Hermit Crabs Mating

Hermit crabs are sociable and enjoy living in groups, which leads many hermit crab owners to wonder if they could get their hermit crabs to mate. While caring for hermit crabs under ordinary conditions is easy, it’s not quite so simple to get them to breed. Hermit crabs mating require a very specific environment that mimics their natural habitat, no easy task to replicate in an aquarium. While you are reading keep in mind that successful hermit crab breeding is extremely difficult to do.

Begin with healthy hermit crabs; sick hermit crabs won’t be in the mood to mate. Of course, you’ll need both a male and a female; it can be difficult to tell the gender of your crabs, especially while they are in their shells. Claw size and other factors can help you tell the difference between males and females, a necessary first step in the mating process.

Once you’re sure that you have both sexes, set up their environment correctly to motivate them to mate. The mating pair should be kept in their own tank, away from any other hermit crabs you own. Make them as comfortable as possible by providing plenty of food and water. Of course, you should be doing this regardless of whether you want them to breed.

Above and beyond the routine task of caring for hermit crabs, you’ll need to have an understanding of how hermit crabs breed in the wild. Hermit crabs are nocturnal creatures; mating, like most of their activities, occurs at night. Invest in a moonlight bulb, which replicates the light of the moon, to make your pets think that it is nighttime. The females typically lay eggs in the ocean, near a sandy beach. In order to replicate these conditions, create a small salt water “ocean” in the aquarium. The water must be relatively shallow and between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Some hermit crab owners have found that their crabs require a device to simulate the ocean waves before they will mate.

Once the tank has been set up to encourage mating, introduce the pair. Don’t be surprised if it takes several weeks or even months before you see hermit crabs mating. Only once they are comfortable with each other will they try to mate. This involves a ritual dance that can be quite interesting to watch. The female hermit crab typically lays hundreds of eggs at once, because in the wild, predators kill many of the eggs before they are able to hatch. Once you see eggs in the water, it will take about four weeks for them to hatch. At this time, you can separate the mating pair.

During this time, it’s a good idea to begin gathering small hermit crab shells. As soon as the babies hatch, they will want to move into shells of their own. When they are born, the babies measure just half a centimeter (5mm) long, so you’ll need tiny shells for them to call home. Baby hermit crabs eat brine shrimp, which can be purchased at the pet store, and stay in the water for a month or more before going onto the beach. Mating hermit crabs can be challenging, but it is also very rewarding!

What Do Hermit Crabs Eat

The Healthy Hermit Crab Diet

You, along with so many others are probably wondering what exactly do hermit crabs eat? What do they consume?

This is a good question, and you may be surprised to learn that hermit crabs eat a large variety of things. You have a lot of choice when it comes to what to feed your hermit crab. It can turn out to be a very pleasant experience on both your parts.

Go to any pet store and check out the food they have available. There is a pretty good chance that you are going to see a jug that reads “safe for hermit crabs”. There are many different types of commercial food that you can get your pet hermit crab.

Provide Your Crab with Variety

You probably don’t eat the same type of food every single day, so why should your hermit crab have to? It’s best to switch up between 2-3 different types of hermit crab food each day.

The best commerical food offer what your hermit crab really wants and needs to eat. Sometimes specialists will tell you that certain foods contain ingredients that are bad for your hermit crab.

Two ingredients that you should be sure to check for in any commercial hermit crab food are ethoxyguin and copper sulfate. Try to avoid both to these.

Both of the above ingredients are commonly found in pesticides and a lot of people are uncomfortable feeding their hermit crab them. In the end though the choice is completely yours, and like with most things there is evidence on both side. I prefer to err on the side of caution myself though.

It’s very common for people to give their dogs some ‘people food’ and although some ‘people food’ can be harmful for your dog most food is perfectly healthy. The same goes for your Hermit Crab, why not give them an extra special treat? Just ensure that he has enough commercial food for the nutrition he needs.

I have found that they love:
- bread, crackers and dried cereal
- diced bananas, coconuts, pears and apples
- peanut butter (of course this is messy)
- Shredded spinach
- Shredded lettuce
- Cooked potatoes

Just make sure you put all the food into tiny crab sized bites so that the little guy can easily pick up the food and eat it. You don’t want him to struggle trying to grip the food he loves!

We all get that sweet tooth..you know when you just crave that piece of chocolate. Well guess what your hermit crab has one too!

It is common for hermit crabs to enjoy chewing on something a little less savory and a bit more sweet. And who are we to deny him of such a simple pleasure like that in life?

You might find that baby food is a good choice, not only are they high in nutrition but they also have that sweet taste that they just can’t get enough of.

