Species: Coenobita perlatus --Strawberry Hermit Crab

ID characteristics:

Orange/red coloration of body and limbs, gold or orange joints, white spots on legs where hair follicles are, steel gray/black oval-shaped eyes, orange/red eyestalks, orange/red aentennae (both sets). Some straws will have more white on their body depending on their diet.

Housing:

A glass tank is preferable to hold in heat and humidity, tank must have a lid to maintain the high humidity required.

Tank Temp:

75-82 degrees F

Tank Humidity:

80-85%
*Keep in mind they are beach/shoreline dwellers, so they are closer to the water, thus require higher humidty.
*They also like to sun bathe/bask for 5-15 minutes.

Substrate:

Sand, Forest Bedding, Moss are preferable; keep moist

Diet:

**Salt Water (deep enough for them to completely submerge in) is REQUIRED!
---->Instant Ocean or Oceanic Sea Salt..or any other aquarium salt is fine. 1/2 cup IO or Oceanic per gallon of dechlorinated water. (please see http://www.mrspoppypuff.com for other IO conversions.)

*Plain Dechlorinated water, enough for them to completely submerge in.
*Standard Commercial Food (FMR, T-Rex Crab Island..etc)
*Fish/Seafood--shrimp, sardines, lobster, salmon...ect
*Meat--chicken, turkey, cooked non-seasoned beef...ect
*Fresh Fruits and Veggies
*Grains--oats, oatmeal, granola..ect.
*Nuts
*Seaweed, Spirulina, Fish flakes (without chemical preservatives)
*Other treats--anything that doesnt contain dairy substances. Mine especially like Peanut butter, scrambled eggs, carrots, and grapefruit
(Foods like seafood and those that contain carotene (like carrots) are helpful in maintaining the straws orange/red color.)

Shells:

Turbos and Frogs

Molting:

I have had 6 molts, 5 in very moist sand and one in FB. So I think as long as the substrate is moist and they are able to build their caves they will molt in either FB or in sand. They take the same time frame as other hermies, sometimes longer if they are re-growing limbs. I have noticed that they tend to be more stressed after molting and require FRESH fruits, veggies, and meats...this seems to pull them out of the stress and make them feel better. They also need lots of salt water right after. Many of mine, after they surface will sit in the IO dish for 20-30 minutes or more, drinking and soaking. All but 2 of my straw molts have been in the main tank with the other hermies running amuck and what not on the surface..and all straws have come out fine.

Other Characteristics:

*They like to climb--vines, plants, cocohuts..anything thats climbable
*They love to dig!
*They LOVE to have a buddy of the same species.
*They are stressed easily (shipping, bad conditions, too much handling, going naked)
*They need hideys that are dark just like the other hermies
*They are one of the most active species when conditions are right and after they are destressed and socialized/familiar with their tank mates and new home.

Contributors: NarNar