3 Steps To A Safe Hermit Crab Bath
It sounds a little funny to think that your pet hermit crab would need a bath from time to time
. After all, it is understandable to give your dog a bath, and even your cat an infrequent flea bath, but a hermit crab bath?
Typically hermit crabs require baths either because they have been exposed to mites, a potentially damaging parasite, or they need the inside of their bodies and shells cleaned. Giving a hermit crab bath a few times per month will keep your crabs healthy and happy, while preventing potential health issues such as skin irritations and mites.
Most pet owners understand the process of bathing their pooch, but there is some extra consideration needed for bathing your crabs to ensure not only a successful bathing, but a safe one too.
To prepare for your hermit crab bath, start by collecting the following items.
1. Medium to large mug or small bowl with straight sides
2. Special chlorine remover specifically tailored for hermit crabs
3. Your hermit crabs
4. Water
Using containers such as a large mug or small bowl with straight versus angled sides will help keep your crabs safe during the bathing process and to ensure the container does not tip over.
Step 1. Bath Preparations
Fill the container nearly halfway with purified water. Add the chlorine remover, which can be found at your local pet shop, to take the harmful element out of the bathing water. When exposed to chlorine, the crabs skin can begin to blister. Let the treatment mix with the purified water for a few minutes. If regular tap water is used for this process, the minerals added to municipal water sources can clog the gills of the crabs, and prevent them from breathing.
Since hermit crabs are naturally nocturnal and more active in the evening time, it would be best to bathe your crabs at night when they are more likely to come out of their shell. It is critical not to dig or force your crab out of his shell, as this can do permanent damage to your crab.
Step 2. Bathing Your Hermit Crab
Once your bath is ready, lift your crab out of the cage and bring him to your washing bowl. Gently lower him into the water for a moment to clean his underside. Do not submerge your crab underwater for too long, as even though they have gills, they cannot breathe underwater for a very long period of time. Once your crab comes out of his shell, go ahead and submerge him gently again but this time upside down to allow water to get inside the shell and wash out all the debris and substrate which collects inside the shell. This may take a few tries for your crab to be comfortable enough to come out for this process so be sure to show patience.
Step 3. Completing the Hermit Crab Bath
After your crabs shell has filled briefly with water, tilt him back up again to allow the water and debris to exit the shell. Follow this process a few times and allow your crab to walk around for a few moments outside his cage to naturally dry off. Monitor your crab at this point to ensure his safety. Then simply lower him back into his cage when he is clean and dry.
Taking the time to give a hermit crab bath will keep your crabs happy and healthy, and will prevent skin irritants and future issues with mites. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
by: Jessica Peloski
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