How often do Hermit crabs molt? And any tips on caring for a hermit crab?

Answer 1

Land Hermit Crabs are portrayed as easy to care for, cheap and novelty pets. This is not really true! There are some basics that you need to know before actually buying your first Hermit Crabs. Read on below and then you can decide if this is the pet for you.

Sea sponges:
Natural, un-bleached and un-dyed sea sponges only. Non-man made. These can be found in pet stores and in some department stores as well.
They need to be rinsed and dried to keep bacteria and uglies away, so have an extra or two so you can rotate them. Boiling will also sterilize them.
Thermometer and Hygrometer:
Land Hermit Crabs, breathe through modified gills therfore they must have the proper humidty in order to breathe as well as the proper temperatre in order to thrive.
You need to monitor all of the tank conditions. One for the temp and one for the humidity will get you started. Keep them as close to substrate level as possible since that is where the crabs are most of the time.
76 - 80 degrees and everyone will be fine. Do not allow the Hermit Crabs to get cold for long periods or they can die. Humidity ranges should be around 76-80% relative, sustained.
With in these levels your crabs and their home will be a happy and active one. If it gets too warm, you can always prop up the lid, same if the humidity gets too high, prop the lid up.To add moisture/humidity add an extra moist sponge or even a bubbler in their water dish.

Housing:
Glass tank with lid (aquarium with glass lid is best) Can use a quality Kritter Keeper with saran wrap over the lid.
Substrate:
Options include... Calci-Sand, Sterilized playsand, Aragonite Sand, Moist coco-fiber bedding, Crushed coral.
You can mix and match, have seperate areas and containers, it is up to you. Remember there needs to be enough substrate to fully cover the "floor" or the tank. Deep enough for your largest crab to fully submerse or cover it's self. The substrate also needs to be pretty smooth, meaning little to no jaged edges to scrape or injure the Hermit Crabs Exoskeleton prior to, during and after molting.
It also must be insect and chemical free. Human or animal grade not the kind that is used for construction or masonry.
Light:
Hermit Crabs require 12 hours of sunlight each day. This can be a combo of natural and artificial light. The normal aquarium hood light can be good enough.
Once you are ready to get more advanced or need more heating you can buy a bi-light that has both dayglo and nightglo bulbs.. for heat and light during the day and heat during the night. Always try to have full spectrum when possible so the Hermit Crabs get enough of the proper lighting.


Water basics:
Use only de-chlorinated or bottled water for everything Hermit Crabs related. The chemicals in tap water (chlorine and heavy metals are toxic to Hermit Crabs also will burn their modified gills.)
You can treat tap water by using a water conditioner for fish, make sure their drinking water doesn't have stress-coat in it though.
Land Hermit Crabs must have both fresh and salt water for drinking. The salt should be obtained from a good aquarium store or pet department, reading the directions carefully.
The fresh water should be de-chlorinated as well. Both dishes should be deep enough for your largest Hermit Crab to fully submerse it's self, while at the same time provide items like shells, smooth stones for your smaller crabs to use to get in and out of the water. One or both water sources can have bubblers or sponges, it is up to you.

Misting Bottle:
Have one ready if your humidity drops, or to spot clean a crab who you want to play with, or to physically check. You can also have a second one with fresh salt water to control mold and fungus. This water also must be de-chlorinated and Hermie Safe.

Food:
Provide a nice selection of fresh and dried foods daily. Fresh foods can stay for 24 hours or less only because of mold and spoilage. Dried foods can stay for 2 or 3 days as long as you monitor it carefully.
Rotate food selection so that you crabs do not get bored and live a more natural scavenger type life. Check out our food lists.

Heating:
Land Hermit Crabs live in tropical areas, there for it is quite warm and humid. First there is the heat. Sometimes the lights you use give off a fair amount of heat, yet that does not reach the depths of your substrate when some crabs may be burried.
A UTH (Under Tank Heater) will answer this issue. Found in the reptile area of most pet stores and available in a variety of sizes.. once firmly attached to the bottom of your tank, it will provide heat to the substrate which some crabs prefer.
Make sure you have a cool side and a warm side. UTH should not be used on plastic Kritter Keepers due to warping and the toxic fumes some plastics can give off.. so watch where you stick it!
Dishes:
You will want at very least 3 dishes. 2 are for water and one will be used for food. Sometimes it is good to have extras due to seperating wet and dried foods or to switch out for cleanings.
They are to be heavy and sturdy, non-porous and NON-METALLIC. Remember there is to never be any metal within your crabs home, especially that may come into contact with water or moisture.
Extra shells:
Rule of thumb, 3 per crab.. one larger,
one about the same and one slightly smaller. Do not offer painted or decorated shells if you can help it, the paint is toxic. Wash them and offer them different ones from time to time. If the crabs do not have a proper shell they will die.

The Molting Mystery




A land Hermit Crab is a crustacean who in order to grow needs to shed his old Exoskeleton which is hard and rigid and does not grow.

