HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I've been caring for hermit crabs for 15+ years, and have always wanted to own strawberry hermit crabs. Recently I've had the opportunity to own some if I want them. My local pet store is selling them for not bad price. I'm just wondering to anyone that owns them how much harder it is to care for them. I know how to care for them, just wondering if they are hard to keep alive and overall care. I just worry of spending the money for them and something happening to them. Thanks!

Its more they do fine, and then seem to waste away in a couple of years, few people have their straws for a longer duration of 5 years. If you got the tank space; and ideally a large SW pool and UVB, conditions on point; then I dont see no harm in trying. i just wish the best of luck.

Yep, lifespan in captivity is extremely shortened even for those that get lucky. Expect 2 to 3 years on average, 5 to 7 if you end up being a lucky one.

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I do have a large sw pool already. But I didn't know they needed uvb?

It's not considered an absolute requirement with hermits like it is with some species of reptile, but those that have straws with UVB have had much better outcomes. They seem to live longer, are healthier and have stronger coloration.

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If you go back through the care sheets, uvb is listed as being beneficial for them... UVB is beneficial to all types of hermies IMO.

Remember that nothing can be between UVB and the crabs. Screen can block at least 20% of the rays and potentially more depending on how close the "stitch" is and glass blocks all of UVB rays entering the tat.

I've owned Straws since Oct '16. I started with a total of 3. Lost one to a freak accident back in Dec I believe. One has been buried since mid Feb. (Been about 4 months and starting to lose hope - first molt with me.) And the other has molted twice successfully in my care.

If you decide to get a couple, I wish you the best of luck

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Oh ok, so if I end up getting them, I would probably put them with my current pps, I assume it would be ok to get a uvb bulb with the pps?

Pp's will also benefit greatly from UVB as well....

I will definitely get a uvb bulb then. If I end up getting some straws, I will post some pics

I have my Es, straws, indos, a viola, and a few PPs housed together in the topper tank.... The other 3 tanks are just PPs. All 4 of my tanks are UVB equipped.

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I will try uvb out for them, maybe perk them up more

Do you know what kind of watt I would need for a 55 gallon tank?

What's the difference between UVA and UVB? I'm asking because there's a significant price difference between the two.

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UVA is ultraviolet light, not what you want for animals. (Party blacklights.) Some is unavoidable in regular lighting.

UVB triggers vitamin D production in vertabrates. (Tanning bed.) This takes a specialty bulb.

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If you use lights for heating - reptile lights such as Sun glo (day) or moon glo (night), they produce UVA light. These however don't have UVB. They are a specialty bulb.

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