Questions from a newbie!

[Guest]

We just purchased 2 hermit crabs ... questions...I noticed several comments about 2 or 3 levels in there habitats...how do you build those? We have a 10 gallon tank for them and I may add one or more soon. So far we don't see much activity and even the food I put out doesn't seem to disappear...my son (7 year old) loves to pick them up and talk to them. We have salt water and fresh water w/sponges (one crab is small). I have 6 extra shells in there as well. Is it ok to take them out even when they are resting and let them walk around in the grass outside? I've heard different opinions from all pet strores...how often to you mist them? As far as the bathing....do you use warm or room temp water?

[Guest]

ok well go to my link at the bottom of my page and you will see a link go there and you well see some leves and two and yes it`s ok to take them out in the yard just make sure it`s a safe placeyou know no bad stuff in the grass. as for bath time! make sure it`s water that they are always getting and yea dont make it cold they hate that good luck

[annopia]

welcome to the HCA!

I think that shower caddys with suction cups (from walmart) are the easiest second levels...just cover the holes with tape, fill, and there you go!

people here are divided about bathing. I don't bathe my crabs, as I think it only stresses them further. I just provide a water dish big enough for them to soak in so they can do it at their own convenience. also, are you using a dechlorinator on your water? this is very important as chlorine can blister their gills.

I wouldn't mist the crabs directly, just the walls of their tank. temperature and humidity gauges for the tank are very important, and both need to be between 75 and 80.

Caroline

[Guest]

Yes...I use the same dechlorinator that I use for my beta....do you feed them fresh food only or do you use the prepared food from the pet stores?
I've heard that getting them out and exercising them is good...but I also don't want to stress them out by "waking" them during the day....what do you do?

[annopia]

When I exercise my hermies (and I only do so for the ones who seem to enjoy it) I let them walking around on hardwood floor in their hamster ball (the smallest one they make). I do this about every other day, except for when they are buried under. a key rule is to never disturb a buried crab, because they may be molting or destressing.

I feed all fresh food, along with some of NarNar's kibble, which is a good mix of lots of organic food. hermies love fresh fruit, veggies, most nuts, certain flowers, cuttlebone, egg shells, organic honey, organic peanut butter and much much more. A key to their feeding: table salt is deadly to crabs, so never feed them anything with salt in it.

Caroline