I was thinking about getting my boys a hermit crab for a pet but I would like ot know some more information on them first.
Do they bite?
How much care do they take?
What do they eat?
and someone mentioned finding them a new shell when they grow out of their old one, how to you know when to get them a new one and where do you find them?
2006-10-20 08:53:43 · 5 answers · asked by margiesue_84 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Hermit crabs are not an easy pet like some people think and don't like to be handled. Here is a site that tells you all about them, http://www.hermit-crabs.com/
2006-10-21 02:04:44 · answer #1 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 39 crabs and my daughter now has 5. I feel in love with these little guys 2 and a half years ago. My daughter loves to watch the big guys after a bath but that is about as far as it goes with her. She is 11 now. If you get a crab make sure you get 2 so they have someone to play with and talk to. Make sure you are willing to do most of the care with these guys. You can check out a few yahoo hermit crab groups. I belong to several and I have learned a ton of information from them.
Check out the yahoo group below.
Good luck and happy crabbing. Please remember that if you can't take care of them anymore to find a home for them. Do not set them free.
2006-10-22 23:41:45 · answer #2 · answered by lovedietdp 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hermit Crabs are good pets for adults not for children. They require specific conditions to thrive. 78-82 degrees temp and around 78% relative humidity.
They thrive best in a minimum of a 10 gallon aquarium with play sand and eco earth and they require salt water dishes and fresh water (decholrinated).
They do not bite, but they can pinch and it hurts if the crab is larger.
They eat pretty much anything. Scraps of your dinner plate, veggies, meats, fruits, nuts, seeds. They're scavangers.
You must keep a variety of shells for them in various sizes. They will switch when they want to.
DO NOT BUY FROM MALL KIOSKS...they will most likely suffer PPS (Post Purchase Stress) and die. DO NOT BUY CRABS IN PAINTED SHELLS - the paint can be harmful to them.
All the right conditions can be costly. The Kritter Keepers they sell them in are fine for a temporary home, but anything more permanant and they need to be in a glass aquarium with the right heat and humidity conditions.
When choosing a crab, take them and hold them. They should come out and peek at you after a few minutes. IF they don't they are shy and easily stressed and quite possibly unable to handle the stress of changing environments.
People think they are like fish, but they aren't. They are not disposable pets. They need time every day, care and monitoring.
Purchasing everything you need for a 10g tank can run you about $150-250 depending on how extravagent you get.
There are several sites:
http://hermitcrabaddiction.net/forum/index.php?action=forum
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/index.php
http://www.crabstreetjournal.com/modules.php?name=Forums
and this one is great for learning what to feed them.
http://www.epicureanhermit.com/mambo/index.php
If you do decide to get them, start off with a smaller Purple Pincher (PP). They are the most hardy and the easier adaptable of the crabs.
Good luck!
2006-10-21 21:37:35 · answer #3 · answered by WickedAnnabella 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hermi crabs are best left in the ocean. they serve a purpose there. Get a gold fish, or a turtle, they are farmed like chickens, and are cute.
Hermis are likeing shells that fit. Its like a shoe house, has to fit. They breath air also, so give them water to play basketball in and a sandy area were they can rest.
Yes they bite. Every animal,fish bites. hermis tickle bite, but they have a claw or claws, its like our fingers.
Feed them and they are happy.
They eat itty bitty stuff, they are scavengers.
2006-10-20 16:09:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Hermit Crab is not a good pet. It's not something that anyone will ever become interactive with. You are right. It's his house that you will see. If you want to see him then you would have to burn a match on the outside of the shell in order to get him to appear. Would you want to teach your children how to interact with animals in that manner? I should hope not. When they get a little bit older then they might want to get Fido to come outside by burning his doghouse down. Good luck.
2006-10-20 16:06:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