Crabbytalk.com - Hermit Crab Care, food/diet, crabitats, & pictures of land hermit crabs

Did you just get hermit crabs? Are you considering getting some hermit crabs? If you look at my crabitat photos you may get a bit intimidated. I’m a bit excessive when it comes to my crabbies. I thought I would outline the top 10 things that I think you must get if you’re planning on caring for hermit crabs:

1. Temperature and Humidity gauges - I think these are the two most important items a new hermit crabber should get for their crabitat. Hermit crabs require temperatures of 75-80 and relative humidity of 75-80%. It’s impossible for a new crabber to know exactly what the temperature and humidity is in the crabitat without gauges. While hermit crabs may seem “fine” for extended periods of time in your crabitat, if the temperature and humidity is not in the proper range and stable your hermit crabs could start to drop limbs and die.
2. 10 Gallon Glass Aquarium - KK or Kritter Keepers (small plastic tanks) do not maintain good temperatures and humidity. Ten gallon aquariums are available at Walmart or your local pet store for around $10.
3. Glass or Mesh Lid - Glass or mesh lids can be purchased at the aquarium store. Glass will hold heat and humidity better. Mesh can be used if you wrap it with plastic wrap (Glad Press and Seal). Mesh may be more appropriate in warmer areas of the country and in areas with higher humidity levels. If you can’t afford a lid right away you can drape a moist towel over the lid with plastic wrap; this will help to main the temp and humidity. Just watch out, hermit crabs are known to be escape artists.
4. UTH or lighting - You need some kind of heat source unless your house is really warm. A UTH or under tank heater sticks to the bottom of your tank and will warm the tank temperature by 5-10 degrees over your house temp. Lights are also popular; day glo and night glo reptile lights at 15 watts are good choices for 10 aquariums.
5. Substrate - Playsand or Forest Bedding are two popular substrates. Playsand is cheap, Home Depot and Lowes carry 50lbs bags for around $4. The substrate needs to be about 1 1/2 to 2 times deeper than your largest crab. Calcium sand is quiet expensive and tends to clump and smell when wet. Gravel is not appropriate substrate because hermit crabs can’t dig in it.
6. Dechlorinator - Dechlor will remove the chlorines and other bad chemicals from tap water. You want to be sure to buy a dechlor that does not produce a slime coat. Walmart carries Wardley Watercare Chlor Out for a couple of bucks a bottle. A small dish that your crab can sit and soak in is good. This is extremely important, chlorine will burn your hermit crab’s gills.
7. Aquarium Salt - Most hermit crab species require salt water, all species benefit from salt water. You need to be sure to get salt that is made for salt water aquariums and not freshwater salt. Do not use table salt. Instant Ocean and Oceanic are two popular brands. A small dish that your hermit crab can sit and soak in is good. If you have exotic hermit crabs like Strawberries, you must have a salt water pool that is deep enough for your hermit crab to fully submerge.
8. Extra Shells - You should have extra shells for your hermit crabs to change into. Shells should be the same size or a little larger than your hermit crab’s current shell. You should try to have a few extra shells per hermit crab.
9. Places to hide - These can be purchased online or you can make your own. Flower pots, coconuts, and margarine/butter tubs can be used as hidies. You can buy coconuts at the grocery store, cut them in half, remove the coconut (put a spoon between the shell and the meat in the skin area to remove), boil them for 15-20 minutes, and then bake them for about 20 minutes @ 300 degrees. Vines - Vines are great for climbing and hiding. You can get cheap vines at Michaels or at Walmart.
10. Food - Hermit crabs like variety. I have posted a list of foods that I feed my hermies.

Hermit crabs are social creatures. If you only have one, you may want to get a friend for your hermit crab. That being said, I think it’s more important to get the crabitat in order before you buy more hermit crabs. I have read a lot of messages on the forums about people getting more hermit crabs before they get gauges and tanks. Then they wonder why their hermit crabs are lethargic, dropping limbs, and dying. It’s highly unlikely that your hermit crab will die of loneliness, but it will die if it’s living in poor conditions.

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