If you are observing your hermit crab and you notice that it is not particularly clean, now is the time to give it a bath!
Steps
Step 1. Fill a large bowl with non-chlorinated water at room temperature
Make sure it's enough to completely submerge the largest or even the smallest crab.
Step 2. Place your pet upside down and let the water fill its shell, noting that the crab should be able to stand up
By doing this, dirt, food, or anything else that is in the shell is eliminated. You can repeat the cleaning a second time if it is very dirty. If you keep the hermit crab in the sand, a second cleaning is required to remove it from the inside of the shell.
Step 3. Let him walk in the water for a few minutes, then transfer him to a large container that you put a towel in and let him walk around
It may also be helpful to put shells (freshly boiled in salted water and chilled) in the hermit crab's container to change its habitat. Hermit crabs are usually very alert and very active and love to change shells if you provide them with enough.
Step 4. Some owners bathe their hermit crabs once every two weeks while others do not wash them at all, but leave large containers of water for the crabs to bathe freely
When you get these tanks of water, you need to put pebbles or sponges so that the smaller crustaceans can climb up and then exit.
Step 5. Don't wash your crab too much, or it will get very stressed
It is not necessary to bathe it if its container already contains a large bowl of water. It is easier to buy one at the pet store than to bathe the hermit crab by hand. Just change the water in the bowl once or twice a week.
If the container is infested with mites, after having thoroughly cleaned it, you must also take a hermit crab bath with salt water (you can find specific salt packs in pet stores or you can get any other salt used for marine fish aquariums)
Step 6. Prepare a very potent solution of salt water
(Use a refractometer to measure salinity to avoid "marinating" your hermit crab!)
Step 7. After bathing with jump water, wash the crab in chlorine-free water and then let it dry outside
Step 8. If you can't find any specific product for salting the water, get some sea salt
Advice
- Keep in mind that most crabs can bathe in their own bowls of water and don't need regular washing. Lately the need to wash hermit crabs is being questioned a bit. However, you should definitely wash your crab if you notice any mites or other insects crawling on its carapace.
- Bathe him once a week to reduce mites, bacteria and ticks. It is also best to wash it in salt water.
- Salt water is necessary for the survival of the hermit crab. If he dives in from time to time he will feel really good. Use non-chlorinated fresh water and mix sea salt in the right quantities.
- Hermit crabs love to dig in wet sand.
- Make sure she always has enough water in the tub.
- Your crab likely gets wet often in its bowl of water. Bathe him once a month at most, alternating between fresh and salt water.
- You can take tap water only if it is chlorine-free; or get a commercial product to dechlorinate it. Just follow the instructions on the package. Alternatively, you can take cans of purified water which is perfect for washing your hermit crab and always keeping its bowl of water full.
Warnings
- Make sure the water is at room temperature if you don't want to burn your hermit crab! Let the water rest for a couple of hours, if you don't have a thermometer. Also, remember to dip the crab gently; don't force it.
- Never use tap water! You could damage the hermit crab! Use bottled or salted water!
- Hermit crabs retain water in their shell to hydrate and are able to regulate its salinity. They use this water to keep their body moist according to their needs; they can also drink it or store it for when they moult. Washing the hermit crab alters the chemical composition of these water supplies and could harm the animal. If the containers of water are not deep enough to immerse the crab, perhaps you can organize "moments of play in the water" in which you put it in a large bowl, inside which there are two other smaller ones. The animal will have fun getting on and off them and can choose whether to dive or not. While the crab is having fun in its "water park" you can take the opportunity to clean its aquarium or make changes.
- You can use tap water as long as it is properly de-chlorinated.
- Bathing hermit crabs too often can be stressful. Do this only when it is really necessary. It is best to have a bowl already in its tub.
