How do u get your hermit crabs to mate?

Question

I have a male and female hermit crab and i want them to mate. Is this possible? And if so, How ?

Answer 1

This is impossible to do. Land Hermit Crabs will not breed in captivity, and even if you had acquired a female land hermit crab gravid with eggs, the eggs may in fact hatch but the Zoea will not survive because it is impossible to duplicate the delicate ecosystem of the sea and the exact place from where that particular breed of Land Hermit crab originates.

They must be in the sea at the proper level and depth, temperature and tide flow with all of the vital nutrients and microscopic inhabitants in which that Zoea would need in order to survive and to consume. Then you must keep them alive through several molts until they are able to find the proper type and size of shell in which to live and then start becoming terrestrial or land creatures.

Doing all of this while maintaining the perfect balance and ecosystem is impossible for a at home pet owner and in fact even scientists and biologists with millions of dollars at their disposal and the most advanced equipment still can not succeed in breeding and raising Land Hermit crabs from fertilization, egg, zoea and juvenile stages.

You would need to know exactly where that hermit crab comes from in the wild and where its migratory pattern is, if any, the breeding and egg laying areas and locations and then test the water during those exact times and depth, take samples and by using microscopes and special equipment to see the exact makeup of that water with all of it’s microscopic inhabitants. The exact cycles of the growth of the Land Hermit crab from egg to Juvenile and where in the ocean it travels and spends it’s time feeding and what exactly it feeds on. Then you would have to duplicate and research the entire ecosystem and environment by visiting the area, (natural habitat) and observe their activities and life cycle in order to grasp just a small amount of what is needed to try to pull something like this off.

They are not domesticated pets, they are wild exotic creatures, they will never be domesticated because they are too sensitive… that is why too many people fail at keeping them as pets for any long periods of time.

Answer 2

Hermit crabs have never been bred in captivity.

Answer 3

I would suggest some soft lighting, perhaps candlelight, then some nice romantic music. If they are really stubborn break out a bottle of wine. That usually works.

Answer 4

let nature take its course, whats yr hurry

Answer 5

maybe they dont like each other.