Hermit Crabs

[Durbkat]

I'm not sure if this is the right section so mods can move it to the right place if this is not the right place.

I have a empty long 20 gallon tank that I have be unsure of what to put in it till I was out of town and passed by a shop that sold hermit crabs and I picked one up and it walked from hand to hand which I liked because I have never had a pet that I could hold in my hands. So I'm going to get around 7 of them tommorow and need to know what I need.

This is what I believe I'll need and if I need to add something to this list or take something off, let me know
sand
water dish
screen cover
hermit crab food
is there anything else I need to get or not get?

[TKC]

Your list is pretty good. You will need two water dishes though..one for fresh water and one for salt water.

I would get a glass lid over a screen lid because you need to keep the tank very humid for them. They breath though modified gills and they need to be kept moist otherwise they suffocate. If you do get a screen lid use plasic wrap to cover about 85 to 90 percent of it.

You'll also need some things the crabs can climb on. Like driftwood for example.

Get a sponge for the water dish too. This helps with the humidity. If you have any other questions please ask!

[Durbkat]

Well when I saw them at the store while I was out of town they just had them in a glass box with sand and a few water dishes. Is that not good for them? Why do they need 1 freshwater dish and 1 saltwater dish? Do I need to use marine salt, table salt, or aquarium salt? At my pet store they just have a screen cover with about 4 small heat lamps in the back of the tank.

[TKC]

The way some stores display their crabs is really inappropriate. Basically they are probably suffocating in there. It's horrible.

Back on track....hermit crabs need salt water...the reason is slipping my brain at the moment. I used aquarium salt and it worked well.

Keep the tank about 75 degrees F. Crabs are tropical so they need to be warm. And keep the humidity around 60. You can find humidity gauges in the reptile department of petstores usually.

Keep the sand moist (sand castle consistency as put by some) and this will help with the humidity. Also, so the crabs can dig under. Crabs molt under the sand and bury as a way of destressing.

Also a reminder with food...make sure you crush it before you put it in the food dish. Most foods come in a pellet form. The crabs can't eat this as they aren't strong enough or their claws aren't large enough to break the pellet.

[Durbkat]

So how much salt should I put in the dish? Does the water I use to keep the sand moist have to be freshwater or saltwater? Should I fill the tank up with water to where its just alittle bit below the sand level? How do I clean the sand and how often should I clean it? Can I use play sand from a hardware store?

[TKC]

For the saltwater...put in enough so it is salty to taste. The crabs know how much they need and with regulate it with the freshwater.

You don't need to fill the tank with water at all. Just make the sand wet enough so you can shape it (like a sandcastle). You use freshwater for this.

[Durbkat]

So basically just make it damp right? Could I use play sand from a hardware store? How do I clean the sand and how often should I clean it? So would like 1/4 of a tea spoon be enough salt for the dish?

[TKC]

Yup you just make it damp.

For cleaning you can see crab poop pretty easily. it looks like fish poop. You can spot clean this....I didn't change the sand for six months doing this.

[Durbkat]

Could I use one of those fish vacum cleaners or would that even work? Or would I just have to pick it up? What about play sand, can I use that?

[TKC]

You can use play sand. A fish vaccuum wouldn't work because the tank isn't filled with water. All you do is scoop it up with a spoon or something and throw it out. Pretty easy.

[Durbkat]

Thanks for answering my stupid questions.

[TKC]

They aren't stupid questions. They are good ones. Atleast you are researching and asking questions before you buy them. You are being a responsible pet owner.

[blcknwitecuban]

u'll need a sponge 2 put in water dishes. ypu could also use a small place 4 them 2 hide. u need extra shells because they will probably outgrow them. they like 2 climb 2 so some drift wood or a coral skeleton could help. try 2 keep the food moist 2. it helps them eat it.

[Durbkat]

Thanks, do pet stores sell shells for them to move to if they outgrow their current one?

[blcknwitecuban]

yea. most do. u cccan go 2 petsmart even i think but they are neccessary

[Durbkat]

Ok, will they be ok for alittle while with out extra shells as I may not have the money to get the shells at the moment? Also how long can they go without food?

[Georgia Peach]

Hermit crabs are cool! I had them when I was younger.. I hadnt seen any in a very long time but seen some last weekend at Pet Smart..

[Durbkat]

I hadn't seen any in awhile either till about a month or two ago at the pet shop I go to and when I was out of town.

[Durbkat]

opps double post

[blcknwitecuban]

they can go without shells 4 awhile. they just might b cramped 4 a while.