Hermit crabs make excellent pets. They won't be cute or cuddly like little dogs, but playing with them is fun and they can teach children to take care of another living creature. Follow these steps to create a habitat for your hermit crab and care for it.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Create the Right Habitat
Step 1. Get a case of the right size
A 40-80 liter tank can accommodate two to four small hermit crabs. One of 80-160 liters can accommodate 12 small or 3-4 large hermit crabs. Hermit crabs are social animals and should never be alone. In their case, the air should be sufficiently humid, but still have a change. Often, you will be able to use an aquarium or terrarium for reptiles. You can even rinse an old leaking tub from the attic and use that. Acrylic terrariums are the best because they retain moisture and heat more efficiently.
Step 2. Make sure there is enough moisture in the hermit crab case
You should buy a hygrometer and a thermometer; they will help to monitor and maintain constant temperature (around 23-29 ° C) and humidity (75-85%). Hermit crabs breathe through thickened gills, and if the air isn't moist enough, they can't breathe properly; the ideal humidity is at least 75%. A lower level causes choking, which kills hermit crabs in a slow and extremely painful way.
The best way to naturally increase the humidity of the terrarium is to put moss in it. Hermit crabs will be able to eat it and the humidity will increase. You can also use wet sponges, but they get dirty easily and need to be changed every 2-3 weeks
Step 3. Make sure the case is at the right temperature
Hermit crabs are tropical animals and prefer high temperatures, between 23 and 30 ° C. The damage created by the heat is irreversible and too low temperatures slow down the metabolism of these animals. A dedicated hermit crab heater, mounted behind the display case, is a good way to keep the tub moist and warm. An unsuitable environment can make these crustaceans lethargic, inactive and shrunken, leading to their death.
Step 4. Put the substrate
This is the state of material that you will need to arrange at the bottom of the case. The only sand suitable for hermit crabs is the Caribbean one, because it is very fine-grained. Sand of other thicknesses could injure animals and sand for playgrounds could contain harmful substances. Use chlorine-free salt water to moisten the sand and give it the texture of what you would use to make beach castles. You can also use pressed coir, and expand it in the same salt water you give the hermit crab to prevent mold. Substrates in which hermit crabs cannot dig, such as aquarium gravel (which does not hold its shape) or calcium sand (which creates lumps and smells bad) are not suitable. The layer of sand should be 3 to 5 times the height of the hermit crab and a material that it can easily dig into to build burrows to relax, hide and moult.
Many hermit crabs also like to hide and moult in damp moss such as reptile moss (Not the decorative one or the Spanish one!).
Step 5. Keep the substrate clean
If it is dirty, molds that are dangerous for hermit crabs could form. Change it every six months. Additionally, you should briefly check for mold, ant or termite infestations every month. If you notice any of these, change the substrate right away. It is a good idea to remove any excrement and food that the hermit crab has removed from its bowl or buried. You should only clean the substrate when the hermit crab is not molting. Never move a hermit crab during that phase.
- If you want to be even safer, you can sterilize sand substrates by placing them in the oven. Put the sand in a large baking sheet (which you should only use for this purpose!) And put it in the oven. Set the temperature to 120 ° C and cook for 2 hours.
- Once every 2-3 weeks, boil all the shells and containers in the case in chlorine-free salt water - doing so will eliminate all mold and bacteria. Let them cool down before placing them back in the tub.
Step 6. Get some toys
Hermit crabs love to climb; in nature they climb large rocks exposed to low tides while looking for food. They are sometimes called "tree crabs" because they climb trees to feed on insects and vegetation. Don't buy painted toys, though, as the paint can be harmful to hermit crabs if they were to ingest it. Here are some ideas:
- Games to climb on. Pieces of wood are perfect for this purpose. They are non-toxic and have crevices that hermit crabs can cling to. You can place them in a corner of the tub, you should just avoid placing them too high or the hermit crab will fall. Nets made with Lego or hemp are equally suitable.
- Natural games. The natural rocks and shells you find on the beach are perfect for decorating the case. The shells also become plates in which to serve food. Just make sure you boil them in water to sterilize them before putting them in the tub.
- Plastic games. Plastic plants for reptiles are great for them to climb and hide, but remember to cover the tank with its lid to prevent hermit crabs from escaping. Also be careful that they don't eat plastic; if this happens, remove the plants immediately!
- Never use pine logs! It is an irritating wood for hermit crabs, and can be toxic.
