Well i just got two hermit crabs and i have never had any before. ?

Question

Is it true that they need both purified water and salt water. Can you boil regular tap water and give it to them? Tell me the important stuff that i absolutely need to know. Please help, i don't want them to die

Answer 1

Land Hermit Crabs need two bowls of water that should be changed daily. The first must contain freshwater for drinking, the second saltwater for bathing. This can be mixed using Hermit Crab Salt at a rate of 1 teaspoon per 100ml, make sure you use heavy bowls as Land Hermit Crabs will easily tip over light containers.

Use an aquarium with a glass top, as this creates a humid environment which is essential for crab’s well being. A 35cm aquarium will house 3 Hermit Crabs comfortably. The floor of the aquarium should be kept dry and can be covered in either pet litter, untreated wood shavings or clean dry gravel. If you use gravel, it can be cleaned with hot salty water - never use soaps or detergents. Rinse well and leave in the sun to dry. Hermit Crabs love to climb and exercise so a piece of driftwood or mangrove root is ideal.

Land Hermit Crabs are tropical so they must be kept between 26C and 32C and the temperature should never be allowed to fall below 20C. As hot air rises, the most effective way of heating the aquarium is with a Heatwave Heat Mat that sticks onto the base of the aquarium. These mats emit an even heat over the base which stimulates activity. A desk lamp with a low wattage bulb may also be used. It is important that you place a thermometer in the tank to monitor the temperature.



Humidity is the amount of water vapour in the air we breathe. Hermit crabs require high humidity to keep their gills moist adn allow them to breath properly. When humidity is low, the air is drier and they become inactive and some become dehydrated or even suffocate if the air is too dry.

To ensure you have enough humidity in their enclosure, make sure there is plenty of water in their drinking bowl

some things that you need for it's habitat:

Glass tank

Heatwave mat

Thermometer

Gravel

Heavy bowl for fresh water

Heavy bowl for salt water  

Bowl for food

Hermit crab pellets

Hermit crab salt

Mangrove root or drift wood for climbing

Spare shells

I hope this helps you!!! Good Luck!