I need to know about a hermit crab habitat.?

Question

I have sand in my crab terrarium but have just found out that the two inches that I have in there is not enough. I read "Answers" archives and a person said that they need 5 inches of sand. That is part of my question, how much sand. The rest is, do you have to dump all of that sand to clean the terrarium? I have only had them for 1 week and I have only scooped the little poops. Is there any advice out there for me? I would really appreciate some.

Thank you.

Answer 1

I had 4 inches and that worked fine. I think the person above me has basically said everything I wanted to.

Answer 2

The sand needs to be deep enough to allow your largest crab do dig down for moult. Try to make it at least  twice the depth of your largest crab.

YOu do a " deep clean" once every few weeks or once a month. YOu will remove all the sand and clean it. I rebake it to ensure no pests are around. Scooping the p**p and food up daily is reccomended to keep the tank tidy and neat lookig.

Although the first poster gave a lot of good information. I would not suggest feeding salted food. Table salt is harmful to hermit crabs because it contains a synthesized iodine. The only salt these animals should get is aquarium salt which can make up ocean water. Salts made for human consumption often have things added or taken out in order to make it better for us. IT also means it isn't as good for the hermit crabs. They shouldn't have chips any way too much starch is bad.

Personally I would avoid commercial food altogether because of the harmful preservatives they add to it. My four year old crabs eat table scraps and they're all doing well

Answer 3

Being community creatures, crabs tend to congregate in a "shell pyramid" in corners and in hiding places.  They will pick the place and there is very little that you can do about it; not that you need to do anyhting about it!  They will gather mostly for warmth and protection. However, it is fun to "wake everyone up" from time to time and play with them.

ROCKS:

For the habitat most rocks are just fine.  Examples are: lava, slate, smooth lava glass, sandstone, limestone, etc.  

* A word of warning: Do not leave rocks near the water bowl, you don't want it wet (some rocks crumble when wet) or soaking up water.

PLANTS:

Having a real plant in a crab tank is a wonderful idea, however there are some things to consider.  Tropical plants have to be kept moist and could be a breeding ground for germs.  Desert plants, on the other hand, are just as likely to be uprooted and have someone crawl to the bottom of the pot as they are to be ignored.

Experience leads the authors to suggest that other than air plants, plastic plants are the way to go.  Double-stick foam tape works terrifically for adhering tall plant's plastic anchors to the top of your tank.  Make sure your lid is on tight !!!  Not many crabs stay at the top of these "hanging gardens";  but in a ground corner, they love to hide from the daylight, usually in their "shell pyramid".  

CALCIUM

sources are: coral and cuttlebones (keep these away from the water) and also shells.

Calcium is one of the required minerals needed by crabs for a strong exoskeleton.  Crabs need a source of calcium in the habitat.  Sources of calcium are coral, cuttlebone pieces, and shell or shell pieces.  When a crab moults, it will usually eat the exoskeleton to regain that lost calcium.

Coral is found in the aquarium section of the pet store.  It is the remains of the living sea coral.  It is decorative and beautiful in a habitat set up, and comes in a range of sizes and shapes.

Cuttlebone is an item found in the pet store with the bird toys and foods.  It is in large pieces and has a metal fastener used to attach it to the side of a bird cage.  You don't need the fastner, and you can use pieces of it.  

***When the crabs eat the cuttlebone, there may be some white flakes left in spots in the habitat.  This is okay, it is the part of the cuttlebone that they don't eat.  (Just looks bad/funny.)

Shells (flat) are usually used as food and water bowls.  Calcium is absorbed from the water.  You can add small shells to a large water bowl in the habitat to accomplish the same goal.  The humidity is also higher in a habitat with more water.

SALT:

Crabs will not live long or survive a moulting without salt and minerals.

* Evaporate an amount of sea/salt water (from a pet store or beach) in the sand or gravel.  This will allow the crabs to consume the minerals just as they would in the wild, by absorption.

tip: Feed the crab a salted, plain tortilla chip once a week or two.  This gives the crabs some of their salt.  The little nibbles that they leave are so cute!

MOULTING:

This is how a crab grows and rejuvenates lost limbs.  

A crab builds up water inside the exoskeleton.  This water force is what splits the exoskeleton and this is when a hermit crab sheds its outer layer.  (this is just like when a balloon gets too full of water, it pops)

The shed skin will be hollow.  On smaller crabs, this can be hard to see.  If you suspect that you have a dead crab, check to see if it is hollow.  Or, if there is no "tail" on the dead crab, then it is not dead, it is molting.  It is still in the shell.  Leave it be.

This is the most dangerous time in a crab's life.  In the wild, there are predators waiting to nibble on a soft crab.  In the habitat, there is the danger of infection from germs and bacteria.  It is a good practice to always wash your hands before and after handling crabs, but you must do so when you have a "fresh moult".

The crab needs extra love, protection, water, and warmth.  Continue with Isolation tank...

