Easy Hermit Crab Care

An appropriately sized tank, terrarium or aquarium is essential. Bear in mind that hermit crabs are actually very social animals (despite the name) and often travel in very large groups, it would be somewhat cruel to keep just the one. Purchase a tank which can hold at least two crabs, minimum ten gallons.

The temperature of your terrarium should be between 70 and 85 degrees. Low temperatures can be very harmful for hermit crabs and could even kill them. Keep your terarium out of direct sunlight and make sure the hermit crabs don't get too hot.

70% humidity or higher. Hermit crabs enjoy warm, moist, almost tropical environments. It may be a good idea to buy a hygrometer and a thermometer to check humidity and temperature.

A substrate level which is deep enough for the crabs to bury themselves If you are using a heater to keep the terrarium warm, the thickness of the substrate may interfere with it. Make sure you check the temperature with a thermometer.

Your terrarium should be an interesting place for the crabs to live. Decorate it with shells (very important!), rocks, plants, and toys for your crabs.

The substrate of your terrarium should ideally be sand. Don't be conned into thinking that you need specialist "hermit crab sand" either. Any kind of sand will do and it is the most familiar environment for hermit crabs. Coconut fibre is another alternative. Do check your substrate before putting it in the terrarium for any impurities or unwelcome visitors!

Hermit crabs will devour almost any kind of food. You can feed them fruits, vegetables, and even meat! Sugary, spicy and processed foods should be avoided. To ensure they are getting all of the vitamins and minerals they need you can give them special hermit crab food from a pet store. Since, hermit crabs hide some of their food, it is a good idea to not feed them once in while so they eat up the food they have stored. Foods which may go off should be taken out of the tank after a day or two.

Keep some extra shells in the tank for when your hermit crabs decide they want to molt. The crabs may bury themselves under the sand for a while and it is important not disturb them while they are down there. The shells should be a little bigger than their present shells so that they have something to grow into.

If you crab looks dead, don't immediately throw him out. He may just be molting. He may even stop moving for a week. The best way to check is with your nose. If there isn't a fishy smell, he's probably ok.

Every terrarium needs two bowls of water, one fresh water and one salt water. The bowls should be deep enough for the crabs to bath and if you use tap water it should be dechlorinated.

That's all. See how easy it is to care for hermit crabs. Good luck and enjoy your per hermit crab!