Setup..

[Hermitmomma]

8 small hermits live here! I've been doing this for 6-7 years. Still obsessed. I love these little creatures


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[Freckles24]

LOVE your setup!! how many gallons is it? Its perfect

[Hermitmomma]

LOVE your setup!! how many gallons is it? Its perfect

I'm honestly not sure! It's more than 40 that's all I remember I'm sorry


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[GotButterflies]

Very creative and beautiful setup! I love the natural look of it. I really recommend getting deeper freshwater and marine saltwater pools though. they should be deep enough for them to fully submerge in and safely get out of. Love your hermit pictures!

[Hermias_mom]

I love your nets and log bridge! Very natural look, I like it a lot! Now I want to go out and crochet some hemp... That is hemp, right? It's gorgeous!

I had a few thoughts for you - looks like you have a painted shell in there - I'd recommend removing that. If they eat the paint on the shell, it could be bad for them. Second thought: Many of the shells in your tat are not ones that purple pincher hermit crabs prefer to wear. (They make neat decoration, though. ) Do you have more shells in a jar somewhere and trade them out? I think the forum recommendations are at least 5 shells per crab be available at all times that are the same size and larger in opening diameter than the one they have on (you can never have too many ). Looks like you have plenty of room to set up a shell shop if you want to - any type of basket or container can help keep the shells off the sub so they'll stay clean and the crabs will be more interested in them, and you could make it part of your second level, with branches or rope to get to it...

The shell guide (to help you not waste money on shells your crabs won't wear) is here:

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 24&t=92552

There's also a list of recommended vendors on the forum, if you want to buy shells online.

[Hermitmomma]

Very creative and beautiful setup! I love the natural look of it. I really recommend getting deeper freshwater and marine saltwater pools though. they should be deep enough for them to fully submerge in and safely get out of. Love your hermit pictures!

There is actually a deep saltwater dish in the way way back back right corner kinda hidden. It's pushed down into the dirt if that makes sense. But I'll take the tip about the shallow freshwater!


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[Hermitmomma]

I love your nets and log bridge! Very natural look, I like it a lot! Now I want to go out and crochet some hemp... That is hemp, right? It's gorgeous!

I had a few thoughts for you - looks like you have a painted shell in there - I'd recommend removing that. If they eat the paint on the shell, it could be bad for them. Second thought: Many of the shells in your tat are not ones that purple pincher hermit crabs prefer to wear. (They make neat decoration, though. ) Do you have more shells in a jar somewhere and trade them out? I think the forum recommendations are at least 5 shells per crab be available at all times that are the same size and larger in opening diameter than the one they have on (you can never have too many ). Looks like you have plenty of room to set up a shell shop if you want to - any type of basket or container can help keep the shells off the sub so they'll stay clean and the crabs will be more interested in them, and you could make it part of your second level, with branches or rope to get to it...

The shell guide (to help you not waste money on shells your crabs won't wear) is here:

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 24&t=92552

There's also a list of recommended vendors on the forum, if you want to buy shells online.

--- I ordered a corner shower caddy earlier to make a shell shop. And some other stuff to redo the tank. I'll post a picture when all is done. I hate when they're on the bottom because of the substrate getting in. Im waiting to be able to get to the store for different shells. I don't want to buy online and risk them being broken or not the right size.. I'm no expert but to me all my crabs are the same size.. all of the shells pictured are from crabs I've bought. There's never more than 3 awake at a time to even cause a fight.. but the reason I bought the shower caddy was to buy more shells to make a shop I just need to get turbo shells that's what they're called right? I agree I need more!!!!!



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[Hermitmomma]

I love your nets and log bridge! Very natural look, I like it a lot! Now I want to go out and crochet some hemp... That is hemp, right? It's gorgeous!

I had a few thoughts for you - looks like you have a painted shell in there - I'd recommend removing that. If they eat the paint on the shell, it could be bad for them. Second thought: Many of the shells in your tat are not ones that purple pincher hermit crabs prefer to wear. (They make neat decoration, though. ) Do you have more shells in a jar somewhere and trade them out? I think the forum recommendations are at least 5 shells per crab be available at all times that are the same size and larger in opening diameter than the one they have on (you can never have too many ). Looks like you have plenty of room to set up a shell shop if you want to - any type of basket or container can help keep the shells off the sub so they'll stay clean and the crabs will be more interested in them, and you could make it part of your second level, with branches or rope to get to it...

The shell guide (to help you not waste money on shells your crabs won't wear) is here:

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 24&t=92552

There's also a list of recommended vendors on the forum, if you want to buy shells online.

---the next thing I'd love to get is a 5-6 inch deep container as a pool for them. I need to steal my bubbler from my sister! They'd love it!


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[Hermitmomma]

I love your nets and log bridge! Very natural look, I like it a lot! Now I want to go out and crochet some hemp... That is hemp, right? It's gorgeous!

I had a few thoughts for you - looks like you have a painted shell in there - I'd recommend removing that. If they eat the paint on the shell, it could be bad for them. Second thought: Many of the shells in your tat are not ones that purple pincher hermit crabs prefer to wear. (They make neat decoration, though. ) Do you have more shells in a jar somewhere and trade them out? I think the forum recommendations are at least 5 shells per crab be available at all times that are the same size and larger in opening diameter than the one they have on (you can never have too many ). Looks like you have plenty of room to set up a shell shop if you want to - any type of basket or container can help keep the shells off the sub so they'll stay clean and the crabs will be more interested in them, and you could make it part of your second level, with branches or rope to get to it...

The shell guide (to help you not waste money on shells your crabs won't wear) is here:

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 24&t=92552

There's also a list of recommended vendors on the forum, if you want to buy shells online.