Step 7. Offer the hermit crabs a hiding place
Hermit crabs, like most animals, like a place to feel safe and hide when threatened. You can use half a coconut shell, a broken vase, large shells, etc. Just be careful that the hermit crab does not get stuck and, if it happens, that it can dig to get out.
Step 8. Add real plants to the display case
In particular, the safest plants are bamboo (make sure it's real and not Dracena sanderiana, sold as "lucky bamboo"), venus flycatcher and phalanx. Your hermit crab could obviously nibble on them, so there is no guarantee that the plants will grow.
Step 9. Provide the hermit crabs with water
All species of these animals must have access to fresh and salt water; for this you will have to prepare two bowls inside the display case. Hermit crabs must balance the salinity of the water in their shells; the bowls should be deep enough for the animals to wet the shell (Coenobita perlatus must also be able to dive), but make sure they can get out. To do this, pour the water into a container with a shallow part where it is easy to get out and a higher one where the animals can immerse themselves. Line the area with rocks or something hermit crabs can cling to. The plastic would be too slippery.
- If you host both large and small hermit crabs in the same case, you can put small stones or a small natural sponge in the water bowl, so that the larger ones can get the water for their shells, but the small ones do not drown.
- You can buy aquarium salt for saltwater fish (not freshwater fish) at most pet stores. Never use table salt, as the anti-scaling agents it contains can be harmful.
Step 10. Make sure the water is chlorine-free
The chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals contained in tap water can cause hermit crabs to die, causing them to suffocate. Resting the water removes the chlorine, but not the chloramines, so you should buy a purifier if you want to use tap water.
If you don't want to purify tap water, use tap water instead. But make sure nothing has been added to it
Method 2 of 2: Taking Care of Your Hermit Crabs
Step 1. There are many species of hermit crabs on the market
They are all part of the Coenobite genus. The best species for beginners is the Caribbean hermit crab, because the others are more delicate and need more constant and precise care.
The Caribbean hermit crab is the most common type of domestic hermit crab. In most cases, when you see a hermit crab in a pet shop, it will be this species. The others are wrinkled hermit crab (wrinkled), strawberry hermit crab (perlatus), Ecuadorian hermit crab (compressus), hermit crab cavipes, komurasaki hermit crab (violascens) and Indonesian hermit crab (brevimanus)
Step 2. Handle hermit crabs with care
Be patient with them - it will take time for them to get used to their new homes. When you get a hermit crab, leave it in a cage for a few days. When you notice that it does not retreat into its shell as you pass, wait a day, then try to hold it in your hand. Let him explore your hand and get used to your presence.
When you bring home a hermit crab, the animal goes through a period of recovery from stress that can take anywhere from a few days to more than two months. During that time, change your food and water regularly and don't bother him. In some cases, even with the best care offered by an experienced breeder, hermit crabs can die from the stress of buying
Step 3. Be aware that hermit crabs need to moult and will need more shells
If a hermit crab digs under the substrate for a few weeks, don't worry. If you don't smell rotten fish, that's fine. Avoid disturbing the animal. He has to be alone, and if you bother him, the stress could kill him. The hermit crab exoskeleton becomes too small for the animal after some time, and like a snake shedding its skin, these animals will lose their exoskeleton and grow. Do not remove the old exoskeleton from the case! He will have to eat it to reinforce the new one.
If one of your hermit crabs is sick, don't panic. Keep an isolation case in a closet with enough substrate to fully submerge and plenty of food and water. If a hermit crab looks sick, it may be on the verge of moulting. Make sure that even in this secondary display case, the temperature and humidity comply with the recommended values
Step 4. Provide shells for your hermit crabs
As they grow, they will need larger shells. It is important to always keep many shells in the case similar to those used by hermit crabs, but larger in size. Once a month or so, replace unused shells with others.
- The Caribbean hermit crab prefers shells with round, rather than oval, openings. Ecuadorian hermit crabs on the other hand prefer oval openings, because they have flatter abdomens.
- Never buy painted shells! Although the companies that make them claim to have used safe paints, the color could be ingested by hermit crabs and be toxic. Most hermit crabs prefer natural shells to colored ones, even if they are not the most suitable size. Read the Warnings below for more information on which shells to avoid.
Step 5. Provide hermit crabs with a healthy and varied diet
These animals are necrophages by nature and will eat just about anything. Beware of food on the market, as it contains additives such as copper sulfate, which could make your hermit crab sick. Don't even feed them foods that are spicy, spicy or contain preservatives.
- Hermit crabs are crazy about beef rump and fresh shrimp, frozen krill, worms and other types of seafood. You can usually find these foods in the supermarket.
