New to hermit crabs, have just spent about $85 on stuff-help
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2018 11:47 pm
I really hope this is the right forum to post this - If not, I'm sorry! I'm new! I couldn't find a specific forum for this kinda post, this felt closest to.
I've owned 3 hermit crabs in my life. One I owned when I was very young, and after having learned more about these beautiful little creatures, I slowly killed him. I kept him in the terrible little plastic cage they give you, with less then an inch of sand, no shells or playthings, colder than needed and with low humidity, and fed him pellets and tap water. Poor little guy, RIP. He's in crabby heaven now. I now own currently two, Brule and Tito, who are adorable. I'm trying to do it right this time.
Both Brule and Tito are about 3 inches wide and 2 inches tall, they're medium sized relative to the other ones in the souvenir shop I bought (but looking back, rescued) them from. I think they're called Caribbean Hermit Crabs, and they have the big purple claws that I've seen mentioned on this site a few times.
Tank. I purchased a hermit crab tank at PetCo for about $35. However, I realize now I made a TERRIBLE mistake that I am hoping to correct ASAP. It's a kind of plastic-wire-cage mesh thing. It's about 1x2x1 (LWH feet). It was cheaper than the solid glass tanks and we thought it'd be good for them to climb on (which they do! they love climbing on the walls and it lets me easily pet their legs while climbing. also, is that okay? or does it stress them too much?) but there are major problems. 1) It doesn't keep heat or humidity well at all. More on that later. 2) I can only fit about 3 inches of substrate (and I didn't know I needed so much! I've had them about two weeks, I just learned they need at least 6 inches of substrate. Apparently they completely bury themselves when molting rather than just hiding! I'm learning more every day!) and that will not do. It also lets all kind of creatures and crawlies get inside (more on that later too!). Overall a terrible decision, even though it was cheaper and is more portable. I am hoping to get a 20 gallon tank soon to move them into, and maybe keep this one as an isolation tank or something.
Substrate. My substrate is sand that I bought. It's only about 3 inches like I said, and they can't bury themselves completely. I am planning to get much more with the new tank. I am curious as to what you all recommend though. Should I stick with sand? I've also seen people recommend this brown stuff called coconut fiber (I think)? Or a mixture of both? Either way I plan to make it about 6 inches deep so they can molt safely. I've seen people slant it, so it's deeper on one side and less deep on the other. Also, if I use sand, I read somewhere that it is better to keep it at "sand-castle consistency". How could I keep it this moist at all times?
Food. For food I've been mostly feeding them small amounts (they really do eat very little!) of the pellets I got from the souvenir shop. However I've read that they eat fresh food and it's better so I've been putting in romaine lettuce and little bits of apple. I'm hoping to also put in cucumber and tomato, maybe carrots or strawberries too! I am curious if they can eat types of meat. I know they can eat shrimp in some form because I've seen the processed shrimp food. I don't think giving them processed deli meats would be good though. I replace their food either every day or every other day, depending on how much sand they've kicked into food bowl (which is actually a small shell we boiled). I replace any fresh foods daily.
Water. I have two dishes, one with spring water (bought by the gallon for like 89 cents) and one with salt water. I use salt water conditioner (All Living Things brand) and tap water for the salt water. I had sponges in both because I thought they actually drank via the sponge, but it seems they just drink regularly. They also were throwing the sponge out of the saltwater every day, so I've removed it (although my sponge in the fresh water is still in there). I replace the water usually every two days but sometimes if there is a lot of sand in there or no water left I replace it earlier. I feel pretty good about their water situations, although are there any ways to stop them from getting so much sand in the bowl? And I'm curious, do they bathe themselves in both, drink both, use one for each, or just bathe in one but drink both?
Shells. Another problem that I plan to fix very soon. They currently each have a painted shell. Terrible, I know. Sadly, before I knew how horrible painted shells are, I bought two more shells at PetCo for them to change into... and both of them are also painted. And I know, only two extra shells is not even close to ideal. They are also both a little big (I overestimated their size when buying) and one of them has a long narrow opening instead of a nice round one. I'm probably going to scrap both of those and buy around 6 unpainted shells. All around their size, one or two bigger, one or two a bit smaller.
Temperature. This is where I've faced most problems. Like I said, my cage does not keep heat in well. In my home, it's usually around low 70s (specifically 71). I think they're technically OK at this temperature, but they aren't as active as if I put them outside. I put them outside one day and they were much more active (despite it being 90+) however, the entire tank became immediately infested with ants and it was terrible cleaning everything up. That is not an option anymore. I did buy a small undertank heater, and although it heats up itself, it has almost no effect on the tank whatsoever. What else can I do to keep them at a good temperature? Do I just need to get a new tank with a heating lamp on top? I'm feeling that's my best bet. Also, do they need to stay at a constant temperature both day and night, or is it okay for them to cool down at night? And does the light need to stay on at night?
Humidity. I don't have the little thing to measure humidity (forgot the name of it). I've been misting the cage about three times a day with saltwater and misting them individually (spraying at them about 5 inches away once or twice) once a day. I don't think the cage is keeping humidity well. Not much else I can say about it right now.
I think that's about everything. I also have little tiny decorative shells and a cocohut in there. There's some plastic palm trees and a little climbing cage, as well as some (boiled) shells from the beach (we bought them on... sadly probably not the beach they were captured from). They have stuff to play on. I'm sorry this was so long and so many questions. I just really care about these little guys and want them to live long, healthy, happy lives, since they've been through so much stress already. My priorities:
-New tank
-More shells
-More substrate
-More varied diet
-Consistent, healthy temperature.
