'Hermit Crab Care'

Hermit Crab Care

KateyBate (66.227.233.47) -

We have had a variety of different hermit crabs, some from the local per store, and others my aunt gave us from California. Our longest pair lived just 6 months. The kids really liked them and we'd like to get some more, but want to know how best to care for them as what we were doing apparently didn't work.

Comment #1 Courtney (1) from The South -

I have not had a hermit crab before, but I had a friend as a child that had one. Hers lived forever, but it got out of the tank all of the time. Scary, it wound up in her moms water bed one time and poked a hole in it. Bye bye water bed. I am thinking about getting one, but I am sure mine would die too.

Comment #2 tokay from tokay village -

I hate trying to take care of herbit crabs. I am not a big fan but can manage to keep them alive. The biggest thing to remember is that they need a humid environment to survive. They need fresh chlorine free water as well as salt water. Also you need different sized shells for them to transer to when they start to grow.

Comment #3 snakelover from ask me -

I couldn't keep those things alive. I hated those things as pets. All they did was crawl around the cage and you never knew when one was dead until it started to stink.

Comment #4 Odie from the dog house -

Be careful when you think they are dead. I was told that they go dormant for a little bit and people think they are dead when in fact they are very much alive.

Comment #5 tokay from tokay village -

Yep I have had that happen once. I was about to chunk it when it started to move around. Sometimes they are like that. If you are in doubt sit the hermit crab in the shallow dish of water and if it is alive it will start to move again.

Comment #6 Lisa (71.172.224.47) -

I never had a crab I want to learn more about them, I would want one or two.

Comment #7 alexis (70.152.45.121) -

i had hermits but they require a lot of care they need baths salt water baths salt drinking water (aquirum salt ) reqular bottled water fresh food (commerical kills them) friends it is a lot of work oh and they need exercise

Comment #8 Wondering Erika (216.49.100.51) -

Yo peeps! I want 2 kno if i should try 2 get hermit crabs! Do they stink @ all? Plz reply!

Comment #9 Therese (208.104.253.166) -

Hermit crabs are easy to care for. A few suggestions: Once a week, you need to submerge them in water for exactly one minute. Pour tap water into an open container, and in 3 days it is safe for them (the chlorine will evaporate). When they molt, don't take away their old shell as they will eat them for the calcium. Good luck!

Comment #10 babygirl (64.30.63.86) -

we might be getting hermit crabs soon though i need help finding out what they like

Comment #11 Ashley (98.224.225.106) -

DO NOT BATHE THEM!!! It stresses them out and most hermit crabs sold are CarribeanTree Crabs and they won't go into water above their shells. If you bathe them it can result in death, loss of limbs, or issues molting. They're fun little creatures, but they are a lot of work. My hermit, Godzilla, is a little escape artist. You need to keep the cage humid and warm. Please don't get a a hermie unless you know what you're getting into. They're more work then they seem to be. Also remember that they need to live in groups. The more the better.

Comment #12 ShailynSmall (99.252.172.159) -

You Can Sooooooo Bath a Hermit Crab all you Do is Submerge Them In a Small Amount Of Water For A Couple Of Seconds, Take Them Out And Then Do It Again. LET THEMM AIRR DRYY!!!!!!!!!

Comment #13 Frannie (76.113.226.201) -

Can I put any other animals with my 3 hermies?

Comment #14 Deb Sullivan (98.216.136.55) -

Hi Everyone,

Just happened upon you all and thought I'd pop in for a reply to respectfully address some of the concerns here:

Hermit crabs will die without proper temp/humidity, dechlor water, ocean mix salt water, decent diet including protein, fruit, veggies, calcium and cellulose, an environment conducive to allowing for a successful molt like deep damp substrate and water dishes deep enough that they can (climb in and out of to) replenish their own shell water and do housekeeping.

Kiss of death: aggression caused by a tankmate with a nutritional deficiency, aggression caused by a tankmate in need of a shell, excessive heat, low humidity, improper substrate, wire cylinder or kritter keeper housing, aquarium pebbles or mulch that doesn't hold humidity and can't be dug down into, lack of a lid, shallow substrate that they can't fully bury in, dry substrate, chlorine in the water (it burns their modified gills), disturbing or not recognizing a molter, frequent bathing (more than 1-2 x's a month) as it throws off the delicate balance of shell water that they carry (not necessary, give them reptile dishes they can get in/out of and they'll take care of their own needs like they do in the wild), not using dishes that provide enough water to meet their needs, failure to maintain their captive environment (poop and food can cause a toxic level of ph), using chemicals and other odorous substances around their tanks.

Boring hermits: live alone, live in tiny crabitats, have nothing to do, eat commercial food.

Land hermits are wonderful little pets each with their own personality. I've kept them for more than four years and have had from micro (bean size) to jumbo (larger than a baseball). Some are social and have friends they prefer to be with, others are loners, some are curious and friendly, others are shy and timid, some have wonderful appetites and will happily come running when they see the human bringing food, others are quite picky and some are ground dwellers while others love to climb and drop to the sand from tall tank decor.

More than anything and despite their small size they have needs of food, water, housing, socializing, recreation and mental stimulation just like any other pet. Please research and provide for them properly and if you're thinking about owning them or have questions, please visit one of the following sites where you will meet friendly people and find wonderful and accurate advice and information 24/7.

landhermitcrabs.com (LHC)

hermitcrabassociation .com (HCA) (remove the space) I had to include it to get past the 24 character word limit

crabstreetjournal.com (CSJ)

Deb, aka Crabby Abby, LHC admin

Comment #15 NayNay- da sk8 queen (121.218.95.135) -

look i f you don't really know about crabs please DO NOT purchase one. They are not THAT easy to care for and do require a little work even if they are very rewarding creatures okay?????

Comment #16 carly (24.7.220.201) -

I just purchased 2 hermit crabs myself and I know how hard it is to take care of them. I am a very big athelete and I am busy a lot. one of my biggest fears is that they will die when I'm not around. I cannot find a way to keep their cage humid enough. but I LOVE THEM TOO DEATH!! so please give me some advice on how to keep their cage humid enough!! thank you : )

Comment #17 kelly (69.243.190.31) -

ok my dad and i are thinking about getting hermit crabs. I did alot of research about them. It says that i need salt water in their cage but where do i get the salt water from? In a hermit crabs cage it needs distilled water and not tap water so do i buy distilled water and put salt in it or do i need to but some speical kind of salt water?

Comment #18 mushroomlady from deepest reaches of imagination -

Hey if you want to learn more go to landhermitcrabs.com and join the forum there. The people are like hermit crab experts!

Comment #19 mushroomlady from deepest reaches of imagination -

also, here is the link to the website

Comment #20 dj (69.117.124.5) - Mon Sep 14 17:02:08 2009

taking care of hermit crabs can be hard but it can also be very easy also. if you are busy often buy an automatic feeder. just fill it up with food and your all set till the feeder runs out. as for water you need a natural sea sponge. you cant have any chlorine in the water. you can buy dechlorinater at any pet store. just wet the sponge with wtaer and itll last a few days. last hermit crabs need salt water. add a small bathing water and add hermit crab bathing water to it(buy at pet store). it has to have sea salt in it. once you know all these steps you are all set to buy a hermit crab. hoped this helped.

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