Hermit Crab Questions

[black_cat]

Awesome! You'll have to post pictures

Aack! Totally missed this post!
Four in a 10 gallon tank, taken directly as it was from someone else's house who needed to rehome them. One of them must be at least 15 years old- GIANT. GIANT. HUGE. I would need like a 40 gallon tank to accommodate him, and stuff big enough for him (water bowls, deep substrate, extra shells, etc) so we've found him a new home with someone who can give him a proper tank. He's going on wednesday.

These are old pics, but this is how I originally set it up. Then I read that when you're getting them used to proper heat and humidity, you're not supposed to give them any hides, so I took those out. I went to the pet store and got a heater and a lizard lounge net for them to climb on, as well as a thermometer and a hydrometer. The big crab knocks everything over, so I don't have those in yet. I also have a small dish of salt water. I'm going to put the big dishes for water in after he leaves, because he takes up so much space.

 

[RiverOtter]

Very nice! My kids have hermit crabs, 3 PP in one enclosure and two teeny baby strawberries in another.

Some places tell you to go insane on the substrate, but so long as they can bury themselves, you're good, because if one is molting, it's best to cut the bottom off a soda bottle and sink it around it to isolate, rather than try to rely on it burying itself too deep for the others to smell, which is not happening in a tank anyway.

They are fun and fascinating little creatures to have!

 

[HKG]

I see this thread hasn't been active for awhile but I might be getting a hermit crab and I have some questions.

 

[KingD]

@HuffleClaw you have some?

 

[HuffleClaw]

I see this thread hasn't been active for awhile but I might be getting a hermit crab and I have some questions.

What would you like to know?

 

[TheDuckGuy]

It went pretty well. I don’t have them any more, but I believe I had eight in a 55 gallon tank.
I would recommend a younger smaller one.
I fed mine classic hermit crab food, as well as fresh greens. Watered them with a sponge.
Their set up was beach sand and several shells they could change into - they did several times a day.
They’re happiest in numbers, and you should be able to keep 2 small ones in a ten gallon

Don't recommend sand or sponge water

 

[HKG]

What would you like to know?

First, do the small ones get bigger or are they small forever? I found this at the store I think I can keep them in this.

It's fairly large. My mom isnt crazy about having another aquarium in the house because I already have two. So when I found this she was very happy and wants it to look nice and be a centerpiece for our table this is the first time she has ever gotten excited about me getting a pet. I was thinking this might be good because it will keep in humidity. (It's a terrarium for plants)

I was going to poke some holes in the cork for air. Also, she got some preserved sheet moss for us to use over top of peat moss bedding but is the sheet moss safe for them?idk how it is preserved so that's why I'm a little worried.

We know to stay away from painted shells and to only use purified water. Culligan drinking water should be okay right? What should we buy for them such as what food? Toys? I would just like to know about basic care like how often we should mist the cage and I read we should use a dish of water that they can sit in but it's not to deep, I also read you should have a sandbox type thing? I have looked online but I trust a person that I know has actually had them a lot more. Thanks in advance!

 

[HuffleClaw]

First, do the small ones get bigger or are they small forever? I found this at the store I think I can keep them in this.View attachment 2760729
It's fairly large. My mom isnt crazy about having another aquarium in the house because I already have two. So when I found this she was very happy and wants it to look nice and be a centerpiece for our table this is the first time she has ever gotten excited about me getting a pet. I was thinking this might be good because it will keep in humidity. (It's a terrarium for plants) View attachment 2760737I was going to poke some holes in the cork for air. Also, she got some preserved sheet moss for us to use over top of peat moss bedding but is the sheet moss safe for them?idk how it is preserved so that's why I'm a little worried.View attachment 2760740
We know to stay away from painted shells and to only use purified water. Culligan drinking water should be okay right? What should we buy for them such as what food? Toys? I would just like to know about basic care like how often we should mist the cage and I read we should use a dish of water that they can sit in but it's not to deep, I also read you should have a sandbox type thing? I have looked online but I trust a person that I know has actually had them a lot more. Thanks in advance!

I think that should be okay for maybe 2 hermies if you get the small ones. It’s on the smaller side, especially by the time you add feed/water dishes, but it’ll do if that’s all you have for now. My hermies like sand. 2-3 inches of sand is plenty. Any dechlorinated water is fine. I buy a hermit crab specific food from Petsmart and occasionally give them fresh fruits/veggies as treats. Just keep in mind they don’t eat much. I just have little climbing toys for mine (hermies are tree crabs and love climbing). I miss the cage once a day for moisture and I let my hermie soak in a salt water bath once a week (The salt water is made for hermit crabs- you can but the salt from Petsmart and make your own rather than having the pre made kind… it’s cheaper). My hermit crabs have not gotten any bigger and I’ve had them for a year, but I really can’t answer if they eventually do get bigger

 

[HKG]

I think that should be okay for maybe 2 hermies if you get the small ones. It’s on the smaller side, especially by the time you add feed/water dishes, but it’ll do if that’s all you have for now. My hermies like sand. 2-3 inches of sand is plenty. Any dechlorinated water is fine. I buy a hermit crab specific food from Petsmart and occasionally give them fresh fruits/veggies as treats. Just keep in mind they don’t eat much. I just have little climbing toys for mine (hermies are tree crabs and love climbing). I miss the cage once a day for moisture and I let my hermie soak in a salt water bath once a week (The salt water is made for hermit crabs- you can but the salt from Petsmart and make your own rather than having the pre made kind… it’s cheaper). My hermit crabs have not gotten any bigger and I’ve had them for a year, but I really can’t answer if they eventually do get bigger

Okay sounds great! What about the moss do you think it's safe?

 

[HuffleClaw]

Okay sounds great! What about the moss do you think it's safe?

The moss is great!