HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hey guys, I am a new crab Mother by surprise. I live in California and I already own 4 different fish tanks, a Pacman frog bioactive tank and a Cat! The crabs I have are in the Small category and I saved them from my work last night after they were dumped in the parking lot. (I work at a petstore but we dont accept surrenders) They seem to be in good climbing condition and seem okay with the 10g I have them in for now. I had play sand and coco fiber laying around and did a nice mixture of substrate, its at about 6 inches. I have moss on the background of the 10g because it was my growout tank for my pacman frog who has been upgraded. I have added hides, a freshwater bowl with reptisafe and one with hermit crab safe saltwater. The Humidity is low in my house - and outside and the tank they are in has a daylight lamp on top of a screen lid. (I would love advice on how I could cover my screen lid without making it a fire hazard with my lamp) There are plenty of places for them to hide and climb since I have a coco fiber background with moss and then left over driftwood from my fish tanks. I plan to upgrade them when I move to Florida in April.

This may seem like a weird question.. but can my Hermits eat the frozen food I have for my fish? (Blood worms, Spirulina, Mysis Shrimp, Brine Shrimp.) And could they even eat wet cat food?

Thanks for the help I have gotten here by reading so far!!

Welcome to crabbing! How many of the little goobers did you find?
Sounds like you are off to a great start! Be sure that your sand/ coc fiber mix is moistened with dechlorinated water so that it is moist enough to hold shape but not so wet that water pools.
Heat lights are notorious for zapping humidity, so don't work great in really dry climates. Many of us use UTH's (under tank heaters, which go on the back or side of the tank for crabs, not under like the name suggests). Then you can seal the top with saran wrap, plexi glass, or glass. There are crabbers who do use heat lights, so hopefully one of them will chime in.

Hermit crabs can probably eat many of the foods your other pets eat - be sure there are no additives or preservatives. You can check the 'safe food' list to be sure about specific foods.

Congrats on the newbies! And kudos to you for rescuing the little guys!
I also use a uth, so I can use glass tops to keep my humidity in.
I use to have 5 fish tanks at one point, but now I'm down to just one 40 gal breeder. What kind of fishes do you have?


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Welcome to the club!

Crusty and us say hi!


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curlysister wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 31, 2020 8:05 pm

Welcome to crabbing! How many of the little goobers did you find?
Sounds like you are off to a great start! Be sure that your sand/ coc fiber mix is moistened with dechlorinated water so that it is moist enough to hold shape but not so wet that water pools.
Heat lights are notorious for zapping humidity, so don't work great in really dry climates. Many of us use UTH's (under tank heaters, which go on the back or side of the tank for crabs, not under like the name suggests). Then you can seal the top with saran wrap, plexi glass, or glass. There are crabbers who do use heat lights, so hopefully one of them will chime in.

Hermit crabs can probably eat many of the foods your other pets eat - be sure there are no additives or preservatives. You can check the 'safe food' list to be sure about specific foods.

I found 2! They were in a little shoe box with calci sand and a water dish. And yes, I got plenty of reptisafe as I religiously dechlorinate with my frog and fishies. (Plus rep/amphibs at my work haha)

CrabbyLover77 wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 31, 2020 8:28 pm

Congrats on the newbies! And kudos to you for rescuing the little guys!
I also use a uth, so I can use glass tops to keep my humidity in.
I use to have 5 fish tanks at one point, but now I'm down to just one 40 gal breeder. What kind of fishes do you have?


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I have a 29g Planted Tank with Platies and Panda Cories. I know Platies are so common but I am on the 5th Generation of the same family and sold off many of the fry. Panda Cories are about 8 years now.

My second tank is a 40B Planted Southeast Asian River Biotope with Danios, Barbs and Yoyo Loaches.

Then a growout 10g and a 10g Planted with shrimp that I am planning on tearing down soon.

Dad-One wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 31, 2020 11:15 pm

Welcome to the club!

Crusty and us say hi!


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Awww! What a cutie! Looks about the size of my new babies.

Thank you for the greets!

I will also be looking into getting an UTH and covering the lid next week!

So good of you to take them in, wishing all 3 of you the best! ...Oh, and welcome!


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Rits wrote: I found 2! They were in a little shoe box with calci sand and a water dish. And yes, I got plenty of reptisafe as I religiously dechlorinate with my frog and fishies. (Plus rep/amphibs at my work haha)
I have a 29g Planted Tank with Platies and Panda Cories. I know Platies are so common but I am on the 5th Generation of the same family and sold off many of the fry. Panda Cories are about 8 years now.

My second tank is a 40B Planted Southeast Asian River Biotope with Danios, Barbs and Yoyo Loaches.

Then a growout 10g and a 10g Planted with shrimp that I am planning on tearing down soon.
Awww! What a cutie! Looks about the size of my new babies.

Thank you for the greets!

You’re welcome!


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It sounds like you've got some awesome tanks going! Good luck with everything!

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Hope everything goes well!

So happy to know you were there to reschedule those crabbies.


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