Housing / Crabitat
There is alot more to keeping hermit crabs, than pet stores let you know, most infact are inadequate with in store care and certainly woth the knowledge of the type of care that these little guys need.
Most pet stores will tell you that keeping hermit crabs is inexpensive, and they are an easy pet to care for. This is the case BUT only when the correct, care, housing and diet are provided.
The most expensive is the housing / crabitat itself from then on these little guys are minimalistic in cost.
Housing / crabitat set up
you will need:-
Tank - A minimum of a 10 gallon glass aquarium is needed to house your hermit crabs. Use glass not plastic, plastic tanks will not hold the heat and humidity hermit crabs need to thrive.
A tank smaller than 10 gallon will not have the adequate space needed for all their needs. - Lid - You must have a lid to maintain humidity and prevent your hermies from escaping, which they can and will do. Aqurium hoods or mesh lids are suitable, but ensure you cover any holes that are in the hood for tubing etc.
- Humidity and temperature gauges - Hermit crabs need a temperature of 70 - 80f and relative humidity of 70-80%
- Dechlorinator - Chlorine in tap water will burn and blister a hermit crabs gills. Tap water conditioner is needed to remove the chlorine before use.
- Substrate / Bedding -
Substrate is the bedding or flooring you required, you can use specially prepared hermie sand or play sand, coconut fiber or both.
You will also need oyster shell and cuttle fish, aswell as a mineral block - Salt water - All land hermit crabs Need salt water, regardless of pet shops not supplying this or telling customers how vital it is for their well being. It must be made with aquarium salt or specialist conditioners available at our online store. Table salt WILL kill them Make sure you get aquarium salt for salt water fish, not fresh water fish.
- Hiding places or Dens - all crabs need places to hide where they can feel safe and secure. Coconut huts, reptile dens, lots of plastic plants, ect, will work fine. Make sure you have enough hiding spots for all of your hermies.
- Climbing toys - Hermit crabs adore climbing, so ensure they have purpose
bought ladders, reptile ladders, fish netting, habba trees and drift wood, cholla (cactus wood).
they love to get lots of exercise!! - Food and water dishes - Ensure that you have a sufficient number of food and water dishes. AT least 2 water dishes, one for fresh and one for salt, and enough food dishes to ensure all your hermies can eat at the same time!
- Company - Please do not have 1 single crab, a single crab will get depressed and probably die.
- Heat source - There are a few different things you can use as a heat source. Under Tank Heaters used for reptiles
they can be used on
the sides as well.
These are meant to heat the substrate. UV lighting can be used aswell, many owners use
day-glo and moon-glo bulbs. Only use about 1 watt per gallon. For example, if you have a 10 gallon tank, you dont want to go above 15 watts.
- Extra shells - All hermit crabs need bigger shells as
they moult and grow, ensure you have a good supply of different sized shells. Shell image shows actual shell sizes as
a guide. We sell a huge range of non painted shells at our online store
- Food - It is vital your hermies have a healthy varied diet as covered in the diet section
Finally!
you thought I had finished didn't you? - Finally you will need a small seperate tank this is for 4 reasons
Molting crabs - When your hermies molt they come out with a new color (Brighter or Duller) and they also are very vunerable to other crabs!!! This is optional, but in some case hermies will kill each other.
Sick crabs. - They also can be and are very vunerable and slow.
Cleaning - When you clean your hermie's home you may need to put them in a small tank ensuring you don't hurt them in the process.
Quarantine - For keeping new additions seperate, before you introduce them to your hermie family, this is a precaution, incase of infections.Material by Anita