Hermit Crabs, Tips On Caring/keeping Them?

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Because i upgraded two of my tanks recently, im now left with an empty 30gal and 10gal- i've always liked the idea of keeping some sort of critter/s like hermit crabs, and i was wondering if anyone can shed any light on caring for them and keeping them properly? Its just i would like to do somthing with the 30 and 10gal tanks other than keep fish in them...Any other suggestions for what critters to keep are welcome too, as at the moment i was sort of just thinking of keeping snails otherwise .

 

[willtang3000]

the success to a happy hermit is things to climb on, a little tub of water that they could go in at there own will and a secure lid so they cant escape iam sure wuv will extend on this as she has some lovely ones

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Cool, anyone else have any info/suggestions ?

 

[soritan]

They seem to really thrive on a varied diet, have you been to Epicurean hermiat yet?

http/www.crabbytalk.com/
http/www.hermit-crabs.com/
http/www.hermitcrabassociation.com/
http/community.livejournal.com/hermitcrabs/
http/community.livejournal.com/crabitats/

-- among others.

 

[wuvmybetta]

Warmth, humidity and a wide diet seems to be working for us over here. Our crabbies seem very well rounded and active and I don't do anything out of the norm for them. They are easy as pie but they're also sort of tedious, if that makes sense. They get coconut fiber in their water every day so that constantly needs to be freshened, and since the tank is high in humidity their food goes bad really quickly so...it's easiest to just change all of their bowls out once a day. Mine have four bowls
1 freshwater with a sponge
1 saltwater with a sponge
1 for fresh fruits and veggies,meats
1 for staple foods

I think, when it comes to activity levels, those really vary from crab to crab. They're all different. Our smallest and newest has been burrowed for over three weeks. I pulled him out to change the substrate and bathe them and he immediately buried himself when I put him back.
Another burrows every day and as soon as we turn the lights out- he comes out to eat and climb, so we watch him with the nightstand lamp on "You can't escape our prying eyes"
The other two are out and active 24/7.

I think that if you set up the thirty for crabs, that would be awesome! We keep our four in a ten but it's a tight squeeze once you start loading in their huts and branches,extra shells and bowls etc.
The ten works, but if you have a 30, go for it!
Our master plan is to move ours in to one of those four foot shallow 30's I have. But that's a long time off.

 

[Yarra]

I have kept hermits for years!

Do you still need info on this subject? They are a ton of fun.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Thanks for all the info everyone, i really appreciate it, i am still looking through it all though as i am still unsure on wether i should take another pet responsability yet (i've just got 2 more 125gal tanks, so i will have less time on my hands now due to all the extra time that needs to be taken in cleaning them).

 

[PlecMama]

Hissing cockroaches? Get some of those and I can watch yours instead of buying my own

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

there are diffrent types of hermit crabs. (i used to keep solider hermit crabs) they do better in groups and love fresh fruit i used Hermit Crab Bites and calcium substrate for mine. I also had a bowl of salt water and freshwater (didnt need to worrie about heat and humidity as this is their homeland) yes they love to hide and dig and make nests. I used a cave for mine and during the night he would go in and make a nest.