Pembina Valley Pets Online - Pembina Valley Pets online is here to provide information regarding the store as well as how to care for your animal

Average Size: 2-6 inches (depending on species)

Lifespan: 10+ years

Hygiene and Health:

Crabs will clean themselves if you provide them with fresh water in their bowls. But it is a good idea to bathe crabs.  Submerge them in room temperature water for 30 seconds-1 minute and allow them to air dry.

Hermit crabs love to switch shells but need larger shells as they grow to maintain adequate body moisture. For a proper fit, the new shells opening should be the same size as the crab’s large pincher. So must have extra shells here and there available for them to randomly switch in. Do not buy random shells meant for different purposes without boiling them in water because they may have chemicals which could kill a Hermit crab. Hermit crabs have special tastes for shells so if you have one really interesting one there’s a good bet that they will grab it as soon as they see it.

Hermit crabs also require a humidity level so if you are using a top screened tank you should cover 1/2 with cardboard to keep in the humidity. Also you need to spray the inside cage from a spray bottle of un-chlorinated fresh water.

Hermit crabs require two separate dishes of water. The dishes should be shallow, but deep enough for them to go in. The key is to have a sponge in these dishes because they drink more from the sponge. The first dish must by unclorinated fresh water. The best way to do this is boil a jug of water, let it cool off, then that will provide water for a longtime for them.

Behavior:

The smaller claw is the feeding claw and is used to pass both food and water to the crabs mouth. They are good climbers and are often quick to explore new objects placed in their enclosure.

Land hermit crabs cannot reproduce in captivity. Reproduction is the only time they require the sea. Like other crustaceans, hermit crabs grow by shedding their exoskeleton. During this time they need to be kept extra moist and in a medium they can burrow into. It may be necessary to isolate them from any other crabs at this time as they are most vulnerable. Never remove a crab from its shell as it will sometimes allow itself to be torn apart rather than leave the safety of its shell.

Diet: Crabs need calcium obtained from shell dishes. And, they thrive on pre-mixed hermit crab food and treats, along with a variety of vegetables and fruits. They will bury their food, so make sure you remove all uneaten food prior to their daily feeding.

Habitat:

An aquarium with 2-3 inches of sand is ideal as they do need to burro to unstress.. The Optimum temperature is 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit for them. In cooler areas it may be necessary to purchase a heater to provide these temperatures. Do NOT use heat lamps, full-spectrum lamps, or corn-cob bedding as these act as desiccants and dehydrate the crabs.

On top of that they do like to climb a lot so be sure to put in fake plants and other accessories so they can climb around in.

Taming, Training and Handling:

Hermit crabs are generally non-aggressive and can be handled. Avoid giving the large purple pincher claw any part of you to grab though. Holding your palm out flat is one way to avoid this. If you are unfortunate enough to get pinched, hold the contact point under warm water. This will normally make the crab release.

Loner or Groupies:

Hermit crabs are social creatures. They do enjoy being together and shouldn’t be alone. They communicate with each other by making various sounds. Disputes between individuals are usually over the most beautiful shells that are in the tank.