Land Hermit Crabs for Sale
Land hermit crabs are highly gregarious (habitually living in or moving in flocks or herds) and social creatures! They should be kept in groups whenever possible to encourage natural behavior patterns and normal dispositions. You should also keep specimens of similar size together. They are very tolerant of each other as long as there are plenty of shells to change into and there is plenty of food, water and space available. In captivity, these crabs can live anywhere between 1 year up to 20 years depending on level of care and type of habitat and diet. They like to climb and burrow, and they like a wide variety of food offerings. Hermit Crabs can be very rewarding to watch and care for, as well as being a wonderful learning experience about the environment and their local ecosystems!
Land Hermit Crab Diet
New food scents stimulate activity and curiosity for captive crabs that exhibit a lackluster appetite and activity level, so changing some aspects of their diet and habitat is very beneficial and fantastic to see their response. They will eat crab foods and crab salt for vitamin supplements. Aside from using water for their baths, hermit crabs need a constant source of freshwater, so keep a shallow dish of freshwater in the enclosure as well. A small section of sponge will also be useful as the crabs can climb on it and get the water of it.
Land Hermit Crab Habitat
Land Hermit Crabs need to be stimulated by visual and tactile sensations (new things to chew and climb on, new things to explore and look at) as well as scents. A shallow water dish for fresh water with a sponge in it needs to be supplied. Driftwood and dried vines should also be used for cage furniture to provide climbing surfaces and things to chew on. Cholla wood is the dried inner cellulose structure of the Cholla cactus. It's a favorite hideout and climbing facility for land hermit crabs and they also love to chew on it. Dried bamboo is also great for land hermit crab enclosures and it can be crossed and stacked under the substrate to give it support so the crabs can burrow down into it. As for substrate, calcium carbonate-based sand is highly recommended around food and water dishes. It should be used in conjunction with a substrate such as Eco Earth and be twice at deep as your largest hermit crab. You will also need an under-the-tank style heater since they prefer temperatures between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit with moderate lighting. Maintaining the proper humidity level (75 to 95 %) is crucial since the crabs respire through modified gills. If the air dries up, so do their gills, so be careful to keep it constant. A good quality humidity gauge is highly recommended along with a regular misting of fresh water. A humid retreat is also useful and is easily offered via an empty, halved coconut shell set a top some dampened coconut fiber. Don't forget a wide variety of shells for the crabs to choose from. Add new ones every few weeks and take out the ones that don't get used. A brief (10-20 minutes) weekly bath in shallow (about 1/2 inch), warm fresh water (dechlorinated of course) is highly recommended for the crabs. The occasional bath in salt water (using the HBH Hermit Crab Salt and following package directions) is also appreciated, along with some branches or rocks to allow them to climb in and out of it.
Are Land Hermit Crabs Right for Me?
These cute little critters can be very fun and easy to care for once set up! They also provide a great learning experience for children with proper care and supervision. Hermit crabs are quite popular for their ease of care and interesting behavioral characteristics. They vocalize, sometimes to you and to each other, which is a surprise to hear for those unfamiliar with the distinctive low-resonant vibrato of land hermit crab chatter. Whether a beginner pet parent or in a noise or space restricted home, a land hermit crab can be a wonderful addition to any family!
At Uncle Bill’s Pet Center, we not only offer Land Hermit Crabs for sale, we also employ a highly trained staff that can assist you in building an appropriate habitat for your new pet, and educate you on the proper care of the animal—making sure you get the most out of your pet ownership adventure!