HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I have just two questions. 1# Someone on hermit crab association mentioned something about hamster balls for hermit crabs, ones that are made for hermits that are lighter so they can easily walk in them and there aren't slots on them that could break their legs by them getting caught in it. I can't find this ball anywhere on the internet when I try to look it up. Does anyone know where I could get one? 2# Also I don't know if crabs really like hamster ball type things. Do they mind being inside a rolling ball? I personally think they don't mind but my mom said "I really don't think crabs like things like that because they're not toys and don't like being treated like them." Fun spoiler.... so anyway do crabs mind hamster balls??

hairycrab wrote:I have just two questions. 1# Someone on hermit crab association mentioned something about hamster balls for hermit crabs, ones that are made for hermits that are lighter so they can easily walk in them and there aren't slots on them that could break their legs by them getting caught in it. I can't find this ball anywhere on the internet when I try to look it up. Does anyone know where I could get one? 2# Also I don't know if crabs really like hamster ball type things. Do they mind being inside a rolling ball? I personally think they don't mind but my mom said "I really don't think crabs like things like that because they're not toys and don't like being treated like them." Fun spoiler.... so anyway do crabs mind hamster balls??

I don't know if anyone has ever asked a crab personally and gotten a response, but I would venture a guess...

They probably wouldn't be too keen on them. Being enclosed in a rolling plastic bubble that they cannot escape could cause them to panic/stress out.

They aren't toys. They're wild animals that have been picked off of beaches and shipped around the world. Most of them don't survive to live out their natural life span.



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a much better idea would be the hampster wheel in your hermits cage. i personally think every hermit is different and some might love it some might hate it. the main thing would be the fact the ball outside of your hermits tank wont be warm or humid enough for them. maybe having one for while you are doing a quick change in the tank or cleaning your tank could be nice. i personally put my crabs in a tuppy with a face cloth soaked in DL over it inside of my tank. a hermit ball is something you probably have to make.

Maybe you've been looking through the archives? It was pretty common back in the day for some "fun" - aka: increased activity - in the crabs. The problem is that they need those slots to require access to oxygen. Best bet would be to line the entire thing in plastic canvas so their little legs don't get through IMO...
Best bet is to offer a wheel in their cage, like Just Jay suggested. Otherwise, ensure they have an interesting and exciting crabitat is ideal.

You definitely meant a hamster wheel, not ball!!! There are several different types of hamster wheels, and I was part of that conversation. Someone in our forum used a wheel that they did not have to modify, and showed a video. I was asking the name of it. Those wheels are placed inside of our crabitats. We modify them so that our hermit crabs can use them. Mine love them! I have two wheels, and two crabs that I have seen use them constantly. I would never recommend you using a hamster ball. I believe the conversation thread was called preparing for thanksgiving. I'll be happy to post pictures if you need/like me to.


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GotButterflies wrote:You definitely meant a hamster wheel, not ball!!!

No, believe it or not in the past people did offer hamster balls to their crabs as an out of cage playtime.

I've lost interest in hamster balls or any kind of ball at this point. I haven't put them in my ball since this post was made and I figured out a long time ago from common sense and empathy that they probably don't love it so I'm saving my ball incase I get a small furry creature