Hermit Crabs Habitat
The Care and Maintenance of Hermit Crab Habitat
If you want your artificial hermit crab habitat to really make your hermit crabs comfortable, you should take care to make your terrarium match the natural area in which hermit crabs are found. The more you match the ideal conditions of this habitat, the more likely you are to have happy and healthy hermit crabs.
Where do hermit crabs actually live in the wild?
The natural hermit crab habitat is in warm tropical climates. They love to dwell in the sands near the ocean.
Ironically, hermit crabs are not solitary creatures. In fact, they love to dwell in groups; so, if you really want your hermit crab to feel at home get him a few companions.
You will also find that there are two types of hermit crabs to choose from at pet stores. You will find that the Ecuadorian Crab is a very mild-mannered crab, while the Purple Claw Crab, on the other hand, is a bit of a hell-raiser as far as hermit crab’s go. Be sure to watch your fingers around our Purple friends.
Terrarium Requirements
Although hermit crabs do not live in terrariums in the wild, you will probably still have to go to the expense of purchasing one of these tanks if you want to simulate an authentic hermit crab habitat. Unless, of course, you happen to live on a warm tropical beach or are willing to fill your home with sand and crank the temperature up.
It does not need to be a large terrarium but it will not hurt to give them room to roam. Carpet the floor of your new hermit crab habitat with sand. Remember that you need to have enough depth in order for your hermit crab to play the hermit and bury himself. This is the only way your hermit crabs can get truly comfortable, so be sure not to neglect it.
Since hermit crab habitat is a mix between the ocean waters on one hand and fresh drinking water on the other, you will need two ceramic dishes, one filled with salt water and another one with fresh water.
Climate Control
The other thing that you will need to do is maintain the proper tropical climate for your hermit crabs. In order to do this properly you will need both a small pet heating pad and a thermostat that you can use to monitor if the temperature over the sand is staying where it should be.
Furthermore, your hermit crabs will need a special type of light fixture that gives them the proper UV rays that allows them to do just what we do, convert Vitamin D.
Shells
Hermit crabs like to find and occupy stray shells. They will leave their own shells (a process called “molting”) once or twice a year and seek out new shells. This is typically the period during which many hermit crab owners believe their hermit crabs have gone to meet their maker. Some owners even begin breaking down the terrarium, thinking the hermit crab adventure has come to a bad end. Suddenly, however, you find your hermit crab buried in some deep nook of the terrarium, still alive, just waiting for an opportune time to come back out and find a new home. So don’t jump the gun, even if you haven’t seen your little friend in a while.
As to the shell, one of the main areas of fun for hermit crab owners is in choosing decorated shells. Many pet stores now offer these artistic shells for a small cost. Of course, this was not how it occurred in the wild, but we need not try to get every detail to match the hermit crab's natural habitat.
Hermit crabs are great pets and not too difficult to maintain. Enjoy your hermit crab adventure.