Caring for your hermit crab

[TeenHelp]

Caring for your hermit crab
By Cassie (Calico.)

Keeping hermit crabs as pets has grown in popularity in recent years. Hermit crabs are often sold at pet stores as well as stores in touristy areas. One of the largest myths about hermit crabs is that they’re easy to care for. Hermit crabs are hardy creatures and they can live a long life if they’re well taken care of.

Choosing your hermit crabs
Hermit crabs are nocturnal creatures and they might not be awake or active if you choose to purchase them before the sun goes down. However, try to look for particularly active ones when deciding which ones to take home. Look for ones that are walking around or feeling their environment with their antennas. You should also pay attention to the crab’s claws. One with undamaged claws is preferable. Consider the size, too. While little hermit crabs are cute, they are more susceptible to illness and injuries. Medium or large sized hermit crabs are less likely to be injured and they often live longer than smaller ones do. Hermit crabs enjoy company, so be sure to purchase at least two. Try to make sure that they’re the same size so one does not harm the other.

Choosing their habitat
It is recommended to use a glass container or aquarium instead of a plastic one. For small hermit crabs, consider a five gallon breeder tank. A five gallon is ideal for smaller rooms and it is the smallest tank that you should be using for them. Medium hermit crabs need at least a ten gallon tank, but a twenty gallon (long) will be more suitable for them. Large and jumbo hermit crabs need to be kept in a tank larger than ten gallons. Small hermit crabs need the least amount of room; there should be a gallon per crab. Medium sized hermit crabs should have a little more than a gallon each. Large and jumbo hermit crabs need the most room, so that means you should only have two or three of them. Hermit crabs often try to escape their habitat, so you will need a lid for your tank.

Substrate
Hermit crabs need several inches of substrate so they’re able to molt. You can use play sand or coconut husk. You can purchase sand at a hardware store. It is inexpensive and it usually comes in fifty pound bags. Coconut husk can be purchased at your local pet store. Coconut husk is great for retaining moisture, and crabs like to dig in it. You don’t have to use only one substrate; you can use sand and coconut husk in different parts of the tank. Do not use gravel. Gravel is not ideal for molting and it can be painful on the crab’s claws. Your largest crab will help you to determine how much substrate you need. The amount of substrate should be three times the size of the largest crab’s shell when it is held up to the glass.

Food and water dishes
Hermit crabs need two water dishes. One is needed for fresh water and the other is needed for salt water. Hermit crabs need to take salt baths every other week. If you give them salt baths when you’re supposed to, a second water dish is not absolutely necessary. However, a second dish will allow the crabs to soak in the salt whenever they’d like to. Hermit crabs, especially little ones, can easily drown in the water dishes if there’s a lot of water. You should have a sponge in each bowl. A natural sponge is best. You can purchase hermit crab salt and stuff for the tap water at your pet store. The items you purchase will give you further instructions on the amount of salt and liquid to use to make the tap water safe. Hermit crabs will need two food dishes as well. One dish is used for foods you can find at the pet store and the other will be used for other foods.

Toys and housing
Hermit crabs like to climb around and it is very important for them to have housing and a lot of toys. The pet store generally has a lot of toys for them to climb on. You can get leaves and fake plants used for fish. They have suction cups on them that will stick to the glass and the crabs can climb on that. You can also get some cholla wood, cork, or pieces of coral for them to climb on. You can make your own toys out of sticks and twist ties, just use your imagination. Do not purchase climbing backgrounds that stick to the back of the tank. These are notorious for coming loose and trapping crabs behind them. Hermit crabs need a place to hide so they feel secure. You can purchase plastic igloos, coconut huts, or other little house at your pet store. Styles vary by store and location.

Extra shells
Hermit crabs need a handful of shells to be able to change into as they grow. When choosing shells, pick ones that are slightly bigger than your hermit crab. The opening of the shell should be double or triple the size of your crab’s largest claw. Do not purchase painted shells. The paint can easily come off of the inside of the shell while your crab is using it. The paint will have nowhere else to go, and your crab will end up ingesting fumes or the paint itself.

Misting bottles
You should also consider purchasing a misting bottle. Special reptile ones are available, but you can always look in the travel section of your local pharmacy for an inexpensive bottle. You should mist the tank twice a day; when you wake up, and before you go to sleep. Mist the glass and the substrate, as well as any toys.

