How to care for your Hermit Crab

Keys to Hermit Crab Survival:

• Keep temperature inside tank between 72-85°F.
• Humidity should be between 70-80%.
• You must use de-chlorinated water for your crabs fresh and salt water.
• Salt water (1 tsp. non-iodized salt per cup of water)
• Commercial food should be supplemented with fresh foods, like those listed below.
• There must be enough sand for you largest hermit crab to burrow and molt.
• Give each of your crabs two extra shells.
• Friends – hermit crabs are very social animals and do really well when they have lots of friends.

Materials needed for your habitat:

• Sand
• Tank with lid
• Shelter/hiding places
• Thermometer
• Hydrometer
• Materials to climb on
• Tank heater
• Food dish
• Salt water dish
• Fresh water  dish
• De-chlorinator
• Salt (non-iodized)

Tips for maintaining your habitat:

• Change food every other day to prevent mold growth.
• Spot clean tank every other day.
• Every three months change the sand, you can buy new sand or you can bake the old sand to sterilize and clean it (350°F for 30 minutes).
• The water dishes should be deep enough for the crabs to soak in but not so deep that they can’t crawl out.
• The sand should be the consistency of sand used to make sand castles.
• If your tank’s humidity gets too low you can take a squirt bottle and spray the tank down with de-chlorinated water.