(Curious)Can hermits mix with other crabs?

Crabbzymagnus · Post by **Crabbzymagnus** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 10:41 pm

I was just wondering whether hermit crabs can mix with other crabs,because i recently went to the pet store and i saw red clawed crabs(freshwater crab)which looked adorable,info: http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Bug,%20Red% ... 20Crab.htm
They cost $3 for 1 crab

So i'm curious whether they can live with land hermit crabs...

KellyCrabbieLove · Post by **KellyCrabbieLove** » Sat Jan 31, 2015 11:12 am

Aquatic crabs need to be in the water like fish. They cannot live with land hermit crabs. Even if you have deep pools and put them in I think the land hermits would think of them as a snack. If you want aquatic crabs you could always set up an aquarium. They are awfully cute.

hermitcrab24 · Post by **hermitcrab24** » Sat Jan 31, 2015 11:21 am

KellyCrabbieLove wrote:Aquatic crabs need to be in the water like fish. They cannot live with land hermit crabs. Even if you have deep pools and put them in I think the land hermits would think of them as a snack. If you want aquatic crabs you could always set up an aquarium. They are awfully cute.

That's what I was thinking, but they were out of water in the pics in the link. They are supper cure, I have thought about getting them, but I don't know.

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Sat Jan 31, 2015 11:28 am

If you're VERY devoted you might be able to have a 200+ gallon crabitat that includes 40gallon pools that have crabs inside them. But it will require a lot of money spent on equipment, supplies and maintenance. Then it will require a lot of time and attention to balance the needs of the different species, including stress from when things go wrong or a critter gets sick. It will be easier, cheaper and more reasonable to keep 2 separate habitats.

Crabbers unite!!!

CallaLily · Post by **CallaLily** » Sat Jan 31, 2015 11:43 am

I think mixing different animals in one enclosure shouldn't be jumped into lightly. It would be best if you had a lot of experience keeping these pets separately, for one. You also must take into account all the space and care requirements for every species and be sure you can give them everything they need. Even then with the experience and animals with similar care requirements, you'll need to be prepared for if it doesn't work out - because chances are it won't.
Personally I do not think it's a good idea to try to house them together. Even the largest enclosure is far from nature. You could have two very cool "slices of nature" with separate enclosures done right and without all the added hassle and concern with trying to keep them together. JMO

hermitcrab24 · Post by **hermitcrab24** » Sat Jan 31, 2015 11:47 am

I was just reading and doing research on them, and it doesn't seem like they like other crabs or fish, so housing them with hermit crabs may upset and even scare them. They are also escape artists, and them accidently getting mixed with the hermits wouldn't be good.

Post by **wodesorel** » Sat Jan 31, 2015 2:58 pm

From what I've read, Red Clawed are more aquatic than Fiddlers. Having solid knowledge of how to run a cycled aquarium is extremely important for those guys. They would need probably 10 or 20 gallons to themselves, so while it could definitely work with hermit crabs, trying to care for the needs of both in one space would get challenging and would require a very large enclosure. (Not to mention that the hermits would try to eat them.)

Also, they are mangrove animals, so need brackish water.

Crabbzymagnus · Post by **Crabbzymagnus** » Sat Jan 31, 2015 6:03 pm

The red clawed crabs may look like a snack to the hermit crabs,so they can also make a good meal for them too...

Crabbzymagnus · Post by **Crabbzymagnus** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 4:27 am

Generely Red clawed crabs need at least a 10 gallon crabitat,it has to be half water half land,they will occasionally come on land to dig burrows which may interrupt a hermit crab's molt,a hermit crab might also attempt to eat the red clawed crab,so mixing them together is like playing a wild card!However i continue to think about whether i should do this project..

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 8:56 pm

Crabbzymagnus wrote:The red clawed crabs may look like a snack to the hermit crabs,so they can also make a good meal for them too...

Do you intend on offering red claws as food?

Crabbers unite!!!

Crabbzymagnus · Post by **Crabbzymagnus** » Mon Feb 02, 2015 2:05 am

YYWW wrote: Do you intend on offering red claws as food?

Crabbers unite!!!

I want them to live together but if the set up really costs too much they will be served to the hermits

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Mon Feb 02, 2015 7:19 am

Would you offer a hermit to another animal if they cost too much?

Crabbers unite!!!

Crabbzymagnus · Post by **Crabbzymagnus** » Mon Feb 02, 2015 5:11 pm

YYWW wrote:Would you offer a hermit to another animal if they cost too much?

Crabbers unite!!!

Certain unlucky hermits are used for fish bait in fishing..

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Mon Feb 02, 2015 5:21 pm

Crabbzymagnus wrote: Certain unlucky hermits are used for fish bait in fishing..

Please don't cause your hermits to be unlucky. The shops you stop at seem to keep the crabs comparatively well. I hope you bring your crabs a life better than they had, and prioritize their needs by not forcing them to compete with another species.
It is your own decision and i respect that, but if there is a chance you care for input, i am hoping you really cherish your pets.

Crabbers unite!!!

HCA: Hermit Crab Association