Seven Fun Hermit Crab Facts

Although hermit crabs are not fluffy and furry, they are endearing little creatures and make ideal pets for children. Plus you can call ‘em hermies! Adorable! But seriously, I'm going to give you a few fun hermit crab facts that you may not be aware of, and which will probably make you view the humble pet hermie in a totally different light. Plus, with these secrets I am about to share, you should be able to take care and appreciate your little companion much, much better.

• The first of my secret hermie knowledge that I will share is that he is not really a
  
  
  
  
  crab! Unlike a true crab he has the misfortune to be born without a shell and therefore has to source or find one of his own, normally a snail shell or one belonging to another small crustacean.

• Your average crawly hermie is a bit of a party animal and likes to party all night! This leads me to another of my secrets about the hermies which is that he certainly doesn't live up to his name. His solitary reputations are actually false! He is a social little critter and loves to live with his mates – the more the merrier.

• When it comes to junk food, your average pet hermie (or hermies) is at the head of the queue! Another of my amazing secrets about this little critter is that he likes to eat pretty much what we do and some of his favorite foods include peanut butter, popcorn and fries!

• When I first researched about the hermies and their species I found that the little hermies were divided into two categories, aquatic and terrestrial. I was gobsmacked to discover that some of these crawly critters actually live in trees, hence their name "Tree Crab". In their tanks they need coral or tree bark to climb on.

• One of the most phenomenal of the secrets I am going to share with you is the longevity of a hermie. They can live up to fifty years in the wild and it is not uncommon to see baseball sized crabs – some even as big as softballs. They make terrific garbage recyclers in Florida!

• Hermies really love a weekly bath – especially a warm bath. Fill their tub up high, but not too high, put in the commercial brand water conditioner along with the special salts that you can buy and place your little fellow on its back. Move him around a bit and then lift him out, checking he is clear of any particles of dirt or debris. Do not leave him in longer than 50 seconds or he will drown!

• Another of the fun tidbits about the hermies that I discovered was that apparently they make a sound which is unique to them. This sound is sometimes described as a "cross between a creaky bed, a rusty door hinge, a croaking frog and a chirping bird." If your crab is housed in a tank in your bedroom then just be prepared to be disturbed, just when you are trying to get to sleep, by this strange noise. It's just your hermie's way of saying hello.

Hopefully, you've enjoyed these hermit crab facts as much as I did writing and sharing them. These secrets and information have really served me well as they have certainly made me a better owner for these little critters. I hope you can use this new knowledge to be a better owner as well and enjoy many years with your crawly companion. These little creatures really have a lot to offer and it's easy to see why they are proving popular pets.

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Tod Schaffer is a Hermit Crab enthusiast who has vast experience of raising Hermit Crabs. For more information about Hermit Crab Facts, Visit Hermit Crabs

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