hermit crab info please?

Question

hi im wanting to get hermit crabs i need to now about them i have around 150 to spend help please

Answer 1

You sound like a responsible person if you're willing to spend $150 on hermits!

I have 7 hermits in a 30gal long tank, and none of them are larger than a 50cent piece. They all get along well.

You have a few choices of hermits, with the Purple Clawed being the most commonly sold and most docile. There are also Ecuadorians, who tolerate handling about as good as a frisky puppy. My favortie, bust sadly the only species I cant get my hands on, are Strawberries. They are a very pretty red color and are wonderful decoraters. They tear tanks to pieces and decorate them to their tastes.

All hermits need a tank that has high humidity, 78-83* heat, 1-4" sand for digging, a shallow dish for water(preferably two, one for salt water one for fresh, dechlorinated and treated with the hermit crab water treatment stuff), places for hiding(I have a plant pot upside down on rocks also a hide-hut for small animals that they like to climb all over, also some sticks for climbing and net to catch them in case they accidentally fall), and food dishes. I use the top to a wax worm container and fill it with food every two days as they dont eat that much. I feed them hermit crab bites(or cakes), but not the stuff that comes in sticks as that is bad for them. I also feed them bananas(peals and fruit), cheese on occasion, meat on occasion, crab meat sometimes, collard green leaf(which they love), strawberries, carrots, and bread.

When you go to the store, especially stores like petco, they will probably have a whole section with shiny, flashy hermit crab stuff. Most of this is USELESS. Do not buy it unless you dont mind where your money goes.

I would suggest your shopping list goes something like this:
Humidity/tempurature gauge
two shallow dishes for water(not metal of any sort)
20gal long tank(get this at a little pet store/garage sale as its cheaper, with a screen or glass top, preferrably glass as it holds humidity)
Playsand from your local hardware shop(make sure its clean and not wet)
Hermit Crab Water treatment(it'll be in the hermit crab stuff)
Hermit Crab food(bites, cakes, and treats are ok and good)
Hermit Crabs(at least 3, they live in packs of 100 or more in the wild)
Extra shells(they preffer conch shells, the most common ones)

When you pick out hermies, please only buy the ones that are not painted. Painted shells are usually painted when the hermit is still in them, trapping him in there when the paint dries or killing him with the fumes. Also, paint chips may fall off and they may eat them, resulting in death. It may be pretty, but think about their health first. Also, pick them up and set them on your hand carefully. See if they are shy or not. If you doubt one is alive, blow on him softly, and his claw should open if he's alive or he will move slightly.

There was one time I was going to take an Ecuadorian home, and I set him on my hand and he tried to run so I gently covered him up and he pinched me! It didn't hurt, I thought it was funny, but I left him at the pet shop because I was worried he might fight with my calmer, more docile Purple Pinchers(carribean hermits).

Good luck, thanks for being responsible! You sound awesome!

Answer 2

Here are two links that will give you all the info you need on hermit crabs. There are three main types, the purple claw, the Ecuadoran, and the strawberry. It's important to know which one you are getting, because they have somewhat different requirements. The links will also help you tell the kinds apart - something the people at the pet store may or may not be able to do.

Once you know what things you'll need, you can get the supplies at a pet store near you. You could by online, but you'll have to pay more because of shipping costs.

Good luck with your hermits! And good job finding out what they will need before you buy them!

http://www.hermit-crabs.com/
http://www.thecrabbagepatch.com/

Answer 3

They are social creatures so get at least 2. Buy extra shells for them to grow into, water dish that they can drag their bodies through, sand, and mulch, a home for them to go into. A big enough cage for them to get exercise in. Also, they need a humid environment-get sponges to put in the water dish. If you live in an area that has winter then you will need to heat their cage to keep it at a steady temp. When you go to the pet store-tell the people this is your first hermit crab, and you need help getting everything you need!

They are fun! get some salt from the pet store, too. They like to take warm salt baths once a week or so. YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE CHLORINE OUT OF THE WATER THEY DRINK AND BATHE IN! There are drops you can buy to put into tap water that will almost instantly eliminate chlorine.

Answer 4

Your best best is to start out with 3 purple pinchers they are the hardiest species. The other exotics take more stable environments and don't adjust well to newbie mistakes.

You will want at least a 10g tank. You will need a heat source either lights or an under tank heater. You will need dechlorinator for your water. Get the stuff from the fish aisle with out stress or slime coat in it. You will need a hygrometer, thermometer, aquarium grade salt like oceanic, places to hide and things to climb on. Do not mess with the stuff made for hermit crabs it's actually bad for them and costs more then the stuff made for fish. Here is a care sheet for purple pinchers.
Coenobita clypeatus (purple pincer) care sheet:
ID Characteristics:
Multi-colored limbs in shades of red, purple, tan, orange, and yellow. The body is a shade of tan. The pincers are susally purple, but can also be a variety of other colors (reds, purples, tans, oranges, yellows). The eyes are comma shaped and the eyestalks are slender and narrow.

Housing/Crabitat:
no smaller than a 10 gallon glass tank, is preferable. A glass or plexiglass lid is also preferable, to keep proper temperature and humidity.

Temperature: 74-78 degrees F (need thermometer)

Humidity: 70-80% relative (need hygrometer)

Substrate:

Playsand, Forestbedding (Eco-Earth, Bed-a-Beast, etc). Moss and calcisand may also be added to the tank, however it is not recommended as a main substrate.

Diet:
Commercial crab foods, Vegetables (favorites include-carrots, lettuce, parsley, spinach, and corn), Fruits (favorites include-coconut, mango, apples, grapes, and pears), Meats (seafood, silversides and chicken are favorites), Grains, Peanut butter, eggs, seeds, algae and seaveggies. Please see http://www.epicureanhermit.com for a list of other edible foods.

Purple pinchers need both fresh and salt water made with aquarium grade salt like oceanic (dechlorinated).

Shells: you need at least 3 extra per crab.
Turbo, pica/magpie, Sharks eye. Shells with circular openings are favorites

Molting:
-Lethargic before and hyper after molting
-Legs tend to be dry and ashy pre-molt
-Will sometimes molt without a molt sac or other pre-molting symptoms
-Are thirsty and hungry pre-molt and post-molt

Other Characteristics:
-Sweet/nice temperament
-Love to climb
-Love to crowd into piles
-Not as active as other species such as the Es
-Like to hide during the day and are most active at night
-More willing to pinch if they feel threatened/scared
-Females seem to have larger eyes than males
-Love to change shells
-Love to eat and climb on wood such as cholla/choya and corkbark


If you have any questions please visit www.hermitcrabassociation.com there is always someone around to answer a question

Answer 5

keep the hermit in salt water. he is adapted to that water

Answer 6

Hammie, you can try this place Good luck, Strictlypetsupplies.com