A Hermit Crab Primer: The Basics Of Caring For Your Crustacean

Okay! I know! I know! I was there once. You got convinced for purchasing a hermit crab because your son or daughter begged you for one. Now, you're at home with this crustacean and you're not quite sure what to do with him.

Trust me! You're not alone. Each of us who now gets happiness in keeping hermit crabs (and it's true what they say - they're more fun by the dozen!) has been in your shoes. So for those of you who are neophyte to the hobby and the animal - and those of you who are veterans, but just want a refresher course - here are some hermit crabs information on hermit crab care.

Temperature

First, you have to realize that your Harriet the hermit crab requires certain temperature requirements in order to stay healthy. She should never be exposed to temperatures lower than 72F. If a hermit crab is exposed to consistently low temperatures, it could kill him.

On the contrary, you definitely don't want him to "bake" as the sun streams through the window into his cage. You can tell if your crab is overheated. You'll notice a musty odor. He'll also be discharging brown liquid.

Humidity

Most neophyte owners of these guys don't know that they want to lay down a substrate in the cage as well. Heck, if you were like me when I adopted my family's first crabs, I didn't even know what a substrate was (honest!). It's just a name given to the material you place at the bottom of the cage. Your crab needs it because he burrows. He loves to burrow. Thus dwell on this.

What's next?

Fine, now that you've got your pet all set in his new home, you really need to give some thought to what to feed him. If your crab were living in the "wild" he would search out a diet that included not only fallen fruit and plants and grasses, but also decaying wood and leaf litter (this may be a bit hard to believe!)

Sad to say, but not sufficient study has really been performed on the habits of the hermit crab shells to say what the healthiest diet is for a captive crab. But we do know a few things. Nutrients like calcium, carotene and a variety of antioxidants are essential to his health.

Did you know, for illustration, that a crab whose diet is carotene-deficient fades in color after he's gone through the molting procedure? He'll go from a gorgeous reddish in color to a washed out tan or gray. So how do you keep his color bright and vibrant, feed him brightly colored vegetables, like corn and carrots!

Let's just put it this way, the best and healthiest diet you can feed your hermit crab is all the good healthy food that you eat. Before you run to the cabinet, let me elucidate| a thing or two. Boxed macaroni and cheese is not healthy food. Nor are potato chips. And for that issue, neither is Ben and Jerry's ice cream. But fruits, vegetables also meat and fish - these will all help maintain your crab's health. You may have asked what do hermit crabs eat, now you know.

You may have already bought your commercial crab food, but many experts now think that's not even vital. Feeding your crab wholesome food - fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and fish!

Well, look at Harriet the Hermit Crab in her tank. She can't wait to munch that carrot in your hand. Did I just hear her say, "What's up doc?"

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