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Pets
The hermit crab is a fascinating
exotic pet that has gained popularity for being easy to set up and extremely
low maintenance. They are hypoallergenic, clean, and generally very quiet.
Unlike fish, they can be handled and taken out of their tank for short
periods.
In order to set up a happy home for a hermit crab, it is important to
understand the crab’s natural environment. Wild hermit crabs live along
seashores and in tropical areas. They prefer a warm, humid environment with
deep sand or mud to burrow in, and lots of water.
Pet hermit crabs should be housed in a glass tank with several inches of
clean sand, sometimes mixed with sterile potting soil. There should be
plenty of fresh, dechlorinated water available. Always use shallow dishes
for the water, and provide ramps for small hermit crabs that may have
trouble climbing in and out. Many owners find that hermit crabs enjoy
lounging in a separate dish of salt water (aquarium marine salt rather than
table salt), although fresh water should always be available.
A hermit crab’s hard exoskeleton makes excellent armour, but it does not
hold moisture in as well as our skin. Humidity is an extremely important
factor for keeping hermit crabs healthy, and a glass tank (rather than an
open-sided cage) is essential. Although air should be able to circulate
through the tank to prevent growth of bacteria and fungi, a partial lid of
plastic or plexiglass can also help keep moisture in. In addition, spritzing
the crabs with fresh, de-chlorinated water every day will not only help
moisten them but will encourage them to become active, explore, and eat.
Wetted natural moss and plastic plants can provide humid microenvironments
for crabs within a tank, and also make nice hiding places. Hermit crabs
should always have a few areas of cover and crevices to be able to burrow
and hide. Some will make their own by digging into the sand.
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