subject: Know How to have Hermit Crabs as Pets for Your Home [print this page] The reason as why we mentioned hermit crabs and not other crabs as pets is that contrary to the popular belief, you can actually play with your pet! Hermit crabs certainly don't need to be taken out for a walk but can become great assets as a pet for you! That does not mean it doesn't bite; wrongly handle it and it will give you a taste of its pincers!
In the days of yore, when transportation was not this advanced and when transportation of pets was not known, hermit crabs were only a part of the homes which were near sea shores or beaches. Nowadays, things have changed and the pet transportation sector is a large employer. You can be anywhere and still get exactly your choice of pet at home, minus the hassles.
Technology and effective logistics have made this a possibility today. Before you even bring your hermit crab home, you need to take a lot of precautions and pre-prepare its cage, supplies and everything in place.
Caring for the hermit crab
The hermit crab is not called so because of its look, but definitely because of its behavior. The crab's shell is not as hard as its other same phylum members. Also, it has a shell only when it is young and as it grows older, it looks for abandoned shells to take shelter in! That is to say, a crab which stays alone and wanders from place to place and hence this name hermit crab!
Hermit crabs just cannot be kept in your bowl meant for the goldfish, or even in small cages. It will live, but not for long. By denying it space of movement, you're actually denying it the right to live! If you want to start with a single crab, it would be wise on your part to opt for the 10-gallon tank for its home. The kind of covering is also important in case you do not want the hermit to go out on a countryside tour!
The hermit crab is a tropical animal; therefore in case you're residing in a cold place, a good addition to your aquarium/tank would be a heating pad. This pad will ensure that proper insulation is in place and cold does not kill your hermit crab. The optimum temperature for hermit crabs to live comfortably is around the 75 F mark.
Replicating a beach
Hermit crabs love beaches and understandably light also. You might need to keep your tank in a place where there is lots of natural sunshine. It will help the hermit crab, bask in glory! Another important aspect would be to consider making a miniature beach sans the water in the tank. That goes without saying that you will need some shells (small), and good sand with small pebbles. The sand will also act as an insulator against the cold and can trap heated air inside, thus making the crab comfortable.
Humidity is a parameter which must be maintained with the regular feeding schedule. Ideally the humidity should be kept close to 80-85%. Start thinking of a name, if you already have the checklist at hand, completed!
Know How to have Hermit Crabs as Pets for Your Home
