This page is designed to help new Hermit Crab owners learn how to take care of them so you don't make the same mistake I did. I bought two hermit crabs, Shelly and Sheldon, and then began the search of how to care for my new pets. I found a few websites and searched the pet stores to try and find the proper food. Everything went well until Sheldon decided to molt. I made the unfortunate mistake of thinking that Sheldon had committed "Hermicide". That is, I thought he had drowned in the water pool. To Sheldon's misfortune, I disposed of him, not knowing that he was using the water to help remove his old shell. Poor Sheldon!
I now have three Hermit Crabs named Herman, Shelly, and Rockie to which I dedicate this page. I will make every effort
to keep this page updated as I continue to learn more and more about these tiny creatures.
Biological Classification:
Description: Land hermit crabs are found along coastal shores in areas with warm climates such as the Florida Keys, the Caribbean, and Venezuela. They have 4
antennae and 10 legs. Two of the legs are claws. The large purple claw is used for climbing and to defend itself. The smaller claw is used for carrying food and water to the crab's mouth. The large purple claw
is also used when the crab retreats into it's shell to cover the shell opening. Four of the legs are walking legs, and the other four are usually hidden in the shell. The two smallest legs are used to hold onto the
shell. Land hermit crabs live in mollusk (snail) shells to protect their soft abdomen (stomach).
Why Buy a Hermit Crab?: Hermit crabs are very cheap and low maintenance, and yet they are exotic pets. They are also small, not messy, and they don't smell bad. Including the cost of housing, pet, and food, hermit crabs only cost about $20-$35 to purchase and maintain.
Where to Buy & What to Look For: You should be able to purchase hermit crabs at most quality pet stores and they are also often found in gift shops at most popular beaches. When you purchase a crab, make sure that you can see at least 6 legs and make sure it is moving. Also stay away from crabs that have a strong odor or have any bugs on them.
How old is that Hermit Crab? There is no really easy way that I know of to tell the exact age of a hermit crab. In general, the larger the crab the older it is.
Hermit Housing: Don't cramp you hermits! Even though they are tiny creatures, they need enough room to crawl around. Don't make the mistake I did and buy a small plastic container. I would suggest purchasing a glass 10 gallon tank with
a screen to cover the top. The best place to setup the tank is in a warm spot (remember they come from very warm climates) with about 4-6 inches of sand in the bottom covered with a thin layer of gravel, crushed coral, coral rock, crushed clam and oyster shells, or limestone.
Crabs also love to climb. You should include a piece of non-resin wood for them to climb on. If you are unsure about what kind to put in, you can purchase "fake" wood in the reptile section of your pet store. This is the route I took! The tank also needs a water dish that is easy for the hermit crab to climb in and out of.
You can also find these in the reptile section of the pet store. Be sure to put small rocks, or a natural sponge (the kind you buy in a pet store not grocery store) on the bottom of the dish so the crabs can climb in and out easily. Crabs can drown if they can't get out of the water dish. The last thing needed for the hermit house is a very small shallow dish to put the food on. I cut down a small
medicine cup and burried it in the sand so it is easy to get to. I have also seen people who use a plastic lid or a clam shell. Crabs eat very slowly so it must be easy to remove and change the food supply, so it doesn't go bad.
Lighting: Hermit crabs are basically night creatures in the wild. They don't often come out during the day. A low watt flourescent light, like the type used for a tropical fish tank, can be vurned a few hours each day to help warm the tank and simulate daylight or dusk. A nice blue or purple
flourescent bulb gives a nice soft light.
Temperature: Hermit crabs like to live in a warm cage where the temperature is between 71 and 93 degrees Farenheit. Remember they come from Florida. If you like to keep your house cool, or if the cage is in a drafty area, you can use a light on the tank to keep
it warm. This will also draw attention to the cage when friends come to visit and they can check out your new pet.
Moisture: Hermit crabs need plenty of water in their cage. They do not have fully developed lungs so they need a moist atmosphere so they can breathe. The bottom layer of sand in the cage should be damp, but not real wet. If there is too much moisture in the cage, it can cause deadly bacteria to breed.
Make sure you keep water in their water dish at all times. As a special treat, my crabs seem to love to be sprayed periodically with a spray bottle to keep them moist.
Food: Hermit crabs are scavengers. They will eath anything they find. The best food to feed them is specially prepared food that can be purchased at most pet stores. This food comes in at least two varities, wet canned and dry powder. Each seems to be equally nutritious, but the wet food must be changed on a daily basis. I prefer the dry variety
because it only has to be changed every week or two.
Treats: In addition to the commercial foods, crabs love fruits and veggies to supplement the dry food. My crabs especially like grapes
cut in half. Check out the cool links below for some other suggestions on what people like to feed their crabs. Remember to remove fresh food daily in order to keep the tank fresh and clean.
Handling: Remember your crabs are pets and not toys. They should be handled with care. If you hold them in your hand, be sure to hold your hand flat and steady. If the crab thinks he will fall, he just might try to grab on to you, and pinch you. This might make you fling that poor little
hermit crab to his death. Just remember to be careful.
Exercise: Your crab needs exercise just like everyone else. I suggest you take them out of the cage and put them on newspaper and let them run. They seem to enjoy this.
Just remember, crabs are quick creatures and you better keep an eye on them so they don't sneek away.
Molting: Hermit crabs have hard exoskeletons (skin). Their exoskeleton does not grow
as the crab grows, so it must periodically shed its skin. When a hermit crab molts, it leaves it's shell,
sheds it's exoskeleton, and then buries itself in the sand until the new skin hardens. Then it
will select a new larger shell to live it. It is important to keep several extra shells that are larger
than the shells your hermit crabs are already living in so they can pick the one that best suits them.
Links to other sites on the Web
Halleck's Picture-less Hermit Crab Page
Biology of Anomurans
I hope this page will be helpful to fellow Hermit Crab owners and those of you who are thinking about purchasing one.
If you have any comments, please e-mail me at the address below.
This website was created on April 5,1997
Last updated: July 12, 1997
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© 1997 missfi@fls.infi.net
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