Taking Care Of Hermit Crabs The Correct Way

Hermit crabs or hermies are loveable little critters and can make excellent pets for several reasons. Firstly they are cheap to buy (less than a couple of bucks can get you started), secondly they are relatively inexpensive to maintain and thirdly, if looked after properly, they can live for quite a few years (10-15 years in captivity is not uncommon). If you want to give your pet a long and happy life, then there are a few things that you need to consider when taking care of hermit crabs.

Lifestyle

When in the wild these

Temperature and humidity

Most, if not all species of the hermies, come from tropical climes. This means that they are happiest in warmer temperatures with reasonably high humidity. In order to recreate this in captivity you will need to maintain the tank or aquarium at around 72o F and at about 70% humidity. If you keep your glass tank or aquarium in a warm room then you will probably be okay. However, if you tend to keep your aquarium in a shady area then you will need to purchase a small heater. These are relatively easy to buy and can be purchased from most reputable pet stores for a few dollars. In order to keep the humidity levels up, it is recommended that you purchase a natural sponge, damp it and place it in the tank.. The temperature is important when you want to keep your hermies happy and healthy because if the crab gets too cold it will die. On the other hand, if it gets too hot it will also die. You can tell when you little companion is overheating because it will produce a brown liquid and it will give off a slightly musty smell.

Environment

When you want to care for you hermie properly you need to look at their environment or natural habitat. In the wild they live in and around the shoreline and just love to burrow and indeed climb. Therefore in your tank you will need to provide them with climbing apparatus such as pieces of bark or plastic toys which are made just for this purpose. You will also need to provide them with substrate. Substrate is usually a layer of sand that covers the bottom of the tank, filled to a depth of around 3 inches, that the crab can burrow into. It burrows when it feels threatened or when molting.

Another most interesting fact is that the hermie makes its home in the shells of other animals. These are usually discarded snail shells or small crustaceans that are washed up on the beach. The reason for this is that unlike all other crab species the crawly hermie is not born with a shell. In order to recreate this in captivity you will need to supply your crabs with a wide variety of different shells in varying shapes and sizes. As it grows it will discard the shell and search for a new one. Try to avoid painted shells as the paint can come off and might harm the crab if digested. Shells can be purchased in all shapes and sizes in most pet stores or online.

Food

One of the most popular questions people ask when they want to own a hermie, is what kind of food do they eat? The simple answer is that within reason, they eat anything. They are scavengers in the wild and will eat leaves and bark, small crustaceans and even carrion. So providing you give them healthy foodstuffs such as fresh vegetables and fruit and also throw in a little meat and fish to their diet you will find that your crab will be happy. Try to vary their meal every day as they love trying new foods.

As you can see, taking care of hermit crabs is relatively inexpensive and reasonably easy. As long as they have food and shells, their environment is kept clean, they are able to climb and burrow and the temperature and humidity is stable, then you will find that your crab will live a long and happy life.

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

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