the shell so it cannot change. Aragonite sand by Carib-sea, sugar grain or select grain size is an ideal sand for hermit crabs. Quickrete play sand can also be used, but you are taking a chance on getting sand with impurities that can be deadly to your crab.
Other needs - A mesh (covered with saran wrap or cardboard covered in saran wrap) or plexiglass or glass lid to keep humidity in. a temperature gauge and humidity gauge. The temperature in your crabitat needs to be between 72-80F, with a warm and cool end. The relative humidity needs to be kept between 65-80% (70-75% is ideal) so the crabs can breathe through their gills. 2 water dishes (one fresh dechlorinated, one ocean dechlorinated water) deep enough for the crabs to bathe in if necessary - with a sponge in each to provide humidity and so the small crabs don't drown. one clam shell or other food dish that has low sides that the crabs can easily climb over. Hiding places for each crab are essential to make them feel safe. You can use something as simple as a small terracotta pot half buried in the sand. toys and climbing surfaces are another favorite of hermit crabs - they LOVE to climb! silk plants, big rocks, hemp nets, ..... just make sure there is NO metal ANYWHERE in the tank for them to come in contact with - including the water - metals are harmful to hermit crabs. Extra shells that are slightly larger and slightly smaller than the crab's current shell. use a ruler and measure the OPENING of the shell to determine the size. also make sure the available shells are deep enough for your hermit crab to wrap his abdomen around the center spiral comfortably or he will boycott the shells. Calcium sources are also vital to molting and general health. you can use a combination of cuttlebone (usually for birds), crushed coral, boiled and washed eggshells, and crustaceans like shrimp. a small clamshell with calcium supplements can be kept in a tank for weeks as long as it does not get too wet or dirty. please go to landhermitcrabs.com for more information on hermit crab care. Also, http://www.hermitcrabparadise.com/crabcare http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=12&storynum=5
Do hermit crabs act dead when they are molting?
Yes. When a hermit crab is molting, it reserves energy by not moving. The old skin will be shed and look like a ghost crab. Make sure that your hermit crab has plenty of water in it's dish or sponge as humidity is a great help to him or her during this process.