Pre-Molt signs:
He will tend to hang out by the water pools a bit more, this is when he is "stocking" up on water helping to soften him up and make slipping out of his old Exoskeleton a bit easier. Your crab will also eat a lot more; you may even witness him eating at odd hours of the day at this time. He may also become lethargic and seem to mope around a bit. Our crabs have also gone shell shopping at this time and have even gotten aggressive while doing so.
A crabs coloring may get dull and ashy and you may notice his eyes become cloudy, sometimes if a crab had lost a limb you may see a jelly like protrusion it is a gel limb, do not be alarmed but the time for molting is very near.
You may choose to ISO the crab, this is up to you and you will need to judge the space and other crabs as to if this is what you need to do. If you do make sure it has the proper temps and humidity levels and continues to offer daily fresh foods and water throughout the molting process.

Molting:
Normally Hermit Crabs will burry themselves in the sand or other substrate to molt. (There are also times when they will feel comfortable enough to molt within the confines of a hidey area or even right on the surface.) Now when a hermit crab begins this process it is very important that you do not touch or disturb him in anyway unless absolutely necessary. During this process the crab is the most vulnerable to stress and to succumbing to death.
You may even get to watch your crab through the glass if he is buried! You may see him flinch or rock as to help his Exo split so he may slip out of it. He is working very hard to help himself grow. Also at this time he will re-generate lost limbs, antennae and even eyes!

Post molting:
When he has slipped out of his Exo you will see it hanging out of his shell, it will definitely look like a dead crab, do not remove it or disturb the area. The crab is soft and pink deep within his shell resting. Very soon he will begin to eat the old Exo, do not take this from him, as it provides necessary nutrients and calcium to help his new Exo harden and re-gain its color and luster.
At this time if the crab has been is ISO make sure to continue to offer fresh foods and waters even though he may not seem interested now, he will be soon enough. When he regains strength and starts to venture out a bit more, if there are leg pieces or pinchers left make sure to crush those and re-offer that on his food dish, he will eat them.
You can also offer a soothing post-molt diet of organic bananas and organic honey together with fresh organic plain yogurt. This will help sooth him and give him some extra energy. Make sure to offer a good variety of fresh fruits and veggies and also extra protein at this time to help him get strong to either return to the main tank or to become an active colony member again.

Small crabs molt more often sometimes as often as very two weeks larger crabs molt every year or less.

TIME FRAME:
The actual molting process from beginning to end can take anywhere from 3 days to 3 or more months. Patience and TLC is the key to make it a success. Once the old EXO is off and he begins to munch it, the molting process is close to the end.
Keep him in ISO (if you have used an ISO) and offer him a high calcium, high protien, color rich diet. Like mentioned above the bannana smoothy right now would be perfect for energy.
One your crab is walking about and acting almost normal again and his coloring has evened out.. then it is safe to either let him back into the main tank or allow free range again. Keep a watchful eye for a few days to make sure.

Answer 2

When i first got Hermit crabs i couldn`t believe how much work they can actually be.Believe it or not they need a bit a care for them. First if they are in a tank make sure it has a lid with a heating lamp on the inside of the lid, also make sure it stays HUMMID in the tank because most crabs are from florida and Hawii and it is hummid in those places. Second make sure they have clean water and a little bit of salt water too. The best way i found out to give your crabs water is to buy a flat dish fill it with water then put a small sponge in it because they like to suck the water out of the sponge. but make sure you check the water and sponge as often as u can because it dries up quick. Third give them a big variety of food rangeing from friut to veggies to the food you can buy in stores.Fourth give them Many different shells in there home so they cane have a choice. You should also buy a small plastic tank so if one does molt you can take it out gently and put it in the plastic tank so its new shell will harden and it won`t have to deal with other crabs. They molt whenever their old exoskeleton gets too small and that could be whenever, so keep an eye on your crabs so to make sure one isn`t molting in the tank. Fith make sure they have lots of things to climb on and dark places to hind and bary themselves in the sand. Sixth you can alwase ask someone ot a pet store or look up more info on the internet. Hope these tios help :) ! Also change the food Regularly.

Answer 3

I used to have a hermit crab too! Make sure you feed them the correct grain. Never neglect it or loose it, once mine escaped and I found it on the driveway, then it escaped again and it was walking across the lounge floor! LOL Set their enclosure up neatly with water, food shells plants etc Make sure you've got a correct size shell for them to move into when they grow out of their old one. (Correct one, may I repeat. I do'nt mean to scare you but when my hermit crab grew out of it, I didnt get the corrct size shell, and it died. Well thats pretty basic stuff you need to know I hope everything goes well good luck

Answer 4

I had two h. crabs when I was a kid. They did not shed their shells on any regular basis, just when they outgrew the old "homes". Good idea to keep a slightly larger shell available for them so it is ready when they are!

I used to put a small amount of water in the tub and let the run around in there. They loved the exercise and the ability to bathe themselves.

Answer 5

go to a pet shop and get a book on hermit crabs

Answer 6

every hermit crab i have had molt always ends up dying. i just gave up, so when mine molt i know its the end of the road.

Answer 7

do a hermit crab websearch plus there are Hermies clubs!

Answer 8

Wow, not an answer here, either? These guys don't talk about crabs too much here, huh?

-edit-

...never mind

Answer 9

they grow so yes, they need a new shell from time to time.

Answer 10

i just points

Answer 11

i dont kno