Taking Care of Hermit Crab Pets

Many people disapprove of the idea of keeping dogs and cats as pets. They do not want the noise, dirt, poop and the damage they may cause to furniture. So, they choose tinier and gentler creatures. Taking care of land hermit crab pets is a good alternative.

But before buying them, you must first consider purchasing or building a pet hermit crabs habitat or crabitat. It is a cage where they can enjoy the environment of their natural homes. Remember that these crabs are naturally found in tropical regions. There is plenty of sunlight, warmth and moisture in these places. You must copy this environment to your crabitat.

The container itself must be big enough to be their playground. A 10-gallon glass tank is advised. Small bottles and jars are not friendly to these creatures. A hermit crab habitat must be large enough to allow them to walk and play—to train their legs and muscles. You can purchase a ready-made container from a pet shop, or make your own from glass or fiber-glass. This material is effective in retaining warmth and humidity inside.

The substrate or soil is another important element of the crabitat. Sand is the best choice for the substrate. Remember that they came from sandy beaches. They love to dig and burrow deep into the sand. The particles are also helpful when they are molting. You may use commercial sand or ordinary garden sand for the substrate. However, you must sanitize it first from tiny insects and unwanted organisms. Wash the sand with fresh water and let it dry. Then, bake it in the oven at 350 degrees. Washing and baking will also improve the texture of the particles.

You can now design the landscape by shaping the sand into dunes and hills. Crabs like toys and fixtures to climb. Exercise will help them develop stronger bodies.

Another important element to the habitat is providing them with food. Their natural homes provide them with a large variety of foods: from dried leaves, dead animals, fallen branches to worms. Food variety is important for their health. In particular, they need calcium for stronger shells, carotene for good shell color, and antioxidants for disease protection.

Feeding a hermit crab is easy with commercial diets. These special recipes are available from pet stores, and they contain all the required nutrients for your crabby pets. There are canned wet, packed dry and pelleted foods. You can also feed them with bits of fruits and vegetables. They enjoy citruses, mangoes, guavas, sweet potatoes, corn and carrots. These foods are rich in calcium, carotene and antioxidants. Because it likes sweet fruits, you can do feeding a hermit crab with your own fingers. Leafy vegetables like broccoli and powdered pork bones are welcome addition to their meals.

Of course, water is indispensable for your crabitat. Your pets will use it for drinking and bathing. The vapor from the water will also moisturize the air in the cage—just like the humid tropics. Just be sure that the water is purified or distilled. You can also use water conditioners to soften tap water and neutralize its chlorine.

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Hi, I'm Steven Black, and my best friend was my Hermit crab. Hermit crabs have certain needs, like creating a home, type of food, why they need shells, and more depending on the type of crab you have. More info about hermit crabs.

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