ISOLATION TANK:

Whenever there is a sick, injured, or moulting crab, it should be isolated from the rest of the community.  Sometimes crabs will attack each other when one of them is soft.  (I have never personally had this occur, but I have heard it happen before.)

In addition to adequate heat, an isolation tank has four requirements.  First, a dozen extra shells.  Second, fresh water with a pinch of salt in it.  Third, a hiding area and plenty of sand.  Fourth, a teeny bit of fresh food.  Put a towel over the top of the tank and you are done.  Check in on him/her once a day and after 10 days, there should be a great improvement in color.  During this time, there will probably be a new shell or two everyday until one "fits".

Hermit crabs need several things to survive:

          HEAT (65' @ nighttime to 85' @ daytime)

The lid needs to retain heat and moisture as well as the climbing crab himself.

          WATER (if the crab cannot absorb water, it will dry out and die of SUFFOCATION ! !)

The water container needs to be deep enough that the crab can nearly submerse himself if it should decide to take a bath.

          HUMIDITY is included in the water section, as part of the breathing ability.  A crab can't breathe with its gills if it is dry ! ! ! !

          The crab requires a dry humid environment.  This means that the sand should be dry, but there should be some humidity.  This can be evaporating water from the water bowl or light spray misting of water on the sides of the habitat every day.

          FOOD (commercially purchased crab food will supplement their diet)

NOTE: Hermit crabs are scavengers in the wild, and as such they should also be fed some of the following from time to time:

fruits or veggies - can be fresh or dried (NO starches or citrus);

meat -- cooked or not (NO seasonings);

peanut butter (no flavors);

PLAIN salted corn tortilla chips (white or yellow);

PLAIN popcorn;

PLAIN salted crackers

          BATHS

The crab has to be bathed at least once a week.  Lukewarm running tap water is fine; unless your area's water is not so good or if it contains chlorine.  Then use warmed (microwaved), filtered / treated water in a bowl or in a tub for a perfect bath (you can add salt, if you want).

BATHS ARE NOT TO BE GIVEN INSIDE THE HABITAT . . .

To give a crab a running water bath:  Just hold the crab under the water stream for several seconds and then set him down in the sink.  Repeat several times.  The crab may come out of his shell most of the way in an attempt to escape the water.  They are slippery!!!  use care. . .

The necessity of baths and bathing should be taken into consideration when setting up a habitat.

          SHELLS (crabs need an assortment of other shells to move into when they choose to: different sizes, shapes, and colors)

TIP: steralize the empty shells in boiling water for a few minutes ; after they have dried, add them to the habitat.  You never know who was in there last!

          LOVE (the crab will learn to trust you with time, and will come out to see you more often)

          lack of MITES:

To check the crab for mites, look at him as he comes out of the shell. Are there white or brown "grain"-looking bits on it? (that are not anything to do with the crab's coloring) Or, are there mites or maggots in the tank, on the food? These need to be gotten rid of !!!  

Crabs live in a "colony" in the wild.  As many as 100 will roam together, and as few as 20 will form loose communities.  Crabs are a community creature and this should be taken into consideration when choosing crab's size and in setting up the habitat.

Land Tree Hermit Crabs

The name means that they dwell on land, after hatched.  

It means that they climb and spend time off the ground.  

Also, that they borrow the shell that they are in.  

Finally, that they are a crustacean.

more...

          A hermit crab is known as "soldier crab" in some of its native areas.  This gets confusing, because there is a crab with the name soldier crab in other tropical areas.

          A terrestrial hermit crab's full name is "land tree hermit crab".  Hermit means a couple of things.  Mostly it refers to the similarity to some religious cloister brothers, in that they are seperate individuals but united in their faith and in their habitation.  It also refers to the fact that the crabs borrow the shell that they are in.  They have no real "home" of their own, they are hermits.  

  How to buy a crab

  Set-up of a Habitat

SET-UP

This all i have.....

Answer 4

you actually have a choice but i would not recoment putting in a lot of sand  because they cant dig and hide as well

what i use and is in my idea the best is hermit crab dirt

http://www.petco.com/product/10813/Zoo-M...

just like that over that you can sprinkle one inchof sand and/or pebbles but the tend to make alot of noise so yes use dirt!!

haha

contact me for any more questions about hermit crabs

at [e-mail]

Answer 5

Well hermet crabs love sand. They come from sandy areas. They also love water. Give them a thing of water. they should have plenty of food scatered around the sand so they can hunt for it and eat it when they find it. Thats kinda like a game for them. make sure they are cool and have some light. buy extra shels for when they grow out of their old shell they got a bigger shell. Also they love peace and quiet at least for 2 hours so make sure they have a quiet time. Not including night. in the moring they need at least 2 hours of peace. Make sure not to make them too heated and not too over fed one pinch every hour would be nice thing of food.

Answer 6

i would suggest that you have the sand deep enought that i crabs can burry themselves completely in it. and no you dont have to change the sand just used the scoop like you said!