I have done some research, and am interested in having pet hermit crabs. Must you buy them, or can you get them in the ocean? tips and suggestions are welcome!
2007-07-25 15:58:01 · 6 answers · asked by Cherylann Cormier-Towers 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I can find oodles of them at this beach I know, and I'll probably have a few. I've read that hermit crabs keep some water in their shell, so shells with holes in them (circular holes that other sea aninmals drill to eat crab), are they no good?
2007-07-25 16:18:47 · update #1
buy them in a store they are very inexpensive.... i have two... also you need to get extra shells for when they grow out of their originals
2007-07-25 16:05:47 · answer #1 · answered by brett b 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless you live in the Florida Keys, the crabs you are seeing at the ocean are marine hermit crabs not land hermit crabs. So you will need to get them from a store. Shells with holes in them will not work, because they do keep water in their shells. Here is a care sheet to help you with them.
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 (thermometer)
Humidity: 70-80% relative (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 (dechlorinated & salt made with a good marine salt like Oceanic).
Shells:
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
-Love to change shells
-Love to eat and climb on wood such as cholla/choya and corkbark
2007-07-25 17:03:27 · answer #2 · answered by brandi9976 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i does not get hermit crabs for pets. they don't do something, as nicely, in case you had to coach them off you're able to tell your buddy/co-worker/boss ''You wanna see my crabs'' i think of you're able to get a great reaction. : ]
2016-10-09 09:36:39 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Haven't a clue of capturing them in the wild...
BUT they don't like to be alone.... get at least two... then they are comical - I've kept one alone - he/she hides.... fixing to get another since his/her partner died.
YMMV
2007-07-25 16:12:25 · answer #4 · answered by Lisa R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
about $3.99 for small ones at pet supermarket
2007-07-31 22:45:24 · answer #5 · answered by cheri h 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had one and the smelllll
2007-07-25 16:08:55 · answer #6 · answered by Kathy H 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