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[Hermias_mom]

I love your nets and log bridge! Very natural look, I like it a lot! Now I want to go out and crochet some hemp... That is hemp, right? It's gorgeous!

I had a few thoughts for you - looks like you have a painted shell in there - I'd recommend removing that. If they eat the paint on the shell, it could be bad for them. Second thought: Many of the shells in your tat are not ones that purple pincher hermit crabs prefer to wear. (They make neat decoration, though. ) Do you have more shells in a jar somewhere and trade them out? I think the forum recommendations are at least 5 shells per crab be available at all times that are the same size and larger in opening diameter than the one they have on (you can never have too many ). Looks like you have plenty of room to set up a shell shop if you want to - any type of basket or container can help keep the shells off the sub so they'll stay clean and the crabs will be more interested in them, and you could make it part of your second level, with branches or rope to get to it...

The shell guide (to help you not waste money on shells your crabs won't wear) is here:

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 24&t=92552

There's also a list of recommended vendors on the forum, if you want to buy shells online.

--- I ordered a corner shower caddy earlier to make a shell shop. And some other stuff to redo the tank. I'll post a picture when all is done. I hate when they're on the bottom because of the substrate getting in. Im waiting to be able to get to the store for different shells. I don't want to buy online and risk them being broken or not the right size.. I'm no expert but to me all my crabs are the same size.. all of the shells pictured are from crabs I've bought. There's never more than 3 awake at a time to even cause a fight.. but the reason I bought the shower caddy was to buy more shells to make a shop I just need to get turbo shells that's what they're called right? I agree I need more!!!!!

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Awesome!!! Sound like you've got it covered!!! Yes, I'd agree, turbo shells are the way to go. Craft stores can be good places to find a lot of green turbos, gold turbos (not generally preferred) and pica shells sometimes. I pick out all my shells in person too, but I don't live near a beach, so it's been a challenge. I ended up getting many of them from a saltwater aquarium/reefer shop. They use mexican turbos to clean the tanks, and when the snails die, the shells are perfect for crabs (after ten minutes of boiling ). Best of luck, and yes, please, more pictures!!!

[Hermias_mom]

Thanks for the info on the net! I'll check it out!

[Hermitmomma]

I love your nets and log bridge! Very natural look, I like it a lot! Now I want to go out and crochet some hemp... That is hemp, right? It's gorgeous!

I had a few thoughts for you - looks like you have a painted shell in there - I'd recommend removing that. If they eat the paint on the shell, it could be bad for them. Second thought: Many of the shells in your tat are not ones that purple pincher hermit crabs prefer to wear. (They make neat decoration, though. ) Do you have more shells in a jar somewhere and trade them out? I think the forum recommendations are at least 5 shells per crab be available at all times that are the same size and larger in opening diameter than the one they have on (you can never have too many ). Looks like you have plenty of room to set up a shell shop if you want to - any type of basket or container can help keep the shells off the sub so they'll stay clean and the crabs will be more interested in them, and you could make it part of your second level, with branches or rope to get to it...

The shell guide (to help you not waste money on shells your crabs won't wear) is here:

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 24&t=92552

There's also a list of recommended vendors on the forum, if you want to buy shells online.

--- I ordered a corner shower caddy earlier to make a shell shop. And some other stuff to redo the tank. I'll post a picture when all is done. I hate when they're on the bottom because of the substrate getting in. Im waiting to be able to get to the store for different shells. I don't want to buy online and risk them being broken or not the right size.. I'm no expert but to me all my crabs are the same size.. all of the shells pictured are from crabs I've bought. There's never more than 3 awake at a time to even cause a fight.. but the reason I bought the shower caddy was to buy more shells to make a shop I just need to get turbo shells that's what they're called right? I agree I need more!!!!!

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Awesome!!! Sound like you've got it covered!!! Yes, I'd agree, turbo shells are the way to go. Craft stores can be good places to find a lot of green turbos, gold turbos (not generally preferred) and pica shells sometimes. I pick out all my shells in person too, but I don't live near a beach, so it's been a challenge. I ended up getting many of them from a saltwater aquarium/reefer shop. They use mexican turbos to clean the tanks, and when the snails die, the shells are perfect for crabs (after ten minutes of boiling ). Best of luck, and yes, please, more pictures!!!

-- I seen at Walmart a bag of shells for 10$ with quite a few green turbos just the right size for them but I couldn't get them. I will go back as soon as I can!


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[Hermitmomma]

Thanks for the info on the net! I'll check it out!

--do you have any information on growing grass or seed so they can munch on it after it sprouts? I hear seeds are bad but I was thinking of tucking a container into the substrate with the grass so it doesn't get messy,, problem is I'm not sure what kind is safe or not


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[Hermias_mom]

There are tons of safe seeds on the safe foods list: http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 25&t=92557

There are several schools of thought on this - some crabbers try and plant things in the crabitat. Other crabbers will sprout the seeds outside the crabitat and introduce the sprouts. Some crabbers scatter chia seeds around and the crabs forage for them. Some crabbers try this, and the seeds just mold. So it's really just what works for you. As long as seeds are sprouted bare root, organically, or with a bit of substrate mixed with dechlorinated (non-salt) water, it should be fine. Crabs tend to destroy everything. Lost of folks go with plastic or silk fake plants for this reason. But you could definitely try planting stuff in the crabitat if you want.

Seeds crabs are said to like: wheat, alfalfa, quinoa, chia, lots of types of beans/legumes, etc. As I said, the list is big. I haven't done a lot with this yet - my guys chow down on oak, maple, and raspberry leaves and bark. Each crab is unique and they're very finicky, may like something one day and not the next. Or not like it for a while, then like it. Let us know how it goes.

[GotButterflies]

Richard's shells is great- they pack everything nicely!


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