Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Have you just bought a hermit crab? It's time to find out how to create the perfect habitat for him!

Steps

1. 1 Find a glass tank for the crab. Plastic aquariums do not hold heat and humidity well and can only be used as temporary transport. You need to attach a lid to the aquarium. Crayfish can climb around the edges and escape from the tank if it is not covered. It is better to use a mesh cover that allows air to pass freely.
2. 2 Lay down the substrate. This can be sand (preferred) or coconut fiber (eg Eco Earth trademark). Sand can be found at any pet store, and coconut fiber complements perfectly with salt water. Never use anything cedar or coniferous as a substrate for hermit crabs.
3. 3 Install a pressure gauge to measure humidity and two thermometers (one at the cool end of the aquarium, the other at the warm end). Hermit crabs need a range of temperatures because they are cold-blooded and their bodies need different temperature environments. Humidity should always be 70-80%. This humidity cannot be achieved by simply spraying the aquarium with a spray bottle.
   • A damp substrate will help maintain moisture for a long time. For example, like moss in a terrarium. Don't use peat moss. Sponges are also not a good idea, they are home to a lot of bacteria that can cause various diseases in hermit crab.
   • The temperature at the cold end of the tank should be around 20-22 degrees Celsius (70-72 degrees Fahrenheit), at the warm end the temperature should reach 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit). If the cancer is kept at a low temperature for a long time, it can get sick and even die!
   • You can place a heater on the warm end of the aquarium. Be sure to keep the temperature below 28 degrees Celsius. The heater can raise the temperature in the aquarium up to 38 degrees Celsius and above! Even if you don't feel the temperature is rising, your pet will definitely notice it. An overhead light and a heat lamp can also be placed in the aquarium. Some people use special clips for the lamp. For example, reptiles require infrared lamps. Hermit crabs need a normal day-night cycle, so if you need to heat the aquarium at night, it is best to use a moonlight and no UV light bulb.
4. 4 Place secluded spots and various mounds in the aquarium to climb into. Avoid any coniferous fillers and metal objects.
5. 5 Place a bowl of fresh water and a bowl of sea salt water in the aquarium. Some random research has shown that hermit crabs require the nutrients found in ocean water. Set up saucers of water for your pet. You can also purchase sea salt from the pet store (fish and aquarium section).
   • Make sure there is plenty of water in the bowl and that it will be easy for your pet to reach. Throw in small glass pebbles so that the hermit crab can easily get out of the bowls.
   • As far as fresh water is concerned, chlorine will cause gill problems in hermit crabs, so a water conditioner should be used that removes chloramines and heavy metals, because hermit crabs are very sensitive to metals and especially copper.
6. 6 Make sure there are multiple levels in the tank because the hermit crab may want to change the scene. Attach several shelves to the aquarium at different levels. Be aware that stained niches can harm your pet's health. Cancer can pick off the paint, it starts to peel off, and he can accidentally eat it. Although the paint is not toxic to humans, it can be hazardous to your pet's health. It hasn't been tested on hermit crabs anyway, so you should keep in mind that it can be harmful.
7. 7 Provide your pet with a wide diet. Hermit crabs eat carrion and need a very varied diet. Of course, you can buy special food for them, but this is not enough. Also remember that preservatives in such products can contribute to premature shedding, the appearance of various anomalies and other troubles.
8. 8 It is necessary to put in the aquarium some algae, some meat products to provide hermit crab with protein, calcium-rich foods, various worms, shrimp, fresh fruits and vegetables. Your pet also needs cellulose, which can be obtained from cork oak. Therefore, add them to the aquarium so that the hermit crab can climb and feed there. Attributes like these will make the hermit crab's environment natural and interesting. You can also add a few bunches of cannabis if it's legal in your city.
9. 9 Keep watching your new pet and enjoy!

Tips

• Feed your pet something new every day, do not offer him raw shellfish, because from them your pet can become infected with something.
• Since your aquarium is not an open environment in which "beneficial" bacteria can safely live, which prevent the disease from developing, it is better not to offer your pet raw meat at all, steam it or cook it, because raw meat can contain eggs of worms that are dangerous for hermit crab.
• Make sure your diet is high in calcium, protein, and plenty of vegetables, fruits, and algae.
• Hermit crabs usually eat very little. You might think that he hasn't eaten anything at all, but footprints in the sand near his feeder won't let you go wrong. Keep an eye on your hermit crab and how it treats certain treats.
• Find other hermit crab food lists online. Epicurean Hermit is a good source of such information. There are great tips for aspiring hermit crabs owners that you can find online.

Warnings

• Do not place the aquarium in direct sunlight. A glass aquarium can quickly overheat and make your pet sick.
• New hermit crabs take time to get used to their new home, so don't disturb your pet for at least two to three weeks after you move it into your new tank.
• Hermit crabs love to "swim" in saucers of water. This is how they balance the fluid and salt in the body. Therefore, the bowls of water should be quite deep. But do not forget to make some slope, otherwise the hermit crab may drown in these bowls.
• Never disturb a hermit crab during molting. During this time, they are most vulnerable and sensitive to stress.
• Do not use tap water, use a water conditioner that removes chloramines and heavy metals. Or use distilled water. In this case, you need to add sea salt or other electrolytes there.

What do you need

• Aquarium or other glass tank
• Two bowls of water
• Sea salt and water conditioner that removes chloramines and heavy metals from water
• Sensors for maintaining temperature and humidity
• Hills and hiding spots in the aquarium
• Safe substrate
• Cover for aquarium
• Heat source if you live in cold climates. As well as temperature measuring devices to keep track of your pet's health