HERMIT CRAB EXPERTS UNITE!!! I have questions.

[CalebtheChicken]

I'm planing on getting some Hermit Crabs to put in my 10 gallon glass tank. The tank has a wire lid/roof.

Now the questions:
1.How many crabs can I put in the tank?
2.How big of a water dish should I use?
3.How many sponges should I put in the water?
4.How big of a food dish should I use?
5.What's the best food to buy?
6.What kind of material should I put on the tank floor?
7.What kind of items do the crabs need in the tank?
8.How deep should I put the material on the tank floor?
9.How many extra shells should I keep in the tank?
10. And finally, how active are the crabs?

 

[therealsilkiechick]

Quote:
lol, well i'm not an expert but my kids have hermies we have had them off and on for years. hope this helps ya some. the most important thing is one keep the cage clean. every couple of days scoop the poop out and then get sea salt. they need a waterer with fresh water and a waterer with sea salt. one is to drink and one is to bath in. tap water is not good for them it will eventualy kill them. we use bottled water or spring water for them. the sea salt i bought in a little container at the pet store. keep them moist or it can kill them or when it is time they can't shed their skins and will get stuck in them. mine go without a light but when it is colder they have a heat lamp on one side of the tank they can sun bath under.

don't ever try pulling them out of the shell their abdomin is soft and that shell is to protect them. if they r out of the shell and changeing shells let them be don't mess with them till they r in their new homes. if they grab ya pinching don't pull them off of u it can break their abdomines just run them under cold water and they will revert to hideing in the shell so it will make them let go of u. that's all i can think of off hand.

 

[taraann81]

My experience with hermits...Kids wanted them..did research and realized that it is cruel to keep them. EVERY single hermit crab in captivity is wild caught, they CAN"T reproduce in captivity. I came to the conclusion that Hermit crabs were not for us, I did not want to house or be a part of the public who encourages their keeping by purchasing them.

Obviously its your decision but just thought I'd put this out there so you could do some research on that part of the hermit crab trade and be informed before you choose to buy.

 

[ladycrotalus]

Basic Hermit Crab Needs

An aquarium- large is better
Temperature: 76 - 80 degrees F.
Humidity: 76-80%
Substrate: Calci-Sand, Aragonite Sand, Moist coco-fiber bedding, Crushed coral, or a mix of any two. At least 4 inches deep for burrowing
Food dishes
2 Water dishes - One for fresh water and one for salt water
Extra Shells- at least 3 per crab and switch out for new ones regularly
Climbing toys- nothing metal
Hygrometer to measure humidity
Thermometer to measure temperature
Water Conditioner
Instant Ocean Sea Salt for the dish of saltwater
Natural Sea Sponges
A Heat Source- undertank heating pad on one end
Lighting - florescent uv bulb

 

[CalebtheChicken]

Quote:
Do you need to put sponges in both water dishes?
And, what is the total cost of all this?

 

[wegotchickens]

I have had hermit crabs off and on for years. Love them!
Never had all the fancy gadgets though....

 

[VioletBlueIvy]

they CAN"T reproduce in captivity.

Yes they can. You need to provide the right environment for it. There is a petition online you can sign to try and stop the big box stores from selling them irresponsibly, no more 'crab in a cup' I believe it is called....
They are great little creatures, and must be cared for properly.

I have three small crabs in a 10 gal tank with a wire top. I use coconut fiber substrate mixed with hermit crab sand, deep enough for them to burrow in & kept moist all the time for proper humidity. Under tank heater on one end. A shallow plastic water dish they can climb in/out of easily, a small shell for the salt water & a small shell for the food (natural ones I brought home from the beach), a snarly crabapple tree branch (they climb on it and are also slowly eating the bark & lichen off it!), 1/2 a coconut shell they like to hide under. (Mine like to shed their shells under there too.), and lots of extra shells.

A tip for feeding them;
I like to give them fresh fruits in addition to the hermit crab diet, and a way to make it easy to do is buy some fresh fruit that they like and mash it all up, and dab it onto a cookie sheet covered in wax paper like tiny dime sized cookies & freeze. Once they are frozen just put them in a ziploc freezer bag to feed them every time you change their food.

There is a great website you should check out [www.hermit-crabs.com/ ][/url]​

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
My husband and I were dismayed to discover this after we bought 4 hermit crabs for our children.

 

[ladycrotalus]

Quote:
Do you need to put sponges in both water dishes?
And, what is the total cost of all this?

\\

Depending on prices in your area 80-100 dollars

You should put sponges in both dishes if they are deep, if they are shower i don't bother. I just use them to prevent drowning.

 

[CalebtheChicken]

Quote:
Do you need to put sponges in both water dishes?
And, what is the total cost of all this?

\\

Depending on prices in your area 80-100 dollars

You should put sponges in both dishes if they are deep, if they are shower i don't bother. I just use them to prevent drowning.

Oh [insert bad word here], I only have $50 budget...