| Hermit crabs are a pet that walk the line between | | | | there are no harmful bacteria or parasites in the |
| exotic and common. They are exotic in the sense | | | | substrate. |
| that they are something other than a dog, cat, fish | | | | The aquarium needs to be kept most. This can be |
| or hamster, but they are not so exotic as to be | | | | easily accomplished maintain the substrate wet. |
| difficult to care for. They are also harmless, unlike | | | | Make sure that the aquarium has enough airflow that |
| many exotic pets. Since the hermit crab is | | | | bacteria and mold don't begin to grow. Your crab |
| somewhat uncommon, there are not a lot of hermit | | | | will also enjoy the occasional misting from a spray |
| specific crab supplies available at the local pet store. | | | | bottle. |
| Try to walk into Petco and find hermit crab chow. | | | | You need to supply the aquarium with at least one |
| Special food can be purchased but it's uncommon and | | | | shallow dish of fresh water and you should also place |
| probably unnecessary. | | | | one more dish of salt water. Hermit crabs must |
| Fortunately, hermit crabs do not require any | | | | stay hydrated or else their bodies quickly dry up. |
| specialized gear other than perhaps a small collection | | | | Hermit crabs love to climb. A few pieces of |
| of shells of various sizes. Many of the things you | | | | driftwood or even just a few sticks will do the job. |
| need to make your crab happy and healthy can be | | | | Make sure that the wood doesn't reach too near the |
| gathered yourself in a few hours of beach combing. | | | | top of the aquarium or your hermit will soon be on |
| Let's break down a few areas of hermit care and | | | | the lam. |
| talk about the various options. | | | | To make caring for the crab easier, it's |
| When we talk about a hermit crab's home, we are | | | | recommended that you add a thermometer and a |
| actually talking about two versions. The first is his | | | | hydrometer to the tank. These allow you to easily |
| big home, or the container in which you keep the | | | | monitor the humidity levels in the tank and make |
| crab. A small to medium size fish aquarium makes a | | | | sure things stay wet. Though not absolutely |
| perfect hermit crab habitat. The aquarium only | | | | essential, they will enhance the hermit crab |
| needs to be big enough to accommodate the | | | | experience. |
| accessories that it will contain such as water dishes | | | | Though hermit crab specific food can be found if you |
| and climbing aids. | | | | look hard enough, it is unnecessary. Hermit crabs |
| In the wild, crabs live in the ocean or along the | | | | are scavengers and therefore can eat almost |
| beach. Therefore the aquarium will need to be filled | | | | anything. A few table scraps of meat of vegetables |
| with either beach sand, aquarium gravel of even soft, | | | | will be plenty. There is really nothing that will harm |
| muddy soil. Basically the crab needs a place where it | | | | the crab, but it's recommended that you stay away |
| can burrow into for protection. Two or three inches | | | | from processed food that contains chemicals. |
| of material should be plenty. Many people like to | | | | That's all there is to it. A little initial setup and a bit |
| sterilize the sand or gravel in the oven by heating to | | | | of food and water and a hermit crab will pretty much |
| 200 degrees for thirty minutes. This ensures that | | | | take care of himself. |