Hermit Crabs Info



Hermit crabs are exciting and fun to have as pets. They live inside shells borrowed from other creatures such as sea snails, which is the reason they are named thus. However, contrary to what they are called, hermit crabs are highly sociable creatures and prefer living in groups of 100 or more.

Owning a hermit crab is not the same as owning other pets and you have to go through a lot of hermit crab info to learn all about them and their living and eating preferences.

Essential hermit crab info

Before choosing any pet, it is highly essential knowing all about them.

  • Land hermit crabs belong to the family of coenobitidae and make for ideal pets being easy on maintenance.
  • They have hard external skeletons and five pairs of legs.
  • They live in their shell borrowed from other creatures such as sea snails that have died. According to hermit crab info, they are from the ocean but can survive on land for months together outside water. In order to cool off by replenishing moisture, hermit crabs go back to water periodically.
  • According to hermit crab info, they sleep by tunnelling into the sand in order to avoid the harsh sunlight which may kill them.
  • Hermit crabs are very happy and contented if they live in large groups. They are adorable and it is a pleasure watching these lively and curious creatures.
  • A number of hermit crabs placed tightly close together look wonderful in nature. This is the reason why a lot of hermit crab owners place them all in one place.
  • Hermit crabs require very few food items that you have to actually purchase. They are least fussy and thrive on almost anything you feed them with.
  • You can actually hold the hermit crab in the palm of your hand as they are pretty inactive and do not twitch.
  • They are nocturnal creatures and very active at night.



Signs of molting in hermit crabs

Hermit crab info states that you may not be able to identify signs of molting in certain hermit crabs. However, some crabs may actually look different and act strange. Some of the symptoms that tell you that a hermit crab is going to molt include –

  • The eyes of the crab may become cloudy
  • They may drink and eat more food than they normally do
  • They start digging a lot

As soon as you come across these symptoms, it is necessary placing them in a humid and warm tank and supply water and food dishes.

Hermit crab info on diet

Hermit crabs require to be fed a balanced and nutritious diet that includes a variety of antioxidants, carotene and calcium. After the molting process, crabs deficient in carotene usually fade in colour and look dull and greyish. In order to keep him vibrant, bright and cheerful, remember to feed him with carrots, corn and coloured vegetables.

According to hermit crab info, it is best to avoid feeding them with cheese, potato chips and boxed macaroni. Just stick to fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and fish. Ensure you provide them with a constant supply of food rich in tannin such as oak leaves and tree bark.

Be well informed about your hermit crabs by going through hermit crab info available before you buy one.