How can I breed my hermit crabs?

Question

I own four small hermit crabs and they live in a 10-gallon tank. Many people have different opinions on breeding hermit crabs - some say it is impossible, others state it is difficult and some say that it is simple if you know how.

I would like to know how to breed my hermit crabs and know any other possible information about breeding them. All answers are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

XOXO,
Laurie

Answer 1

It's not impossible to do, but very impractical to say the very least. Other than Ecuadoran hermits, other species are marine. When the crabs mate, the female casts the eggs into the ocean, where they eventually hatch and develop for about eight months before they become the terrestrial crabs you find in pet stores.

So to successfully breed them, you'd need to have a tank of clean, filtered seawater, with aeration and food to keep them for that amount of time, a "beach" where they could get out of the water when they metamorphose, and a selection of appropriate sized shells for he babies to live in as they molt.

Having male and female adults will be necessary as well.

Answer 2

I have only heard about hermit crabs breeding twice in captivity but neither of them were successful. I think one time the eggs hatched but the babies died and the other time I don't think the eggs even hatched. The eggs are laid in the ocean in the wild so you would have to replicate that in your tank, 10 gallons seems too small to do that though.

Answer 3

I read on the internet that, even though they are "land" hermit crabs, they need ocean water to lay their eggs.

Answer 4

hermit crabs dont breed in captivity , they need the ocean

Answer 5

Maybe you should get a book on breeding hermit crabs...

Answer 6

http://www.thecrabbagepatch.com/lifecycle.html
Tammy at crabbage patch was able to hatch the eggs, but not keep them alive for more then I believe 10 days. The link above tells her story

Answer 7

just let nature take its course