Why Hermit Crabs Make Great Pets

Hermit crabs have been kept as pets for quite sometime now. However, they have become increasingly popular over the last few years or so. Hermit crab lovers everywhere have made an elaborate hobby of raising hermit crabs. Some just have room for one or twocrabbies.

Others have a veritable colony of these creatures. This newfound love of hermit crabs as pets is not surprising, considering that these crazy crustaceans called hermit crabs make great pets. There are several reasons hermit crabs make great pets. They are fascinating creatures, they are low cost, and there are many options to choose from in regard to their environments and care.

Due to several reasons, hermit crabs make fantastic pets, including

First and foremost, hermit crabs make excellent pets because they are such fascinating creatures. Living in a shell that provides them shelter, they can come out for a peak at the world around them or they can use their large claw as an iron-clad door, to keep the world out.

They are active little animals, climbing over anything and everything in their path. If something is in their way, they move it without any trouble. Each hermit crab has his or her own personality, whether they are shy, extremely active, or a fan of wading in their water. Hermit crabs, in my opinion, are some of the fascinating creatures you can own.

Another reason that hermit crabs make great pets is that they are relatively low-cost pets. If you are looking around for a pet and one of the factors you are basing your choice on is cost, a purebred puppy, a horse, or an exotic bird is not the pet for you.

These types of pets can cost thousands of dollars just to purchase; when you begin to think about food, shelter, and vet bills for the upkeep of the pet, the cost skyrockets out of control. These types of pets can become very costly. Hermit crabs cost you anywhere from $4.00 – $20.00 per crab.

This is as opposed to pure bred pit bull puppies, which can cost you upwards of $1500 dollars or even more. If you are looking for a small, cheap pet and won’t get in the way of your life, hermit crabs most definitely be an option for you as a pet.

Hermit crabs are awesome pets because, if you do have the money to set up an elaborate crab environment, there are many options to choose from. You can choose to have many hermit crabs and create a type of colony. You can also choose several different environments for them.

From a large pond container to a 10-gallon aquarium, depending on the number of crabs you have and your budget, you are free to choose what type of home your hermit crab will live in.

Also, with the right amount of money to spend, you can get all of the best equipment, including a substrate, climbing toys for your hermit crab’s exercise, as well as a variety of different foods and treats. You will never run out of different things to do with your crab or to buy for your crab. They can also live up to more than 20 years, so you can have a good friend for a long time.

You can easily create a habitat for your pet hermit crab at your home. The crabs can be either land hermit crabs or saltwater crabs. Based on which one you have or thinking of buying, you’ll have to plan the habitat for them.

First, let’s learn how to prepare a good habitat for the land crabs

You’ll build a great sand tank for your pet. At first, get a large tank with a minimum of 60 litre of capacity. This is the least size you should go for two hermit crabs. If you have more than two, select a larger tank. Never go for plastic tanks as they can’t proper environment for the crabs. Also ensure the tank have a good lid to prevent the crabs from getting out.

Then create a thin layer of eco earth on the bottom of the tank. On top of that create substrate with play sand. Though you have multiple options, play sand is the best for crabs. That’s because they most of their time burrowing the ground. However, the general rule is to cover 40 to 50 percent of the tank with sand.

It gives them enough space to dig & create tunnels. Then add 7-10 hermit crab shells inside for each pair of crabs. Some natural logs will also be a sound addition. Like every other animal, pet hermit crabs also require a specific temperature to stay healthy. Usually, 24° to 28° is the best range. You should use an under-tank heater to control the temperature.

Now, let’s learn how to create a habitat for saltwater hermit crabs

The rule for choosing the tank is the same as the land hermit crab. However, here you don’t need sands. Cover at least 50 to 60 percent of the tank with saltwater. For every 4 litres of water, mix with 120 grams of sea salt. Ensure that the mix is free of chlorine.

The best way is to purchase pre-mixed saltwater from pet stores. Also, purchase pH paper to test the pH of the war regularly. Keep it between 8.00 to 8.4. Get a nitrate paper too for testing the nitrate in the water, which should be at least 10 ppm.

It’s essential that you follow these rules to keep your pet safe. Saltwater hermit crabs are sensitive animals. If the balance of water is not good, it may feel poisonous to them. So, strictly follow the rules. One more thing, the gravity of the inside should be around 1.021 to 1.028. You can test it with a hydrometer scale.

There are many reasons the pet hermit crab boom is picking up. They are fascinating pets, they are low cost and low maintenance, and there are many options to choose from as far as setting up and maintaining their habitats. Overall, hermit crabs, with all their different little personalities, are terrific pets.