HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hello!

I'm recently got some crabs! I'm really excited about them!

I put them in a 10 gallon tank. I got a large plastic Tupperware container and cut a hole in it. Then I put some dirt inside it and dirt on top of it, so it's almost like they have two levels or a very large cave.

Four of the crabs bury themselves during the day, but one only goes in the shelters I have and doesn't dig very much. Is it okay? Should I be concerned? From what I have seen, that one is usually the most active in at night.

How large are PP when they are fully grown?

You should look at the sizing care sheet. A ten gallon for five crabs might be too small. That crab is probably destressing in its own way, or has not started yet. I think they can get softball sized?

Thanks! The crabs are still pretty small right now.

hey! im so happy for you ive got 3 PP's myself, super sweet. did you know they are the friendliest species of hermit crab? they enjoy salt water and fresh water. they can grow to the size of a softball. a 10 gallon might be to small for 5 crabs, especially if they're bigger sized. they like burying themselves, so make sure the substrates deep enough. they love water, as i've said, so make sure they can fully submerge themselves, but can also safely get in and out. they will honestly eat anything, mine personally love strawberries and i've heard they go nuts for coconut and apple slices. for substrate, i would use sand and coconut fiber, or you could use sand and eco earth. as always, i recommend looking at the care sheets we have here. good luck!! -snuggles/turtle

Thank you for all the info!
That's so cool that they are friendly! I want to get mine friendly enough I can hand feed them!
I have salt water and fresh water for them.
The crabs are still pretty small right now, but I will definitely keep an eye out for a larger cage.
The substrate in their aquarium came with the crabitat from a friend. I cleaned/sanitized it (Baked it in an oven at 350 for 45 min). It looks like it is a mixture of several different things. There wasn't quite enough substrate, so I added some coconut fiber. The deepest spot in my enclosure is about 9 inches deep.
I love finding different things in the fridge for them to eat! I usually find stuff from the fridge for them in the evening and give it to them/tidy their enclosure/give them fresh water. Then I take out anything they havn't ate yet in the morning.

ofcourse!
most people say hermits are a hands-off pet, but honestly, i dont believe it. now obviously, some might not like being handled. thats ok!
thats great you've got salt water and fresh water for them. they love the salt water!
yep! they can grow pretty big. ive seen one of mine the size of a lemon.
the substrate seems perfect.
they love treats! just make sure they dont get them every day. mine only get treats once or even twice a week.

What kind of treats do they like?

mine love coconut shred and strawberry

i heard they love apple slices!

Hermit crabs are a hands off pet because handling them only stresses them out. They are prey animals. You are a predator. They don't enjoy being handled because they think they are about to get eaten. They also actively suffer outside of the tank. They cannot breathe. It is too cold. They are running around because they are trying to find a hiding spot that I'd warm and humid. Imagine if you got plucked out of your house and placed on a planet that had carbon dioxide instead of oxygen, and it was below freezing. AND that there were all these giant aliens trying to pick you up and/ or looking at you with a hungry expression. Please do not handle your crabs.

I read that you can hand feed them pieces of fruit and other things like that, things they really like, and then they will start to enjoy being handled. Where did you hear handling them stresses them?

@mrsnuggies
Thank you! I'm looking forward to seeing what they like!

Here:
https://crabstreetjournal.org/blog/2020 ... our%20skin.

While you might be able to hand feed them, do it in the tank. Please do not take them out.

HermitGuy3 wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 21, 2025 12:53 pm

Hermit crabs are a hands off pet because handling them only stresses them out. They are prey animals. You are a predator. They don't enjoy being handled because they think they are about to get eaten. They also actively suffer outside of the tank. They cannot breathe. It is too cold. They are running around because they are trying to find a hiding spot that I'd warm and humid. Imagine if you got plucked out of your house and placed on a planet that had carbon dioxide instead of oxygen, and it was below freezing. AND that there were all these giant aliens trying to pick you up and/ or looking at you with a hungry expression. Please do not handle your crabs.

my house/home is a proper temp for them. around the same as theyre cage. ve seen things that suggest they do, however, like being handled. when mine are out they are either being hand fed fruit or other foods, or are just out to be out. mine are ok with being handled,, and really truly enjoy it.

How do you know they enjoy it? They don't enjoy things the same way we do.