Hermit Crab Feeding Guide
Category: Hermit Crab Care
Moving With Hermit Crabs- Crating Tanks
We recently had a Military PCS (post change of station) and had our 75-gallon tanks crated for our move (shout out to mss1.com they did an amazing job! Both tanks arrived in perfect condition!) Anyone can do this if you are moving a good distance and want to protect your glass tanks!
Moving with Hermit Crabs
We are moving (a military pcs) from Texas to Pennsylvania with the hermit crabs. I set up
2 temporary tanks using 28-quart Rubbermaid totes. Some people use taller ones, but I had to be conscience of car space. Made a video showing the process, there are 2 molting crabs.
Organic Vs. Non-Organic for Hermit Crabs
It’s always a good idea to buy organic for the hermit crabs. Hermit crabs are classified as arthropods, like insects and spiders. We really don’t want to be giving them pesticides. However, some fruits and veggies are worse than others. I found a website, EWG that provides a yearly updated guide on the dirty 15 (most pesticides used) and the clean 15 (least pesticides used) and thought I’d share that with you.
Hermit Crab New Owners Guide
What you will need:
Glass tank tip- Check Facebook Marketplace,
Craigslist, or yard sales. Often you can find
aquarium tanks much cheaper that way.
Lid for the tank- A mesh lid with a
solid barrier at the top to hold
in humidity is ideal. If needed,
you can temporarily use siran wrap. Plexiglass
or chloroplast makes a good cover for the screen lid.
Place heavy weights or a lock on your lid. Hermit crabs are escape artists!
You will need 6-12 inches of substrate,
or 3 times as deep as your largest crab is tall.
Quikrete Play Sand meant for a sand box
is perfect.
Lowes or Home Depo sales Quikrete. Coco fiber which is shredded
coconuts. Mix the play sand and coco
fiber together 5-parts DRY sand to 1-part DRY coco.
Ultratherm Heat Mat- place on the back of the tank,
just above the substrate, to provide
gradient heat. Either side of heat mat
can face the tank. Use heat tape to stick it to the tank.
Use Reflectix to cover heat mat & tape
it to the tank. This forces the heat into the tank.
Light Source- No direct sunlight on the tank.
Be aware of how the room temperature. rises during
summer. They need a normal light/dark
12 – 12 hour cycle. Aquarium lights are fine to use.
Water Conditioner-
We recommend Prime Aquarium Water Conditioner.
Aquarium Salt Mix -Not freshwater salt. Instant Ocean
is the most common brand & usually easy to find.
These other brands are also good and may
be available in your area: Fluval Sea Salt, Red Sea Salt,
Coralife, Oceanic Sea Salt, Tetra Marine Sea
Salt and Marinium.
Bowls- Cheap, disposable food bowls work great.
Pools should be deep enough for your largest crab
to submerge. Provide sturdy exit ramps.
A nutritionally complete diet
composed of quality food free of ethoxyquin
and copper sulfate (found in hermit crab pet store
pellet type foods. It often is not listed on the container.
as it is hidden in the fish meal & is toxic to hermit
crabs.) You can find complete hermit crab meals on
Etsy.
Gauges-Skip the cheap, analog gauge at the pet store.
They are not accurate. go wireless and digital.
Walmart carries digital indoor/outdoor Thermometer-
Hygrometer. You can also buy them online. Hygrometers
should be calibrated prior to use.
Relative humidity no lower than 70%. Heat 75-85
degrees.
Hermit Crab Pool Care
TWO POOL ARE NEEDED,
ONE FRESH WATER & ONE
MARINE GRADE SALT POOL.
THE POOLS NEED TO BE BIG ENOUGH FOR
YOUR LARGEST HERMIT CRAB TO SUBMERGE.
OFTEN HERMIT CRABS MAY BE
“TOE DIPPERS”
BUT THEY DO LIKE TO SWIM AS WELL.
MOST COMMONLY USED MARINE SALT IS
“INSTANT OCEAN.”
*DO NOT USE FRESHWATER AQUARIUM SALT.
OTHER ACCEPTABLE BRANDS ARE FLUVAL SEA
SALT, RED SEA SALT, TETRA MARINE SEA SALT,
OCEANIC SEA SALT, MARINIUM, & CORALIFE.
IT IS PREFERRED TO USE TAPWATER
BECAUSE IT HAS BENEFICIAL MINERALS.
WATER CONDITIONER RECOMMENDED IS
SEACHEM PRIME.IT REMOVES CHLORINE,
CHLORAMINES, & BINDS AMMONIA.
*DON’T PURCHASE A WATER CONDITIONER
THAT CONTAINS ADDITIVES STIMULATES
OR CREATES A STRESS COAT ON FISH.
STANDING WATER POOLS SHOULD BE
CHANGED EVERY 2-3 DAYS.
POOLS WITH BUBBLE STONES SHOULD BE
CHANGED EVERY 3-5 DAYS.
DUMP WATER, CLEAN POOLS, WIPE CLEAN,
AND REFILL.
MIX PRIME 2 DROPS PER GALLON.
INSTANT OCEAN IS 1/2 CUP PER GALLON.
MOST MARINE SALTS ARE 1/2 C TO A GALLON
YOU CAN PURCHASE A GALLON OF
DISTILLED WATER TO USE THE EMPTY
GALLON JUG TO PREMIX THE INSTANT OCEAN.
SHAKE WELL EACH USE.
IF YOU ARE JUST FILLING YOUR POOL WITH
FRESHWATER & PRIME. ONLY ONE DROP OF
PRIME IS NEEDED.
Happy Crabitat 