Bringing Home Hermit Crabs- Set Up and Care

Our trip to Myrtle Beach last month resulted in some unexpected additions to our family.  Welcome Hermie and Scanner!  Two fun hermit crabs. 

 

My kids were allowed one souvenir on vacation.  My youngest chose a magic kit, inspired by a magic show we saw.  My oldest, however, was set on a hermit crab.  I was skeptical to say the least.  I thought she would grow tired of it after a day or two.  I thought it may not be healthy and would die quickly.  I thought the last thing we needed was another pet.  Despite all that, after a month at home, our hermit crabs are doing well.  I chose to get two after reading that they travel in herds and would be much happier with a playmate.  I got mine at Wings in Myrtle Beach and they have been great.  Just pick out one who is active. 

Here's why I love our hermies. 
1.  They are fun to watch.  They dig and climb. 
2.  They only require a few minutes of care a day. 
3.  They are gentle.
4.  They aren't mammals, so its an opportunity to teach my kids about arthropods.  They have    different habits, such as molting, and different needs than mammalian pets.

Here is a video of scanner exploring the table during our photo shoot this morning.

 

Hermie was having none of it.  He stayed right here the whole time.

 



 

 

How to handle your hermit crabs.



1.  You can pick them up.  If you want them to crawl over your hand just hold it out flat and set the crab on it.  Some crabs will pop right out of their shell and start exploring.  Others will hunker down.  It may take a while for your crabs to trust you.  Just be patient.

 

2.  NEVER try to force a crab out of its shell.  They will let you pull them apart before they lose their protection.

 

3. Check out the species.  If you're in the US you probably have a Caribbean Land Hermit Crab, Coenobita clypeatus.  These have purple pincers.  Here is a rather poor picture of Hermie's purple large pincer.

 

 

Setting up your "Crabitat"

Here is where our hermit crabs currently reside.  This is not permanent or ideal.  We will be upgrading to a larger home after school gets going.  However, for the short term they seem happy. 

 

 

1.  5 gallons of space per crab.  An empty aquarium works well.  It needs to have a lid, both because they are climbers and because they require high humidity.

 

2.  They need food.  We use hermit crab pellets with occasional treats.  They can have banana, coconut, and wheat bread among other things.  They eat very slowly and very little.

 

3.  They need fresh water and salt water.  THE WATER MUST BE DECHLORINATED.  Either use bottled or let it cure overnight to remove the chlorine.  Well water is good too.  Hermit crabs must never have straight up tap water.  Don't use regular table salt to create their salt water.  Make their salt water with a salt water conditioner for hermit crabs.  Finally, they like to bathe themselves.  Their dishes should be deep enough to crawl through, but they will drown if they can't climb out.  Change the water daily.

 

4.  Give them something to climb on.

 

5.  Give them a "shell shop" with plenty of options, some slightly bigger than their current residence and some smaller.  You may love a particular shell but the right shell is always the one THEY choose.  Carribeans usually prefer shells with a round opening rather than a long one.  See the difference?

 

 

I also recommend natural shells over lacquered ones.  Hermit crabs hold water in their shells and lacquer messes with the natural balance they need to maintain.  Full disclosure, Scanner came in a lacquered shell originally.  However, he switched out of it ASAP, actually before we made it home.

I've read that a favorite type for Carribean hermies are turbo shells like this one.  You can recognize them because they're slightly green. 

 

Hermies also like shells with opal interiors since these are smooth for their soft abdomens.

 

 You should boil your shells for five minutes and let them cool completely before giving them to your crabs.

6.  Put a thermometer and a hygrometer in your habitat.  Mine is a combination of both.  The temperature should be between 72 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.  The relative humidity should be between 70 and 80%. 

 

7.  Use sand for the bottom.  Play sand is best as it is cheap and pre-cleaned.  Mix it with salt water until it is at "sand castle" consistency.  When you pull your finger through the sand it holds its shape.  Don't let it be sopping wet though.  Also, the sand must be deep.  Hermit crabs bury themselves when they molt (shed their exoskeleton).  The sand must be at least twice as deep as your largest crab is tall.  Deeper is better.  They may stay buried for weeks when molting and must not be dug up or disturbed.  This is the most fragile time is a hermit crabs life.  Spritz the sand with fresh water daily to keep it moist.

8.  Get a heater that sticks to the back of the tank, not underneath.  You don't want it to be too hot when they dig down.

 

Daily Care

Once the crabitat is set up hermies are easy.

 

1. Spritz habitat daily with fresh water.  If you do it at the same time every day your crabs may learn to come out of their shells for their "shower"!

 

2. Change the fresh water, salt water, and food daily.

 

3.  Clean up the sand.  Remove waste and food they have moved and "hidden".

 

4. Check the temperature and humidity and adjust conditions accordingly.

 

I hope this helps someone else who may have recently adopted a hermie.  There is always more to know about these truly wonderful, fascinating pets.  Let me know how it goes!