Can anybody tell me anything about a hermit crab?

Question

well my cousin got a hermit crab and then he let it loose in my house. It got lost and he went back home in N.C (I live in G.A.) So about a week ago I found it. and now I have a hermit crab.

Answer 1

I would suggest to visit our site at http://www.geocities.com/hermitcrab_rescue/
New Forum too: http://crabrescue.proboards102.com/index.cgi

They are updated as soon as new discoveries are made, we have fully updated the Wikipedia entry that was quoted above...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Hermitcrabrescue is more info on us as well as below.

Answer 2

Hermit crabs are one of the most interesting and inexpensive exotic pets available today. Using some careful thought and creativity, you can turn their new home into a miniature replica of their natural habitat and create a great learning tool for children. The ecology of hermit crab keeping is extremely important in keeping them healthy and stimulated and increases their chances of living their natural life span.

Hermit crabs in the wild can be found near the ocean or in tropical areas. The common denominator here is humidity. This is the single most important aspect to consider when setting up the habitat. You will need to set up a nice humid environment, but one that does not promote fungus or bacteria. Monitoring their environment through the use of a humidity and temperature gauge is highly recommended. No matter which species of hermit crab you own a proper setup should satisfy the needs of all.

At first glance keeping hermit crabs seems a more daunting task than you may have been led to believe when you were handed the crab in a little plastic box at the beach, but the pros outweigh the cons quite quickly. Hermit crabs are highly entertaining and can live up to 20 years in captivity.

Dos & Don’ts of hermit crab care

• Do - Maintain a temperature and humidity of 75-84 degrees/percent
• Do – De-chlorinate all water used in the habitat
• Do – Rearrange the habitat monthly to break up the monotony
• Do – Monitor interactions between hermit crabs when adding new members. Remember they are individuals and not everyone will necessarily get along.
• Don’t – Deep clean the habitat when a crab is in molt
• Don’t - Offer painted shells. Many contain harmful toxins.
• Do – Clean habitat regularly to prevent bacterial and fungal problems.
• Don’t – Bathe your hermit crab. Proper humidity, swimming, and water bowls should provide enough moisture for your hermit crab’s exoskeleton.
• Don’t – Bother your hermit crab during a molt. They are extremely fragile during this time and will likely die if disturbed.
• Don’t – Remove the exoskeleton after a molt. The hermit crab will eat the exoskeleton to regain lost calcium during the molt.

Answer 3

Hermit Crabs decapod crustaceans of the superfamily Paguroidea, distinct from the true crabs in the infra-order Brachyura. Most hermit crabs salvage empty seashells to shelter and protect their soft abdomens. There are about five hundred known species of hermit crabs in the world; although they are mostly aquatic, there are also some terrestrial species. A number of species, most notably king crabs, have abandoned seashells for a free-living life; these species have forms similar to true crabs and are known as carcinized hermit crabs.

Alsthough they are called HERMIT crabs, they live in the wild in colonies of 100 and more. They do not like to or thrive living alone. They are called HERMITS because of the shell home on their backs.

Answer 4

sure been a crabber for years ,you need a home for it, an old aquarium is good and a lid thafit snuggly but allows air to come in some beach sand on the bottum about 21/2" to 3" deep a shallow dish for water and a chunk of soaked up sea sponge is agood idea as hermit crabs need to stay moist for there gills to work,they like to eat peanutbutter fruit like apples and raisins ,you should get them some regular crab food from your pet store, put some spare shells in for him hermits like to try out new shells from time to time and as they grow they will need to move into larger shells. don't put your fingers in there claws THEY WILL PINCH ! and it does hurt .I once had a 3" crab that could leave marks in a penny when he pinched it. there are lots of sites on the internet on hermit crabs check them out and have fun.

Answer 5

herman crabs like to play in water. I put mine in a little water and let him come almost out of his shell. Also they like bananas, popcorn, try different food with them. Also they need a little bigger shell than they are in now to change into.

Answer 6

first of all careful, they pinch. second, they are pretty cool! you'll need a little cage and some sand for the bottom. they eat pelleted food, and need stuff to climb on. they're a pretty popular pet so most pet stores have a display with everything you could need for the little guy.

Answer 7

You have to buy it a square-like tank. Fill the bottom with pebbles. That's all I know.

Answer 8

I know they grow and need larger shells. If you leave a larger shell in his cage, eventually he will leave his old shell and take the new one.

Answer 9

this link has lots of info