Try some flavors like the following;
• Apples and Bananas
• Apples, Mango, and Kiwi
• Apple sauce
• Sweet potatoes and Apples
• Apples and Pears
• Fruit medley
• Guava Fruit Dessert
• Papaya Fruit Dessert
• Mango Fruit Dessert
• Sweet Corn Casserole
• Chiquita Bananas

Don’t limit yourself to this list, or any list really. Have some fun with it, your hermit will love anything a little fruity.

You can even feed them using a plastic spoon, or put some in their dish and let them feed themselves.

He will not only love these treats but he will get the nutrients that he needs to stay healthy, who would have thought?

The Hermit Crab in the Wild

Many hermit crab owners find themselves wondering at least at one point in time what life for one of these little creatures is exactly like when they are living out in the ‘wild’?

Hermit crabs are without a doubt one of the most exotic and interesting pets that a pet owner can have these days. Educating yourself about their natural habitat will help you take better care of your crabs and therefore having a healthy and happy crabs.

If you are by the ocean or in tropical areas you will almost always find hermit crabs because this is their natural environment. These little guys crave humidity because they need it to survive. Even though they are land based animals they breathe through their gills. The gills take in the moisture in the air.

Now you may have assumed from their names that hermit crabs are ‘hermit’ and that they don’t like to be around others. This assumption couldn’t be any further from the truth. These little guys are social animals. Therefore you should always consider adopting or buying more than one crab.

In fact I know of many hermit crabs lovers that literally buy these guys by the dozen. Then they go home and put them in the same tank, providing that the tank is large enough for them all to fit comfortably.

The Amazing Burrowing Hermit Crab

If you have ever observed these little guys in the wild you would have noticed that they love to burrow. They love to wander and when they bump up against something they don’t always take the simple route of going around it. They will often go over it and the particularly love to go under it. The would poise of a slight problem if it’s another hermit crab because they would both be trying to do the same thing.

A very interesting fact about hermit crabs is that they are actually born in the ocean. Hermit crabs lay her eggs buried in the same, then the tide comes in and carries her eggs out into the ocean. Then the eggs hatch in the ocean and the crabs develop and grow in the ocean too.

Hermit crabs have gills not lungs. This is because they are born in the ocean so they need gills to survive in the water. The gills that they have are very similar to those found on fish. The baby crabs simply extract oxygen from the water through their gills and this is how they can breathe.

Making Your Hermit Crab Cage A Home: Setting up His Tank

Don’t worry, a hermit crab doesn’t need a complex house like a dwarf hamster or a guinea pig. But at the same time his new tank is his palace so you should make it as appealing as possible for him.

So besides putting up a sign that reads “Home, Sweet Cage” how exactly do you keep a healthy environment for your new pet?

Remember that your hermit crab loves a tropical environment. So your goal should be to make the hermit cage or tank as close to the “tropical hermit crab paradise” as you can get it.

For starters lets talk about the tank itself. If you have a glass or plastic tank lying around the house either one is perfectly fine to use. Make sure you remember that these little crustacean is a Houdini of sorts (he is a master of escape). You will want to make sure that you have a lid on his hermit cage, trust me this will save you hours of hunting for him and also this will ensure his safety as well.

There are some plastic tanks sold as “hermit crab kits” but I would stay away from these. They are entirely too small for your crab to live comfortably.

You probably don’t want to get a tank that is any smaller than 10 gallons, really the bigger the better. That is of course if you can afford it and you have the space for it. Remember that this tank is not only for Herman the crab but also some accessories you will want to give him, along with a food and water bowl.

Substrate: The Floor Covering

A good way of thinking about substrate is to think of it as your hermit crab’s wall to wall carpeting. Since sand is what your crab would being living in in it’s natural habitat this should definitely be your substrate of choice. This is the perfect substrate for him to burrow into and as you know (or will learn quickly), crabs loves to burrow. Simply put this is one of their most natural behaviors.

If you end up picking your regular “playground sand”, that can be found at any home improvement store or hardware store, you might want to rinse, dry and bake it (at 300 degrees Fahrenheit). This will ensure that the sand is sterilized, and then you can always rewash it whenever you feel it’s necessary.

There are definitely other substrate options out there for you. For example there is coconut fiber based bedding which is created for reptiles. Since the fiber is ground so finely is actually looks and feels a lot like soil, which makes it good for burrowing. You could also consider crushed coral. I would definitely avoid the following two substrates; gravel and wood shavings.

How Hot Would My Herman The Crab Like It?

You will want to keep your hermit cage temperature between about 72 degrees Fahrenheit and 80 degrees Fahrenheit if you want to keep your Hermit Crab happy. If the temperature drops below 72 on a regular basis your crab may become stressed and weak. He will be more likely to get sick if he is stressed and weak.

