Hermit Crabs?

Question

My kids brought home hermit crabs from the beach, can someone tell me how to take care of them and how to house them?

Answer 1

A couple more good sources for you:

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

Answer 2

The odds are very, very good that your kids have brought home a marine hermit crab, not a land hermit crab and they will soon die in a Land Hermit Crab setup. They can survive out of the water and on the beach for a short time.

Unless you are positive that they are Land Hermit Crabs (found in some places in Florida) I would return them to the beach as quickly as possible.

The species you would have found in the US would be a Purple Pincher and they have a large left claw and a smaller right one. Marine crabs claws are close to the same size.

Answer 3

Land hermit crabs do not like a wet, sloppy home. We no not recommend using a FULL SPECTRUM LIGHT OR HEAT LAMPS on the aquarium or the use of corn cob or cedar shavings instead of gravel or sand. They tend to dry out the hermit crabs. It is a good idea to bathe your crabs once a week, as well as giving them an occasional misting OUTSIDE the tank. NEVER attempt to remove a crab from its sea shell because it will allow itself to be torn apart rather than give up its protective home.

More in the web.

Answer 4

I in no way condone bring home wild crabs. If they are indeed land hermit crabs I have a really good article for you. I would post it but it would take up way to much space, so I'm just putting in the source.

Answer 5

Sure!
I've had crabs for years.
Crabs carry no diseases known to man, and are allergy free!

Its a good thing you got 2, crabs love friends.
For the cage, it should average at minimum 1crab per a gallon. The cage floor should be gravel or sand.
They should have fresh food daily. You can also give them treats sometimes. Stuff like popcorn, raw liver, and lettace.
Whenever you feed them, be sure to make the food into small peices.For water, you can buy a sponge or get a shallow dish. Only use purified or spring water. Tap will kill them.Clean poop daily, or at least bi-daily.
Crabs will sometimes try to bury food.

The temperature should usually be between 67 and 80degrees ferinhite. The cage should be humid, and if its not, bathe the crab 1-3 times weekly. (more times in winter)
To bathe: Fill a cup(disposible) with the fresh water. It should be room temp. Drop the crab in and take it out after 60-70 seconds. Within that minuete, it will quickly clean itsself. Void a long time, so the crab doesnt drown.

If possible, get the crabs a toy. Many pet stores have them. Aslo, your crabs will shed their skin like snakes sometimes. This prosses takes up to 5 days.They do this do to growing.
They may hide under their shell, or burry underground.
Be sure to have at least 1 spare shell for each crab. They like to change their homes.

The crabs do not need a lamp. They prefer shady places.
Crabs are nocternal. They stay up at night.
Change the flooring every 8-14mounths. It should be about 2-4inches deep.(crabs like to dig)When feeding, put their food in a dish. Putting it in straight isn't smart, you'll have to clean up their mess. I recmend a plastic cage over a wire one. On wire ones, the crabs can pop the lid off. Also, you'll have a hard time keeping the gravil in there.

Good luck!
If you need more info, ever, check out websites, or use this Yahoo answer thing.

Answer 6

I would make them get rid of them. The ones from the beach could be diseased. If they want some go to a pet store and buy them some. But I would never let them bring some home from the beach.