hermit-crabs - Care Sheets Information about Coenobita/Land Hermit Crabs Non-Reptile/Amphibian hermit-crabs ,characteristics and sexing, Description of Diet, Diet-Omnivorous,Supplements, Nutrition and Usage - calcium and vitamins, Lighting and UVB,Tempatures and Humidity,Caging, Substrate and Water Needs,Coenobita Brevimanus- Indonesians (Indo’s); Coenobita Rugosus (Rugs); Coenobita Perlatus (Strawberries); Coenobita Clypeatus (Purple Pincer); Coenobita Cavipes (Cavipe); Coenobita Compressus (E’s), Maintenance hermit-crabs Information on Coenobita/Land Hermit Crabs Non-Reptile/Amphibian info

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Coenobita/Land Hermit Crabs Care Sheets

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Care Sheet for Hermit Crabs

Average Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 4.00 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 10/08/2005

Main Category:

Non-Reptile/Amphibian

Sub Category:

Hermit Crabs

Care Sheet Submitted By:

Cntrl

Years Experience:

3 to 5 Years

Species:

Coenobita/Land Hermit Crabs

Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover:

Coenobita Brevimanus- Indonesians (Indo’s); Coenobita Rugosus (Rugs); Coenobita Perlatus (Strawberries); Coenobita Clypeatus (Purple Pincer); Coenobita Cavipes (Cavipe); Coenobita Compressus (E’s)

Sexing and Characteristics:

Note: Never attempt to pull a hermit crab out of it’s shell, it will allow itself to be ripped apart.

Female hermit crabs have tiny genital openings called gonopores.
http://www.hermit-crabs.com/sexing.html

You will be able to see these if your hermit crab is attempting to climb the walls of it’s crabitat.

Mostly Active During:

Night

Substrate and Water Needs:

Water-
Hermit crabs need two water dishes, both water dishes need to be deep enough for the hermit crabs to submerge themselves into, while still being able to easily climb out. Look to Repti-Rock for safe, easy to clean dishes.

Always use a dechlorinator in all water used. If you donot use a dechlorinator, the chlorine and chloramines will burn your hermit crabs gills, causing them to live in pain until their slow death. Look to Aquarium Pharmaceuticals for Tap Water Conditioner.

Hermit Crabs (especially Strawberries and E’s) require
salt water ponds (hence the two water dishes).

Salt water mixing information:
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/pages/saltwater.html

Information about the different salts:
http://www.crabstreetjournal.com/articles/jen/rightkindofsalt.html

Never use table salt.

Substrates-
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/pages/substrates.html

Keep in mind Forest Bedding, Eco-Earth and Moss could have mite eggs and/or mites living in it.
Some hermit crab owners are also not using Forest Bedding and Eco-Earth due to a series of dying crabs on the substrate.

Lighting and UVB:

Not something that your hermits Have to have.
But if you’d like to use lights, I recommend
T-Rex Reptile Daylight Heat Lamp -25 watt
T-Rex Reptile Nocturnal Black Heat Lamp -25 watt

Don’t leave the lights on all of the time.
They can draw out the humidity.

Temperatures and Humidity:

First your hygrometer should be calibrated (if it can be):
http://www.crabstreetjournal.com/articles/humidity_calibration.htm
http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/pages/calibrate.html

Your humidity gauge (hygrometer) is most likely off by 20% or more in either direction!

Great detailed article on how to keep them warm:
http://www.crabstreetjournal.com/articles/lhcosociety/keepingthemwarm.html

Heating and Equipment:

N/A

Caging Provided:

55 Gallon for 3 crabs

The larger the crabitat the better.
Do not overcrowd your hermit crabs and only buy as many as you can handle moulting.

Diet:

Omnivorous

Description of Diet:

Http://www.crabstreetjournal.com/articles/lisa/HCNutrition.html

I’ve always fed mine fresh carrots rinsed in dechlorinated water, freeze dried krill, freeze dried brine shrimp, freeze dried plankton, Gardner’s hermit crab food (petdiscounters.com), Crab Island Fruit and Flower Mix. They are all dark and healthy (all PP’s) with successful molts.

Here is the safe food list:
http://www.epicureanhermit.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=9

and the unsafe food list:
http://www.epicureanhermit.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=25

Supplements, Nutrition and Usage:

Http://www.crabstreetjournal.com/articles/lisa/HCNutrition.html

Maintenance:

Change water dishes every two days.
Clean the food and feces out of sand every day.
Always replace the food in the morning and at night.

Some Words on this Species:

N/A

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DISCLAIMER:
The information contain in these care sheets represents only the opinions and husbandry care of members and therefore is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate or reflects the advice or opinions of RepticZone.com. It is always advised to seek additional information or the advice of a qualified veterinarian or qualified reptile dealer. It is also advisable for you to a good amount of research before implementing any of the ideas and care described in these care sheets. We also recommend you ask many questions in their related forums before acting on any information.