Humidity

The proper temperature isn’t the only thing that will keep your Herman happy. Make sure that you also consider the humidity requirement of your friend. Crabs breathe using their gills, even though they are land animals for the most part. In order for your crab to get the proper exchange of oxygen, there will have to be the proper level of humidity in the air. You don’t want to air to be too dry because this is cause your crab to suffocate.

A good level of humidity to allow your crab to breathe properly is somewhere in between 70% and 80%. Sound complicated right? It actually not, you will be surprised what can help the humidity level of the tank. A simple thing like just giving him a dish with water in it will help keep the level of humidity in his take up. Another good idea might be to put a natural sea sponge in the tank as well. The sponge alone has the ability to hold a lot of water, it also has a surface area so that evaporation can happen. This process will definitely boost the level of humidity.

You now have the essentials for creating the perfect hermit crab cage or tank and therefore keeping your Hermie the Crab happy, healthy and burrowing for many years to come. Enjoy your time with him.

A Hermit Crab Introduction: Basic Hermit Crab Information

Don’t worry I was there once too. Your son or daughter sweet talked or begged you into buying a hermit crab. So you have it at home now and you aren’t sure what the heck to do with him now and now you are looking for some hermit crab information.

You are not alone, trust me! Everyone who actually now finds pleasure in keeping hermit crabs, and I say crabs (because it is actually true they are more fun by the dozen) has been in your shoes. So here is your hermit crab information in a nutshell, for those who are new to the animal and hobby of taking care of hermit crabs and also for veteran that just want a refresher course.

Temperature

In order for Herman your hermit crab to stay healthy you will need to know of some temperature requirements he has. You new pet should never be exposed to temperatures that are lower than 72 degrees Fahrenheit. It could probably kill a hermit crab if he is exposed to temperatures lower than this on a consistent basis.

On the flip side of this you certainly don’t want to put him on the window ledge and bake him with the incoming sun beams. You will notice a brown liquid discharge and a musty odor if your crab is overheating.

Humidity

Not only does your Hermen the crab need an even temperature he also needs a constant level of humidity in his environment. You should make sure your crabs environment has a moist “tropical” feel because these crustaceans thrive in an environment where humidity levels are at least 70%. It is not essential to measure this everyday but you should definitely keep it in mind.

Substrate

The majority of new owners of these little guys do not know that they have to lay down a substrate in the cage. I remember when I adopted my family’s first crabs that I didn’t even know that a substrate was, honestly! But luckily it’s pretty basic, it’s just a name given to the material you place on the bottom of the cage. Crabs love to burrow and your crab is no different this is why you need some substrate.

Sand is found in the crab’s native habitat so this is a favorite for many of these pet owners. But if you don’t want sand then there are many other options at your local pet stores.

No matter what material you choose to use in the end just make sure that it is deep enough so that your crab can bury. You don’t want to make it so deep that your friends aren’t getting the benefits of the heater, and yes you are going to need one of these too.

Please browse through the rest of my website for a lot more hermit crabs information.

Getting to know…Your Hermit Crab

Hermit crabs. It is completely understandable that you are looking for some more hermit crab care information on these cute little guys. If you aren’t at the “cute little guy” stage then believe me because the longer you know them, the cuter they get! It’s pretty much a given to say that most of us don’t know very much about hermit crabs so the idea of thinking about them as a pet seems like about as good idea as it would be to take in a tarantula or python as a pet.

With that being said please do not put this unique and cute little animal in the same category as the other two. Now I’m not going to say anything bad about the tarantula or python but I will say some pleasant things about the hermit crab. I am going to start off talking about his potential for being an exceptional pet!

Now it is always good to know before you bring a pet into your home what exactly it is, and it isn’t any different with the hermit crab. I will explain this little creature with a combination of layman’s interpretations and some scientific terminology thrown in there. Don’t worry though, I will will explain all the terms so that you can understand them.

When your son goes nuts over the hermit crab that is in the tourist shop along the coast or your local pet store window, he is really looking at a terrestrial or land-based hermit crab. This crab belongs to the family of coenobitidae.

In the animal kingdom these animals are quite distinct. This little creature distinguishes himself from many other animals not only because he uses his shell as his home but also because his life begins in the ocean. They do have the ability to live for several months out of the water but they will eventually make there way back to the shore so that they can take a dip in the water to sustain them again for a while.

Proper hermit crab care isn’t hard and the amount of supplies and food that is needed is probably surprisingly less than you think. The one important thing to consider when you are buying one is buy more than one.

Hermit crabs are “happy crabs”. These little guys are not called hermits because they are anti social. As you begin to interact with your new pet friend you will understand what I mean. So therefore if you are thinking about buying a crab you should definitely keep the idea of the more the better in mind.

Hermit crabs aren’t cheaper by the dozen but they will be much happier when you collect them by the dozen. In fact I know of many hermit crab owners who literally buy these cute little guys by the dozen. This is a much more realistic snapshot of their native habitat.