What things should you have for a hermit crab?

Question

i just got my hermit crab and i dont really know what things i need for it to have a healthy life

HELP ME!!!

Answer 1

oh dont worry!! they dont need much.

I would get a net for hermit crabs and hang it up on the side of the tank thing that u have it in, make sure it touches the bottom. get 2 shallow shells for dishes (they are sold at petstores) and put its food in one and water int he other, make sure its a small shallow shell for the water or they can drown if they are really small. also to prevent spills and/or drowning, you can put a sponge made for hermit crabs in the water shell and they can drink from those, it also helps with the humidity int eh cage.

u can give them a bath with just a little bit of water in a bowl and let them walk around in it for a couple of mins to help their skin stay moist, so they can molt easier, but you dont ahve to if u have a shell with a little water in it they can get in to.

just change their food out once a week or add more if its getting low same with the water.

u can put some fake rock things in there for them to climb on, make sure that you dont block the water and food dishes with anythign.

they arent much work at all...

we have a hermit crab (we had 9 others before but they have either gotten stuck in a small shell and didnt want to change into another or didnt eat or got killed by Chip the one we have right now...)

if you have more than one, and one starts to make a deep hole in the sand and doesnt move for like 3-5 days, that means its fixing to molt (shed its exoskeleton) and you need to move it to another little tank cage thing with some moist sand and food and water, and dont mess with it until it sheds and eats most of the skeleton. then after a couple of days of it moving around its tank thing, you can put it back with the others...

we didnt know that one had molted and chip killed it without us knowing....

uumm if it loses a leg or something dont worry...t happens itll grow back.

u dont have to put a light on it unless its really cold in ur house. like cold like in the 60's if its 70 or above they will be fine.

u dont have to mess with them at all....they are more happy u leave them alone then playing with them, our neighbor made her crab mad and it pinched her finger and it hurt like c**p so she gave it up to us..it ended up getting stuck int he shell and they had it in such a small cage ...o well

anyway just make sure they have a tad bigger shells in there for them to play aorund iwth and/or swithc shells...NEVER pull them out of their shell...if u do, they will shred themselves....

anyway have fun...

Answer 2

The most important thing is an extra shell.The number one cause of Hermit Crab fatality is not having an extra shell when they move out of their old one.A small bowl of water and their food in a jar lid.

Answer 3

I recommend this:

A tank

Some sand or half moist half dry dirt.

Thermometer

Humidity Gauge

The humidity should be at least 70% and the temperature should be at least 75%

A spray bottle to spray the tank with to help the humidity

They need a sponge to drink from which should be kept somewhere where there is little sand and should be kept very full of water

Food dish

Food

Shells You need one that is the same size, one a little larger and one a little larger than the last one.

A second or third hermit crab. They need friends it much lengthens their life span and makes it more fun for them and you. I hope you have fun!

Answer 4

you need:

An aquarium ( wire, mesh, or plastic cages are hard to heat and keep the humidity.)

Glass or plexi glass lid

humidity and temperature gages ( the temp needs to be 70-80f humidity 70%-80%)

A spray bottle to spray the substrate to keep the humidity high

An under tank heater or heat lamp

Sand ( baked prior to use) or coconut fibre for substrate

Aquarium salt ( all species of hermit crabs need access to salt water)

A product to remove chlorine and heavy metals from water ( you need one that does not add stress or slime coat. and one you can mix small amounts of water)

YOu do not need a sponge. but you do need two dishes deep enough for them to walk though

Things for them to climb on. not made from metal or evergreen wood

Vegetables, fruits, eggs, egg shells, natural peanut butter, small amounts of meat and shell fish for them to eat. Commercial crab food has way too many preservatives. Avoid table salt, sugar, starches ( breads mould super fast) preservatives.

hiding spots. I use ceramic flower pots you can get them under $1 each

Shells

They need to be boiled prior to use and non painted

Hermit crabs need to be kept in groups never alone.  

Answer 5

at least a ten gallon aquarium, eco earth or play sand (mixed with a bit of water so that it is sand castle consistency) for the bedding - it has to be at least 3" thick, or at least double high as your biggest crab, an under the tank heater or heat lamp, a dish for fresh water and a dish for salt water (fresh water you gotta get a dechlorinator and salt has to be esp for the crabs - not table salt), they need their tank to be humid - so you can buy a humidifier for it or just spray the tank with a spray bottle, gauges to tell you what temps and humidity are (70-80 degrees and humidity), fresh fruits and veggies, cuttlebone (calcium), honey for when they molt... extra shells and make sure you get at least a few - they are social creatures!

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/php

http://www.hermit-crabs.com/

http://www.thecrabbagepatch.com/

Answer 6

My son has 4 -

shells in sizes slightly larger and the same size now (they are picky)

sand that they can eat also (can not think of the name now)

water(a mayo lid with a few pebbles/small rocks so he can get out easy)

sponge and spray water bottle to mist the entire cage 1-2 times every 2 days

always remember too when they molt they will look dead but NOT! Be careful during this time and my son also has a branch of wood in the tank too! They love to climb!  

Answer 7

You will need to go to a pet store and get an aquarium, some extra shells, food, and a dish with a sponge for water. Hermit crabs prefer to drink from a sponge.  

Answer 8

A tank (an aquarium will keep humidity in better than a wire cage)

Something for them to climb on (branches, fake plants, etc.)

Sand for the substrate works well

Thermometer (the tank should be at least 72 degrees)

Hydrometer (measures the humidity, which should be at least 70 percent)

A spray bottle to spray down the tank and help with the humidity

Water dish with sponge (put enough water in the dish that the sponge absorbs it and there is still water around the sponge)

Food dish

Food

Shells (this is VERY important...get several, most bigger than the current shell, but a couple the same size)

A friend (or two or three...hermit crabs do much, much better when housed together)

I hope this helps some. They do need a lot of care at first, but after you get the hang of it, they are very easy to care for.

Answer 9

a shell

Answer 10

aquarium ( MESH/ NET CAGES ARE BEST)

HERMIT CRAB FOOD/ VIATIMINS

SPONGE W/ WATER

ROCKS OR SAND OR BOTH

EXTRA SHELL THAT IS BIGGER THEN HERMIT CRAB

TEMERATER / HEATER

AND ITS BETTER TO KEEPP TWO HERMIT CRABS INSTEAD OF ONE