What do hermit crabs need to stay alive?

Question

I found a hermit crab at the beach and decided to keep it as a pet. What do I feed it and what should I do to keep it alive?

PLEASE ANSWER BEFORE MY CRAB DIES!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

In the wild, land hermit crabs are omnivores, meaning they eat both plant and animal matter..While the commercial diets are convenient and most are quite well balanced, but should be supplemented with fresh foods. Hermit crabs seem particularly fond of having a varied diet. A wide variety of foods from the list below should be offered on a rotating basis (a few each day, then a handful of others the next, and so on).

Fresh foods and treats you can try include:

mango, papaya, coconut (fresh or dried), apples, bananas,
grapes, pineapple, strawberries, melons, carrots and lettuces (not iceberg/head lettuce), boiled eggs, meats and seafood (in moderation), freeze dried shrimp and plankton (found in the fish food section at the pet store)

Pretty much any fruit (fresh or dried) can be offered, although some experts recommend avoiding highly acidic or citrus foods (e.g. oranges, tomatoes). Try a variety of vegetables but avoid starchy vegetables such as potatoes and stay away from iceberg lettuce as it is of very low nutritional value.

Also avoid feeding dairy products.

Calcium
Hermit crabs need a lot of calcium to support the health of their exoskeleton, and this is especially true during molting. Ways to provide ample calcium to your crabs include the following:

cuttlebone - readily available in pet stores (check the bird section) and can be given whole, or shredded and added to food

calcium vitamin supplements -readily available for reptiles, these can also be added to hermit crabs' food
crushed oyster shell - also from the bird section, an excellent source of calcium

coral sand - you can use the fine sand as the tank substrate, or use as a supplement

crushed egg shells - boil, dry, and crush some egg shells for an easy source of calcium

Take a look at this website, it has everything you need:

http://www.hermit-crabs.com

Later on, you can check these sites also:
http://www.hermitcrabs.org/
http://www.stembol.com/Pets/maintenance.html

Answer 2

What Do Hermit Crabs Need

Answer 3

hermit crabs stay alive: https://bitly.im/c14/what-do-hermit-crabs-need-to-stay-alive

Answer 4

first, water - salt water coz you found it on the beach, no?
second, put them in a nice sheltered place like tank or even a bottle. they need lots of hiding places as they are shy. ya also need to feed them with sinking food, my cousin have some hermit crab and she fed 'em with anything - they're omnivorous scavenger type that dwells around the bottom.
well, good luck with the lil' critter! ^_^

Answer 5

See these websites - they have all the care info you need:
http://www.hermit-crabs.com/
http://www.thecrabbagepatch.com/

Minimum requirements - tank, 2 water bowls (1 for freshwater, one for saltwater deep enough for soaking), cave or hut for hiding, soft substrate (sand or coconut fiber) deep enough to completely bury themselves, food (can be prepared or fresh, see websites for suggestions), calcium and vitamin supplement, misting bottle, mini heating pad or light to keep a warm area in the tank, climbing features (wood, cork, rocks, wire mesh, etc.), and extra shells a little larger than their current one. Hermits are social, so yours would appreciate having a few friends.

Answer 6

go to petsmart and get a cage a hermitcrab cage get food a hermit crad sponge to drink and hermit crab sand

Answer 7

He just needs some moisture,sand and something to eat. Go to your local pet store and they should be able to hook you up!