I've owned 3 hermit crabs in my life. One I owned when I was very young, and after having learned more about these beautiful little creatures, I slowly killed him. I kept him in the terrible little plastic cage they give you, with less then an inch of sand, no shells or playthings, colder than needed and with low humidity, and fed him pellets and tap water. Poor little guy, RIP. He's in crabby heaven now. I now own currently two, Brule and Tito, who are adorable. I'm trying to do it right this time.
Both Brule and Tito are about 3 inches wide and 2 inches tall, they're medium sized relative to the other ones in the souvenir shop I bought (but looking back, rescued) them from. I think they're called Caribbean Hermit Crabs, and they have the big purple claws that I've seen mentioned on this site a few times.
Tank. I purchased a hermit crab tank at PetCo for about $35. However, I realize now I made a TERRIBLE mistake that I am hoping to correct ASAP. It's a kind of plastic-wire-cage mesh thing. It's about 1x2x1 (LWH feet). It was cheaper than the solid glass tanks and we thought it'd be good for them to climb on (which they do! they love climbing on the walls and it lets me easily pet their legs while climbing. also, is that okay? or does it stress them too much?) but there are major problems. 1) It doesn't keep heat or humidity well at all. More on that later. 2) I can only fit about 3 inches of substrate (and I didn't know I needed so much! I've had them about two weeks, I just learned they need at least 6 inches of substrate. Apparently they completely bury themselves when molting rather than just hiding! I'm learning more every day!) and that will not do. It also lets all kind of creatures and crawlies get inside (more on that later too!). Overall a terrible decision, even though it was cheaper and is more portable. I am hoping to get a 20 gallon tank soon to move them into, and maybe keep this one as an isolation tank or something.
Substrate. My substrate is sand that I bought. It's only about 3 inches like I said, and they can't bury themselves completely. I am planning to get much more with the new tank. I am curious as to what you all recommend though. Should I stick with sand? I've also seen people recommend this brown stuff called coconut fiber (I think)? Or a mixture of both? Either way I plan to make it about 6 inches deep so they can molt safely. I've seen people slant it, so it's deeper on one side and less deep on the other. Also, if I use sand, I read somewhere that it is better to keep it at "sand-castle consistency". How could I keep it this moist at all times?
Food. For food I've been mostly feeding them small amounts (they really do eat very little!) of the pellets I got from the souvenir shop. However I've read that they eat fresh food and it's better so I've been putting in romaine lettuce and little bits of apple. I'm hoping to also put in cucumber and tomato, maybe carrots or strawberries too! I am curious if they can eat types of meat. I know they can eat shrimp in some form because I've seen the processed shrimp food. I don't think giving them processed deli meats would be good though. I replace their food either every day or every other day, depending on how much sand they've kicked into food bowl (which is actually a small shell we boiled). I replace any fresh foods daily.
Water. I have two dishes, one with spring water (bought by the gallon for like 89 cents) and one with salt water. I use salt water conditioner (All Living Things brand) and tap water for the salt water. I had sponges in both because I thought they actually drank via the sponge, but it seems they just drink regularly. They also were throwing the sponge out of the saltwater every day, so I've removed it (although my sponge in the fresh water is still in there). I replace the water usually every two days but sometimes if there is a lot of sand in there or no water left I replace it earlier. I feel pretty good about their water situations, although are there any ways to stop them from getting so much sand in the bowl? And I'm curious, do they bathe themselves in both, drink both, use one for each, or just bathe in one but drink both?
Shells. Another problem that I plan to fix very soon. They currently each have a painted shell. Terrible, I know. Sadly, before I knew how horrible painted shells are, I bought two more shells at PetCo for them to change into... and both of them are also painted. And I know, only two extra shells is not even close to ideal. They are also both a little big (I overestimated their size when buying) and one of them has a long narrow opening instead of a nice round one. I'm probably going to scrap both of those and buy around 6 unpainted shells. All around their size, one or two bigger, one or two a bit smaller.
Temperature. This is where I've faced most problems. Like I said, my cage does not keep heat in well. In my home, it's usually around low 70s (specifically 71). I think they're technically OK at this temperature, but they aren't as active as if I put them outside. I put them outside one day and they were much more active (despite it being 90+) however, the entire tank became immediately infested with ants and it was terrible cleaning everything up. That is not an option anymore. I did buy a small undertank heater, and although it heats up itself, it has almost no effect on the tank whatsoever. What else can I do to keep them at a good temperature? Do I just need to get a new tank with a heating lamp on top? I'm feeling that's my best bet. Also, do they need to stay at a constant temperature both day and night, or is it okay for them to cool down at night? And does the light need to stay on at night?
Humidity. I don't have the little thing to measure humidity (forgot the name of it). I've been misting the cage about three times a day with saltwater and misting them individually (spraying at them about 5 inches away once or twice) once a day. I don't think the cage is keeping humidity well. Not much else I can say about it right now.
I think that's about everything. I also have little tiny decorative shells and a cocohut in there. There's some plastic palm trees and a little climbing cage, as well as some (boiled) shells from the beach (we bought them on... sadly probably not the beach they were captured from). They have stuff to play on. I'm sorry this was so long and so many questions. I just really care about these little guys and want them to live long, healthy, happy lives, since they've been through so much stress already. My priorities:
-New tank
-More shells
-More substrate
-More varied diet
-Consistent, healthy temperature.
I totally feel your pain wasting money on supplies that aren't ideal (like pet store food and cages). So far, I've spent more than expected on my crabs (mostly the tank), but I think you can do it right cheaply. Check Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for cheap aquariums! Once you're all set up, hermit crabs are pretty affordable to maintain.
LOL 
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