| Don't let the name hermit crab fool you. Hermit crabs | | | | Hermit Crabs are known to be destructive. So they |
| are anything BUT hermits. They thrive on social | | | | will make a mess out of that well organized crabitat |
| interaction. Having only one hermit crab in a tank can | | | | you just made. Be prepared for that. |
| actually drive them crazy I believe. I have had people | | | | Maintain a temperature of at least 72F degrees and I |
| bring me Strawberry Hermit Crabs that are acting | | | | would say no higher than 90f degrees, and a humidity |
| weird and invariably, its because they were by | | | | of 70%. You want a "tropical" feel for the crabs. If it |
| themselves. | | | | gets to hot, you will smell a musty smell and notice a |
| Anyway, I am here to help you take care of your | | | | brown liquid coming from the crabs. TURN DOWN |
| Strawberry Hermit Crab properly. Different Hermit | | | | THE HEAT IF THAT HAPPENS! |
| Crabs from different locals actually have different | | | | Diet |
| needs based upon the species. You don't take care | | | | The very first thing you need for a Strawberry |
| of a Strawberry Hermit Crab quite like you do a | | | | Hermit Crab is a bowl of salt water. You can get |
| Purple Pincher Crab. And when I say Strawberry | | | | safe salt at your local pet store or online, DO NOT |
| Hermit Crab, I mean Coenobita perlatus. | | | | USE TABLE SALT, its contains iodine, which kills crabs. |
| Description | | | | Use a pet grade saltwater aquarium salt. Please use |
| The most distinctive thing about a Strawberry Hermit | | | | distilled water, or filtered and dechlorinated water. |
| Crab is its color. Generally bright strawberry red in | | | | Straight tap water can kill your crabs. Chlorine causes |
| color with white granual markings, with shiny | | | | blisters on their gills, causing a slow painful death. |
| gray-black eyes. They have thick bodies and thick | | | | Strawberry Hermit Crabs need 2 bowls of water. |
| legs for climbing. | | | | One salt one fresh. Make sure the bowl is not so |
| Housing | | | | deep the crab can drown in it. Place a sponge in each |
| Most people buy their Strawberry Hermit Crabs at a | | | | water bowl for the crabs. It is also a good idea to |
| mall kiosk or pet store. And most of them get a | | | | place a piece of wood, a stone, or something in the |
| small plastic box to hold the crab. I tell ya right now, | | | | water that the crab can grab onto in case it gets |
| that box is NOT good for a crabitat (crab habitat). | | | | distressed in the water. That way it can get itself |
| It's fine for a temporary shelter, but your crabs need | | | | out. |
| some room to roam and interact. | | | | One food bowl should suffice. It Is very important to |
| You should have bought at least 2 crabs, preferably | | | | feed your Strawberry Hermit Crab a diet rich in |
| 3, to get started. I would recommend starting with a | | | | carotene. Some of the best foods are sun dried |
| 10 gallon aquarium. They are easy to find and | | | | shrimp, plankton, and color enhancing fish food. Make |
| inexpensive. Although larger is better. I recommend | | | | sure they always have access to these foods, and |
| that you add an under tank heater to keep the temp | | | | your crab will maintain a healthy red/orange color. |
| up. | | | | Maintenance |
| Line the bottom of the tank in sand or coconut fiber | | | | I feel that bathing a crab is mostly unnecessary. Only |
| (Marketed as Forest Bedding®, | | | | in certain circumstances will I bath them. When they |
| Bed-A-Beast®, and Eco-Earth®). This is so | | | | first come home, after a molt, and thats about it. |
| your crab has something to dig around in. I prefer a | | | | Spot cleaning is best done weekly. Removing bits of |
| combination of coconut fiber and sand. It provides a | | | | exo skeleton, food bits, and other debris. Place all the |
| stable substrate for them to dig in. You need it deep | | | | climbing toys back, or its a good time for a remodel, |
| enough for them to bury themselves in, but not so | | | | keep the crabs from getting bored. If using coconut |
| deep it negates an undertank heater. | | | | fiber substrate, clean what can be seen, and every |
| Next you need something for them to climb on. I use | | | | few months change out all of the substrate. |
| a few pieces of choya wood for them to climb on. | | | | Following these tips will help you keep a happy |
| Some plastic plants will work as well. Strawberry | | | | healthy crab population. |