Bringing Home New Crabs
When picking out your first crab(s) or adding to your existing colony there are a few important things to be on the lookout for. I'll start with those who do not own hermit crabs yet.
Picking out your First Crabs!
You should only purchase/adopt hermit crabs if your tank has been setup for at least 1 full week and is the correct temperature 80 degrees F/80% humidity!
So now that your tank is ready to go it's time to pick out the hermits! I highly suggest looking online in your area for hermit crabs for adoption, these crabs need to most help than the one's in the pet stores. You can normally get them Free and often times people will include supplies. Check online but be safe who you get your crabs from and remember to bring a buddy and meet in a safe place only!
If you must get your hermits from the pet store the top chains in the US, Petco, Petsmart & Pets Supplies Plus all carry land hermit crabs both Purple Pinchers/Clypeatus and Ecuadorians/Compressus. Petco and Pets Supplies Plus Currently sells hermits in painted and natural shells. Petsmart carries only PP's in Natural Shells. If you purchase a hermit in a painted shell check to see that the paint is not chipping or coming off and make sure to have at least 10+ shells for that crab to change into and remove/throw out the painted shell ASAP. Never force a hermit from a shell or try to pull it out. Some crabs will stay in their painted shells for months before they decide to change, this is normal and you'll just have to wait or iso that crab until it changes.
If you decide to purchase online (not suggested for beginners) There are several exotic species for sale though these species require more advanced conditions than the PP's and E's do. A Beginner should always start with Purple Pinchers for a beginning hermit. They are very colorful, active and easy going and easy to care for. See the different species here
Once you find the crab you like make sure it appears to look healthy, most healthy crabs have a dark color, hairy legs and appear very active. Some crabs will be scared and will be inside their shells, just give them time to come out by holding them in your hand for a minute. Unhealthy crabs can appear lethargic, it's antennae will be damaged or moving in opposite directions, it could be missing legs and/or eye's and be very slow moving, these are also symptoms of crabs that are extremely stressed, sick or dying. If you see a crab that is very dull looking they are in need of a molt and may or may not live once you purchase it, this has happened where you buy a dull colored crab and it either molts fine or dies before making it's molting cave. Never ask the pet stores for advice and make sure they put your crab(s) in a plastic container with moist paper towel or you can bring your own carrier to the store with some sand in it and moist moss for the ride home.
So now that your tank is ready to go it's time to pick out the hermits! I highly suggest looking online in your area for hermit crabs for adoption, these crabs need to most help than the one's in the pet stores. You can normally get them Free and often times people will include supplies. Check online but be safe who you get your crabs from and remember to bring a buddy and meet in a safe place only!
If you must get your hermits from the pet store the top chains in the US, Petco, Petsmart & Pets Supplies Plus all carry land hermit crabs both Purple Pinchers/Clypeatus and Ecuadorians/Compressus. Petco and Pets Supplies Plus Currently sells hermits in painted and natural shells. Petsmart carries only PP's in Natural Shells. If you purchase a hermit in a painted shell check to see that the paint is not chipping or coming off and make sure to have at least 10+ shells for that crab to change into and remove/throw out the painted shell ASAP. Never force a hermit from a shell or try to pull it out. Some crabs will stay in their painted shells for months before they decide to change, this is normal and you'll just have to wait or iso that crab until it changes.
If you decide to purchase online (not suggested for beginners) There are several exotic species for sale though these species require more advanced conditions than the PP's and E's do. A Beginner should always start with Purple Pinchers for a beginning hermit. They are very colorful, active and easy going and easy to care for. See the different species here
Once you find the crab you like make sure it appears to look healthy, most healthy crabs have a dark color, hairy legs and appear very active. Some crabs will be scared and will be inside their shells, just give them time to come out by holding them in your hand for a minute. Unhealthy crabs can appear lethargic, it's antennae will be damaged or moving in opposite directions, it could be missing legs and/or eye's and be very slow moving, these are also symptoms of crabs that are extremely stressed, sick or dying. If you see a crab that is very dull looking they are in need of a molt and may or may not live once you purchase it, this has happened where you buy a dull colored crab and it either molts fine or dies before making it's molting cave. Never ask the pet stores for advice and make sure they put your crab(s) in a plastic container with moist paper towel or you can bring your own carrier to the store with some sand in it and moist moss for the ride home.
New Arrival!
Once you get your crab(s) home you will need to mixed up some warm dechlorinated saltwater to let it soak in. You can put a little water in a tupperware container but only enough where the crab can breathe and not be totally submerged.
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New crabs are normally thirsty, scared and very hungry so make sure to offer them plenty of fresh foods, both fresh and salt water and to leave them alone in their new home or iso tank. Never add new crabs to your existing tank for a few days to let them adjust to their new surroundings. It's not common but some hermits from the 3 major pet store could have a chance of having mites. Mites can also cause stress and live on the bodies and in the shells of hermit crabs, the mites are found on the crabs in the wild and can live on the crabs even when they arrive at the pet store. There are ways to treat hermit crab mites you can find this under our navigation on our home page.
After your crab has eat/drank and de stressed and appears to have no mites they can be added to your main tank, unless you had them in the main tank already. An Iso tank is a smaller version of the main crabitat to temporary house sick or molting crabs that need to be away from the others.
After your crab has eat/drank and de stressed and appears to have no mites they can be added to your main tank, unless you had them in the main tank already. An Iso tank is a smaller version of the main crabitat to temporary house sick or molting crabs that need to be away from the others.
All Photo(s)/Content Copyright June Girardi/Hermit Crab Landing and May Not Be Used/Distributed in Anyway Without Approval
