How to: Pick out a healthy hermit crab!

When choosing your new pet hermit crab, you want to be sure it is healthy. Pet stores don't always have the best environment for their crabs, so its best to know the signs of a healthy hermit crabs before you buy one.

1. Make sure your local pet store does not have mites in it's hermit crab tank. If it does, go to a different pet store. (Unless, of course, you are able to/ready to isolate the hermit crab and get rid of he or she's mites).
2. Try to look for an active hermit crab, one that is scurrying around the tank. This almost always indicates that he or she is healthy.
3. When you hold the hermit crab, does he come out? Can you feel movement in his shell? This also indicates he or she is healthy.
4. If the hermit crab smells do not purchase it.

I hope this helps you, when picking out your hermit crab!

If you have any questions, or comments feel free to comments below - or email me at splishsplashstyle@gmail.com

An Ideal Crabitat

Every Hermit Crab is different, but the following conditions are needed to keep your hermit crab feeling it's best!

1. Hermit Crabs need the humidity of their tank to be around 65 to 80%! You will need to buy a hygrometer to monitor your crabitat's humidity.
2. Your tank's temperature should be around 72 to 80 degrees.
3. Substrate that they are able to molt in. (Sand, "Hermit Soil", etc)
4. Fresh Food (ex: Vegetables, Fruit, Grains, etc)
5. Fresh Water AND Salt water!!
6. Enough Room to run around and climb! (A 10 gallon tank is ideal)
7. Lots of empty shells for your hermit crab to move in!

Feel free to comment or email me (SplishSplashStyle@gmail.com) with any questions or concerns!

Hermit Crab Myths

Hi Everyone! Today, I am going to be posting my Top 5 most heard Hermit Crab Myths! I hope these help you educate yourself on the care of your hermit crabs!

5. Hermit Crabs can only eat the "Special Pet Store Food"

This is not true! Hermit Crabs love to eat all types of food! You do not need to buy expensive brand Pet Food, to keep your crabs healthy! In fact, crabs would love to eat almost anything in your fridge! Here are just some of the foods they will eat: bread, strawberries, nuts, meat, peanut butter, carrots, rice, peas, etc!

4. Crabs need sponges to drink water

This is completely untrue! Think about it, Hermit Crabs come from the beach! Last time I checked there are no sponges floating around in shallow water! Crabs love water, and need to be able to get water in their shells!

3. Hermit Crabs are solitary animals

This couldn't be farther from the truth! Hermit Crabs live in large colonies, sometimes consisting of as many as 100s of hermit crabs in the wild! So go buy your hermit crab a buddy or two today!

2. Hermit Crabs love gravel as a substrate

Gravel is probably one of the worst substrates for hermit crabs! Hermit Crabs need to be able to dig in order to molt; and they can't do this in gravel! Instead, try using sand!

1. Hermit Crabs don't live long

Well they only don't live long, if they aren't taken care of properly! Some hermit crabs have lived to over 30 years old in captivity!

Feel Free to Post Questions or Comments!!

Thanks,

Anna :)