- If you are cooking beef or chicken, set aside a piece, not marinated, to lightly grill for the hermit crabs. You can also feed them raw meat.
- If you breed more than twenty hermit crabs, try getting fish heads at the local fish shop - they will usually gladly give them away. You can put all the hermit crabs in a large display case or in a clean plastic container, throw the fish head and a bowl of water inside and leave the animals inside to eat for a few hours. You shouldn't do this often, as the stench would be awful, but hermit crabs will really appreciate it!
Step 6. Learn which vegetables and fruits hermit crabs like
Remember to change their food every day. Hermit crabs have a habit of burying food they don't eat, and this can cause mold and dirt.
- Hermit crabs love fresh fruit, such as pineapple, apple, pear, grape, melon, watermelon, mango, papaya, strawberry, banana, etc. Wash the fruit well before cutting it to remove pesticides.
- Hermit crabs are crazy about coconut flakes.
- Hermit crabs also eat peanut butter on wholemeal bread toast, hard-boiled eggs, egg shells (boiled), popcorn (without salt and butter).
- Avoid foods of the Allium species (onion, garlic, etc.).
Step 7. Play with hermit crabs
Some of them love attention. When they are awake, take them in your hand with caution. What do they like to do? To climb! Let them climb onto your shirt while you watch TV, or tire them out by walking on both of your hands (like a treadmill). Never drop them or keep them out of the case for too long, as they need moisture. If they fell from a height of 1m they could die and the fear of falling is the reason that pushes them the most to pinch with their claws. Keep them so they don't risk falling and they almost certainly won't hurt you.
Remember that hermit crabs need moisture. In the home, the humidity is generally 40%, and can drop further in case of air conditioning or high temperatures. The sensation that hermit crabs experience when exposed to low levels of humidity is similar to what we experience when we hold our breath for too long
Step 8. Remember that hermit crabs can pinch
While they generally only do this when they are afraid or feel threatened, they may decide to pinch for no reason, so be prepared. Wetting the hermit crab to let it release could injure it and cause it to tighten further. Be especially careful when handling them. You can avoid being pinched by keeping your hand flat and outstretched, so as not to leave soft skin for them to catch with the claws.
Advice
- Try not to make excessive noise, you will stress them.
- Adopt / buy hermit crabs that are lively and non lethargic. The lethargic ones might be sick; some may just be stressed out or naturally shy.
- A dead fish smell could be a sign that your hermit crab is dying. Before you start researching, make an effort to identify other possible causes of the smell. Have you fed them seafood recently? There may still be debris buried months away. Hermit crabs like to bury food; that's why the substrate needs to be changed about once a month (unless you have a hermit crab hidden in the sand).
- When a hermit crab pinches you it is not out of malice, but because it is afraid of falling or it is hungry. Put it away and wait some time before taking it back (make sure it has something to eat). Don't scold him when he pinches you, although many sites recommend doing so. They are just following what their instincts tell them and they would not understand.
- The hermit crabs fail to reproduce without suitable conditions. They need a tropical climate and, more importantly, the ocean. Therefore, unless you have a 200 liter tank specially set up for the purpose, you will never see a zoea (baby hermit crab).
- You can fill the case with half water and half sand, to give your hermit crabs a chance to bathe.
- Do not feed hermit crabs before long car journeys. They can suffer from motion sickness and even die.
- Hermit crabs love music.
- If you got a hermit crab for your child, tell him to handle it with a glove if he is afraid of being pinched.
- Keep your hand on a table if you are holding a hermit crab. The animal will be less frightened.
- You will find many hermit crab toys in the fish section of pet shops.
Warnings
- If you want to embellish their habitat with pieces of wood found on the beach or old furniture or real plants, be well informed! Many wood species are poisonous, such as lucky bamboo and evergreens.
- Don't drop the hermit crab, you could injure it or, worse, kill it.
- Don't use soap to clean the habitat or play games! Once the hermit crabs and sand are out of the tub, you can use a white vinegar spray, but always rinse carefully! The toys, shells (EMPTY!) And wood logs should be boiled in salted water (to prevent mold) and then dried with a towel.
- If you often call home the rodent control or other exterminators, do not let them into the room where you keep the hermit crabs. Place a towel under the door to prevent fumes from passing. You can also store hermit crabs in a closet for a few days. They are not insects but pesticides harm them.
- Hermit crabs are what they are: crabs. They can sting and hurt! Supervise the children and give them instructions on how to behave!