Temperature and humidity
The temperature of the habitat should be no lower than seventy degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature should stay between seventy and eighty degrees Fahrenheit. The humidity should be between seventy five and ninety percent. You can look into heat lamps as well as heating pads that stick to the side of the tank. You can also look into a gauge that will keep track of the temperature and humidity for you. Consistent temperature and humidity is vital. Temperatures that are too high or two low can result in the death of your hermit crab.

Tank cleanings
The tank should be briefly cleaned on a daily basis. Remove any soiled foods, change out the water, and scoop out any waste. The tank should be completely cleaned once a month. Throw the contents and clean the tank out with boiling water. Using chemicals to clean the tank is not recommended because chemicals are deadly to crabs. However, if you must use chemicals, be sure to clean the tank with boiling water. Sterilize the food and water dishes as well as any extra shells by soaking them in boiling water. You can always give your hermit crabs a salt bath while you’re cleaning their tank.

Handling
You need to handle your hermit crabs often so they will begin to trust you. Hold your hermit crab's shell with your dominant hand, and stretch out your other palm. Stretch your palm as much as you can so your crab does not latch on to any loose skin. Note: A hermit crab will use its large pincher to clamp down on you if it does not feel secure. It is not hurting you to be spiteful, it is trying to hold on to you so it doesn’t fall off your palm.

Molting
Molting is a very delicate process and it is important that the crab remains undisturbed during this time. Molting is when a crab buries itself in the substrate for several weeks and sheds its exoskeleton to grow larger. Small hermit crabs molt more often than medium sized or larger hermit crabs do because they grow more frequently. If a hermit crab does not have the correct substrate to molt in, they will attempt to molt without digging. The chances of survival when a crab molts on the surface is slim, especially if there are a lot of other hermit crabs around. When a hermit crab is getting ready to molt, you may see the following:

• A lot of digging. Hermit crabs will begin to dig more than usual so they can find the right area and the right depth to molt in.
• Increased time in water dishes. Crabs will spend extra time in their water dish to store water for when they’re under the substrate. This water is used for drinking and it is also used to help break open their exoskeleton.
• Inactivity. Hermit crabs are often sluggish before they molt. They may not want to eat or socialize with other hermit crabs.
• Changing shells. Hermit crabs are intelligent, and will change into smaller shells before molting. They do this so it is easier for them to bury themselves, and they often change into a large shell after molting.

There are four stages in the molting process. Proecdysis is when the new exoskeleton begins to show through the old one. Any damaged claws will begin to regenerate as well. Ecdysis is when the crab begins to shed its old exoskeleton. It uses the pressure from the water and salt to help crack the exoskeleton. The new exoskeleton begins to harden up during the Metecdysis stage. The crab will also consume its old exoskeleton to make use of its minerals. During the Anecdysis stage, the hermit crab's exoskeleton will begin to thicken due to the calcium and minerals that were consumed in an earlier stage [source].

Note: A crab should not be disturbed while molting. Do not attempt to remove the crab, and do not clean the tank during this time. If your crab is showing signs of molting, it is recommended to temporarily remove the crab and place it in a smaller plastic or glass tank so it is isolated and undisturbed.

Salt baths
Hermit crabs need a salt bath every other week. You’ll need a tall, decent sized container that is able to hold water. You can use a shorter container if you’d like, but hermit crabs often try to escape and would benefit more from something larger. Fill it with room temperature or warm water, but do not fill it too high because your hermit crab can drown if inactive. Next, add the salt. The amount of salt added depends on how much water you have used, so follow the directions on the container to figure out how much you’ll need. It is recommended to put shells or sponges in with your hermit crabs so they have something to climb onto if the water is too high or if they are uninterested in taking a bath. Leave them in the bath for about twenty minutes before putting them back into their tank.

Feedings
Hermit crabs are omnivores and cannot survive solely on the pet food that you purchase at the pet store. Hermit crabs are able to eat pretty much everything because they are used to scavenging for food in the wild. Hermit crabs actually prefer slightly rotted fruits because that is what they are accustomed to eating in the wild. They can eat a variety of fruits and meats, but they enjoy popcorn, dried coconut, bananas, cheerios, and chicken (cooked). As hermit crabs are nocturnal, it is suggested to feed them before you go to bed so the smell of the food can help wake them up. Dispose of the food the following day to make sure their food is fresh.