Post by Sach-Crabministrator on Jul 3, 2010 23:20:20 GMT -5
This is your basic Hermit Crab Care Sheet
{You may print this to use or to distribute to stores, no other reproductions without permission}
*Any items that are to go into the tank should be boiled or washed in hot soapy water and air dried before going in. There are exceptions (like cholla) that should be baked instead.
Hermit crabs need a home that can hold in heat & humidity-glass is most recommended (like an aquarium) and must have a lid. *Jumbo crabs require at least a 55 gallon tank.
Hermit crabs should have a temperature range of approximately 75-85*F (23.8-29.4C) with an average of 80-85*F (26.6-29.4C) depending on species (a few degrees +/- for short times is okay) with it being on the cooler end at night.
Hermit crabs need consistent humidity at about 75-85% as well (again, a little variation is okay for short times) with an average around 80%-85% for most species.
They need a varied diet with plenty of sources of fresh and healthy supplemented food as well as protein, calcium & cellulose (plant fibers). Beware that most commercially sold hermit crab foods are actually NOT good for them. Not providing proper diet for your crabs can lead to cannibalism .
Constant access to treated (no chlorine, metals, chemicals, etc) water, both fresh and marine-grade salt for both drinking and bathing in.
Substrate to bury in. This can be sand (un-dyed & no calci-sand, fish tank stones, wood chips or gravel) or sand and coconut fiber in a mix of about 5 parts sand to 1 part fiber, but should not ever be coconut fiber alone. We recommend "play sand", but there are many types available. You need your substrate to be at least 3 times as deep as your biggest crab. Jumbo crabs require at least 12" of substrate.
*NOTE: The exception to this are the Australian land hermit crabs c. variabilis, also called "Aussies". They must have substrate consisting of either sand alone or about 8 parts sand to only 1 part coconut fiber and at a depth 5 times deeper than your biggest crab.
They need safe (natural, NOT PAINTED) shells. These should be clean and free from holes or jagged edges. You need some both a little bigger and even a little smaller than your crabs' current choices. The more, the merrier. Be sure to check the insides of your shells frequently; eel for broken parts, jagged edges, etc.
Company. Hermit crabs live in large colonies in the wild and don't seem to do as well alone, so get Crabby a pal!
www.sachscrabpage.proboards.com
©Sach's Crab Page
{You may print this to use or to distribute to stores, no other reproductions without permission}
*Any items that are to go into the tank should be boiled or washed in hot soapy water and air dried before going in. There are exceptions (like cholla) that should be baked instead.
Hermit crabs need a home that can hold in heat & humidity-glass is most recommended (like an aquarium) and must have a lid. *Jumbo crabs require at least a 55 gallon tank.
Hermit crabs should have a temperature range of approximately 75-85*F (23.8-29.4C) with an average of 80-85*F (26.6-29.4C) depending on species (a few degrees +/- for short times is okay) with it being on the cooler end at night.
Hermit crabs need consistent humidity at about 75-85% as well (again, a little variation is okay for short times) with an average around 80%-85% for most species.
They need a varied diet with plenty of sources of fresh and healthy supplemented food as well as protein, calcium & cellulose (plant fibers). Beware that most commercially sold hermit crab foods are actually NOT good for them. Not providing proper diet for your crabs can lead to cannibalism .
Constant access to treated (no chlorine, metals, chemicals, etc) water, both fresh and marine-grade salt for both drinking and bathing in.
Substrate to bury in. This can be sand (un-dyed & no calci-sand, fish tank stones, wood chips or gravel) or sand and coconut fiber in a mix of about 5 parts sand to 1 part fiber, but should not ever be coconut fiber alone. We recommend "play sand", but there are many types available. You need your substrate to be at least 3 times as deep as your biggest crab. Jumbo crabs require at least 12" of substrate.
*NOTE: The exception to this are the Australian land hermit crabs c. variabilis, also called "Aussies". They must have substrate consisting of either sand alone or about 8 parts sand to only 1 part coconut fiber and at a depth 5 times deeper than your biggest crab.
They need safe (natural, NOT PAINTED) shells. These should be clean and free from holes or jagged edges. You need some both a little bigger and even a little smaller than your crabs' current choices. The more, the merrier. Be sure to check the insides of your shells frequently; eel for broken parts, jagged edges, etc.
Company. Hermit crabs live in large colonies in the wild and don't seem to do as well alone, so get Crabby a pal!
www.sachscrabpage.proboards.com
©Sach's Crab Page