HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hello. Im pretty new to crabs, having just bought three a couple months ago. Ive been working hard to try to keep them happy. Sadly the smallest one i had died not to long ago. I bought it about a week or two after the first two, and i think it was sick because it was really small and the pet store didnt even realize anything was in the shell until i asked to look at it. Anyway ive been researching the past day or two and realized just how wrong everything i thought i knew about the hermit crab trade and care was. Knowing now what they went through in the first place to become my pets and that if done right can live for decades, Im determined to do this right.

The tank i have is 10 gallons and i have half coconut fiber and half sand about 3 or 4 inches deep. I have both freshwater and saltwater in there. As well as two kinds of hermit crab food i bought at the store. They have a log shelter (which they are almost always under) and i have a little climbing log thing in there that they seem to never use tho. I need a new lid for my tank which im trying to get soon, because all i had been using was a wire lid and a shirt to trying to keep heat from my lamp and heating pad in there. I don't have any plants put i do spray in there for humidity. I must admit ive just recently been keeping the humidity really good in their tank cause i didnt really know just how important it was til recently. Also one of the crabs came in a painted shell so i was wondering if i need to just wait for him to change shells or if i should try to encourage the change of shells? I have pictures of the tank and everything if anyone wants to see them.

I know i probably sound like a horrible owner but thats why im here. Ive been really worried about the since me and my girlfriend got them cause i could tell they were sad. She has experience with hermit crabs, having had a whole tank of 10 or 15 at one point a few years ago, but we both know now we were misguided. I have a trip to the pet store planned soon.

Sorry about the rant. I just want to know if what im doing is fine and what i can add to make their lives better. I know they really like to be in large groups too so i was thinking about adding two more small ones like i have, hopefully not only to make Harold and Kumar happier but the new ones as well.
Any advice is greatly appreciated! I would hate to have to get rid of them cause i really do like them.

Ok, forget everything the pet store ever told you! Do not buy anything labeled for hermit crabs! Those are the first two devestating rules because usually when we find all this stuff out youve already bought all the wrong things! Open or unopened if you take the products back with a receipt and tell then their product is harmful and you want a refund they typically grant it. I highly suggest you both take a scroll through our care guides. They need fresh dechlorinated water and fresh dechlorinated salt water. The food you buy in the store can even be harmful. The only food i buy from petsmart is the dried shrimp for tortise and i have to be in a pinch to even feed them that. Ideal tank conditions are 80 degrees and 80 humidity. You can get a digital hygrometer at ur local petstore. The sand needs to be regular play sand as the calci sand they typically sell can cement your crabs in their shells. We suggest 5:1 of play sand to eco earth mixed with dechlorinated fresh water to sand castle consistancy (not soupy as your tank can flood). Dechlorinator can be purchased at your local pet store along with the salt for you saltwater mix. For dechlorinator most use prime it extracts ALL of the harmful elements in the water we put in our tanks. The salt has to be reef grade and most of us use instant ocean. Crabs have a health pyramid just like we do they require certain things in their diet to sustain life... Im hitting the road ill be back to fill you in on whatever is left when im done! Good luck! It can be overwhelming!

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The 10 gal is perfect for the two crabs you have now! If you add anymore without a bigger tank you may see agression or crabs disturbed during molting. When your two current crabs become larges youll need to upgrade anyways.

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Hi there. Just want to say congratulations. The very best thing I can do for my crabs is keep learning what and how to do, to take care of them. I just found that this place exists. I absolutely love it that you are in tune with your little guys. To give them the required care (ie substrate, temp, humidity, food and water) the help is here. The fun ideas for play and interaction is different for all and you will be able to share your ideas. That is priceless.

Whymatic wrote:Hello. Im pretty new to crabs, having just bought three a couple months ago. Ive been working hard to try to keep them happy. Sadly the smallest one i had died not to long ago. I bought it about a week or two after the first two, and i think it was sick because it was really small and the pet store didnt even realize anything was in the shell until i asked to look at it. Anyway ive been researching the past day or two and realized just how wrong everything i thought i knew about the hermit crab trade and care was. Knowing now what they went through in the first place to become my pets and that if done right can live for decades, Im determined to do this right.

The tank i have is 10 gallons and i have half coconut fiber and half sand about 3 or 4 inches deep. I have both freshwater and saltwater in there. As well as two kinds of hermit crab food i bought at the store. They have a log shelter (which they are almost always under) and i have a little climbing log thing in there that they seem to never use tho. I need a new lid for my tank which im trying to get soon, because all i had been using was a wire lid and a shirt to trying to keep heat from my lamp and heating pad in there. I don't have any plants put i do spray in there for humidity. I must admit ive just recently been keeping the humidity really good in their tank cause i didnt really know just how important it was til recently. Also one of the crabs came in a painted shell so i was wondering if i need to just wait for him to change shells or if i should try to encourage the change of shells? I have pictures of the tank and everything if anyone wants to see them.

I know i probably sound like a horrible owner but thats why im here. Ive been really worried about the since me and my girlfriend got them cause i could tell they were sad. She has experience with hermit crabs, having had a whole tank of 10 or 15 at one point a few years ago, but we both know now we were misguided. I have a trip to the pet store planned soon.

Sorry about the rant. I just want to know if what im doing is fine and what i can add to make their lives better. I know they really like to be in large groups too so i was thinking about adding two more small ones like i have, hopefully not only to make Harold and Kumar happier but the new ones as well.
Any advice is greatly appreciated! I would hate to have to get rid of them cause i really do like them.

Welcome to the forum and to hermit crabs! I just wanted to stress the point kaydee made regarding calcium sand. The sand they sell at the pet stores is almost universally calcium sand which can be deadly for crabs even though it is marketed for them. You can get play sand, which is hermit crab safe, at any hardware store very cheaply. Also the sand/eco earth mix should be 6" deep minimum.

Dont forget to peruse care sheets found here. I know it can seem overwhelming at first but just take everything one step at a time and youll get there. The most important care points are 6" of substrate, have 2 pools 1 salt and 1 fresh deep enough that they can submerge in, keep humidity high and temps up, and feed fresh food with an animal protein every night

Congratulations on taking the time to educate yourself about the care requirements for hermit crabs! They are lucky they landed with someone as responsible as you and your girlfriend, im sure you guys will take great care of them. Feel free to post pics of how things are coming along and let us know how its going!