Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Create a play-friendly environment
• Method 2 of 3: Add enriching objects to the habitat
• Method 3 of 3: Handling your hermit crab
• Tips
• Warnings

Hermit crabs are playful creatures by nature, but you can't play with them in the same way you would play with a kitten. Therefore, make sure your hermit crab has everything it needs to live well and to be able to explore and play on its own. You can do this by providing enriching items and making sure your hermit crab is safe when you let it out of its cage.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Create a play-friendly environment

1. For 2 medium hermit crabs, take a 115 liter tank. Your hermit crab's tank should have a capacity of at least 115 liters if the crabs are of medium size. However, if you have a few very small lobsters you can start with a 37 gallon tank and get a bigger one as the lobsters grow. This aquarium size ensures that your hermit crabs have plenty of room to play.
   • A solid glass or plastic aquarium is essential for maintaining a moist environment. Never try to keep hermit crabs in a wire cage.
2. Fill the bottom of the habitat with 6 inches of sand. Hermit crabs love to burrow and burrow. It will also ensure that your lobster has plenty of room to dig and play in the sand.
   • Coconut fiber is an acceptable substitute for sand, you can also use a half and half mixture of coconut fiber and sand.
   • Make sure the sand is dry and clean. You can buy sand from a pet store, use sand from a DIY store, or use sand from the beach.
3. Place two dishes of dechlorinated water in the habitat. Your hermit crab must be completely submerged, so take 2 dishes that are large enough for your hermit crab. Fill them with water that comes to the shell of the lobster. If the dishes have high walls, you can bury them in the sand and place a layer of stones in the dishes, making it easier for your hermit crab to get in and out. Fill 1 bowl with fresh water and the other bowl with salt water.
   • It is essential to use dechlorinated water as chlorinated water can be harmful to hermit crabs. You can dechlorinate water with a dechlorinator available at pet stores.
   • Buy salt water from a pet store. Avoid adding table salt to the water as it is harmful to hermit crabs.
4. Scatter your hermit crab's food throughout the habitat for stimulation. Instead of placing your lobster's food in the same location every day, spread it out so that your lobster has to forage. This can be a fun game for your hermit crab! Randomly distribute the food throughout the habitat. You can even place some food on a twig or rock so that your lobster has to climb to get to it.
   • Hermit crabs can eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains and all of this food can be spread throughout the habitat.
5. Clean your lobster's habitat daily. Remove feces and uneaten food from the habitat daily to ensure that the habitat remains clean. This makes it easier for your hermit crab to roam and play in its habitat without encountering feces and rotting food.

Method 2 of 3: Add enriching objects to the habitat

1. Place hiding places in the habitat to create safe places. Hermit crabs like to retreat to dark, enclosed spaces at times. This makes them feel safe and allows them to relax. To ensure that your hermit crab can retreat when it needs a break from play, it is good to have several hiding places in the habitat. Some examples of hiding places are:
   • Small boxes with holes in 1 or 2 sides.
   • Empty flower pots lying on their sides.
   • Hollow logs or stones (available for purchase at pet stores).
   • Ceramic castles and other types of fabricated hiding places available for sale at pet stores.
2. Lean a piece of driftwood against the side of the habitat for climbing. Hermit crabs like to climb, so make sure you place 1 or more pieces of driftwood in the habitat. You can find pieces of driftwood on the beach or buy them from a pet store.
   • Driftwood is a good option because hermit crabs usually live by the sea.
   • Pet stores also sell artificial driftwood branches for use in hermit crab habitats.
3. Place your hermit crab with 1 or more other hermit crabs in the habitat so they can keep each other company. Hermit crabs are social creatures, although their name would suggest the opposite. Keep hermit crabs in pairs or in groups if possible. If you only have 1 hermit crab, consider getting a second one to keep you company.
   • After you buy a new hermit crab, keep it separate from your other lobsters for 1 week to make sure it is healthy.
4. Provide different shells of different sizes so that your hermit crab can grow. A hermit crab needs a larger shell once it has grown out of its current shell. Make sure to offer your lobster several options in case it has grown out of its shell.
   • It is also important to provide many options to prevent your hermit crabs from fighting.

Method 3 of 3: Handling your hermit crab

1. Pick up your hermit crab by the shell. To give your hermit crab some time out of its habitat, pick it up and put it in a safe place. Grab your lobster by the shell when you pick it up. Do not grab his body, he will probably squeeze you and you could injure him with that too.
   • Remember, it is best not to handle your hermit crab too often. They don't like to be touched.
2. Place your hermit crab gently on the ground. Never put it on a chair or table if you want to let it wander around. Your hermit crab's vision is not as good as yours, so he may not be able to see where the surface of the table, or any other surface, ends. Your hermit crab could fall and be injured.
3. Keep an eye out for your hermit crab as it wanders and explores. To keep your lobster safe, keep a close eye on it when it is out of its habitat. Prevent him from crawling into small cracks, falling down stairs or ending up in another dangerous situation.
   • When in your bedroom, close the door to keep your hermit crab in.
   • Your hermit crab will need to eat, drink, sleep and go to the bathroom at some point, so don't leave it out of its habitat for more than 1 hour.
4. Do not remove your hermit crab from its shell or pull on its limbs. Never pull a hermit crab out of its shell or pull it off anything it is holding onto. Your lobster could lose 1 or more of its limbs as a result. Although the limbs may grow back, your lobster may not survive the injury.

Tips

• Placing a few cups of water in the habitat will help keep the humidity at the right level. The ideal humidity level for your hermit crab is never lower than 70%.

Warnings

• Never paint your hermit crab's shell. It may look greasy, but the chemicals in the paint could kill your lobster.
• Keep your fingers away from your hermit crab's claws. Even if your lobster is comfortable with you, it can pinch you if it gets scared.