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Hermit Crab Lovers Help! How Does My Habitat Sound?

By Aquaboy on Tuesday, July 5th, 2011 | 1 Comment

I recently got 2 medium-sized hermies from Petco and I just wanted to make sure they have a suitable habitat. this is how I set it up…
-Clean, 10 gallon fish tank with lid to keep in heat and humidity.
-4 inch deep Eco Earth substrate on half of the tank and 4 inch deep hermit crab sand on the other.
-Hamster half log made of wood for a hidey hut and a climbing toy. (I plan to get some cholla wood soon also for them to climb on.)
-Natural shells in various sizes to change into. (unfortunately the crabs came in painted shells that I’m waiting for them to switch out of)
-Saltwater dish with sponge and 3/4 inch deep water that I change daily and a freshwater sponge. (Do they also need a freshwater dish?)
-Diet of half hermit crab pellets and half fresh food consisting of grapes, bits of ham, carrots, and Ritz crackers.
-A tank heating pad on one side of the tank and a lamp that gives off heat and light on the other.
-A water mister bottle that I spray their tank with twice a day for added humidity.
Does that sound alright?
I also have a couple questions.. First, I don’t have a thermometer or a humidity gauge but when I stick my hand in their tank it’s noticably hotter and wetter. As long as I maintain that, do I really need one? And lastly, they’re having a blast digging big tunnels under their substrate all day. Is this normal behavior or are they getting ready to molt?
Thank you!!

What Is And Where Can I Purchase The Best Food To Feed A Blue Crab In An Aquarium?

By Aquaboy on Tuesday, June 28th, 2011 | 1 Comment

Is there any manufactured food for blue crabs on the market? Where can I purchase it? What food in the wild is best food to feed blue crabs in an aquarium. They are sloppy eaters and polute the water quickly when they eat fish or almost anything. Any Ideas?

Q&A: how do you say “hermit crab” in Italian?

By Aquaboy on Tuesday, June 28th, 2011 | 4 Comments

Question by Terra_chan: how do you say “hermit crab” in Italian?

Best answer:

Answer by goombajoe
granchio di eremita

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Is My Hermit Crab “Kit” Going To Work Well?

By Aquaboy on Sunday, June 26th, 2011 | 2 Comments

Question by CaKeS: Is My Hermit Crab “Kit” Going To Work Well?
So I’m getting two hermit crabs soon, and I was wondering if any experienced hermit crab owners will be able to help me out and suggest other actions if what I’m planning on getting isn’t good enough. Also, what sexes should I get? A male and female? Because I heard they don’t usually breed in captivity, and I’m guessing boys will fight more often. (Aside from the list of what I’m buying below, I’m also going to get branches and sticks from my woods, and perhaps some rocks and roots for climbing)

Here’s a list of what I’m buying:
1. Extra Shells (Small/Medium/Large)

2. Two Coconut Huts (From store, not home made)

3. Sand Substrate

4. Jungle Substrate

5. Hermit Crab Deodorizing Spray [http://www.petdiscounters.com/Hermit-Crab-Deodorizing-Spray_p_10242.html]

6. Hermit Crab Safe Soak & Spray [http://www.petdiscounters.com/Hermit-Crab-Safe-Soak-Spray_p_12524.html]

6. Thermometer & Hygrometer

7. Stress Coat – 4oz Bottle [http://www.petdiscounters.com/Stress-Coat--4-ounce-bottle_p_10961.html]

8. Sponges (for humidity)

…Also, will conditioning their water with Safe Soak & Spray AND Stress Coat make it dangerous? Or healthier? Because the Safe Soak & Spray conditions water for drinking and bathing, and the Stress Coat is supposed to keep their stress down by covering them with a protective layer (see the product by following it’s link).

Thanks for your time, I also have a couple other specific questions:

-Where can I get a low-powered, nocturnal (red) heating lamp? (I read they need a temperature from 72-80)

-If I use Safe Soak & Spray, should I spray them daily? Or once every couple days?

-If the humidity is low, but I already sprayed them today, should I just refill sponges and water supplies, or just spray them again?

-If the temperature in their room changes some times (usually get’s colder at night), what do I do? Put the heating lamp closer to them?

-Personal Suggestion: What do you believe is the best food for them? (I heard they like fruits and vegetables for treats, but I mean packaged food)

-If I used Windex to clean the tank, should I wash it out with water a couple times to prevent any chemicals?

….Thanks for all your help! Sorry for all the questions, but I really want to be a successful hermit crab owner. And I don’t want them to die from stress or other climate control problems. Thanks! And have a nice day!

Best answer:

Answer by RattiesRule!
I would say:
Make sure to get a water spray bottle. You can get them for only 1$ at some places and I spray the walls of the tank twice a day because there is low humidity levels at my house. Make sure your tank is big enough for the two crabs, 10 gallon (aquarium) at least. I had 4 crabs and they had a 30 gallon so they could roam around. Crabs aren’t happy in small spaces, you have to consider their wild environment.

Also, I’ve never seen a pet store that separates male and female crabs. In fact, it’s almost impossible to tell if a crab is male/female from what I’ve seen. It should not make much of a difference whether they are male or female. Just for names!

‘Safe Soak and Spray’ says it is developed to do all the stuff you said and relieve some stress. I don’t think you’ll need the Stress coat. My hermies did fine without it. Remember these animals like to be independent and live fine in the wild.

In addition to what you’ve listed, get 2 dishes for water/sponge, and food. I do not have a personal favorite for food, but FMR and Zoo-Med are some of the best.

I have no idea where to get a low-powered red heating lamp. Look around at big pet stores would probably be your best bet, after shopping online.

If you are already treating their water with Safe Soak & Spray, I think twice a week would be sufficient. If you do not use a commercial cleansing agent, even just soaking them in water (NOT TAP) every other day fills their shells with extra water for humidity.

I think the minor temperature change (within 2 C) will not harm them but if you are worried you could put the heating lamp a little closer. Don’t get them overheated though.

Don’t use Windex to clean the tank please. The little crabs do not enjoy chemicals that are not specifically designed to help them. A little soap and water should be okay if you wash it out 3 times or more after wards. The bigger tank you get, the more time you have in between cleanings, the more healthy the crabs will be.

Good luck with your crabs! Have a nice day! :) Oh, I almost forgot–
1. don’t get the shell waterers, the crabs tip them over. and
2. Get a driftwood piece for them to climb on. You can lean it against the tank and one of my crabs LOVED to climb on it, we called him Birdie ( then he switched to a spiked shell so we renamed him Spike :) )

What do you think? Answer below!

Is the “hermit crab” the new voice of Christianity?

By Aquaboy on Wednesday, May 25th, 2011 | 4 Comments

Question by Win Noble: Is the “hermit crab” the new voice of Christianity?
I keep seeing his comments such as, “The bible is 100% scientifically accurate” and my recent favorite, a comment on atheists “living in a fairy tale.”

I hope its a fake profile. No one can say those things with a straight face… right?

Best answer:

Answer by st.aliaoftheknife
Haven’t seen that guy, but there are regulars who post the same.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Please Help! Hermit Crab Questions?

By Aquaboy on Sunday, May 22nd, 2011 | 6 Comments

I’m going to get a hermit crab from PetCo on Sunday. I’ve had hermit crabs before but they don’t live very long. i kept them in one of those wire mesh cages, and i think they died because it was too cold and not humid enough, so i’m planning to keep this one in a glass aquarium (an new one that hasn’t been used). my questions are:
1. what size tank should i use? would a 2.5 gallon be big enough or should i get a 5 gallon?
2. what substrate should i use? I’ve used sand before but when i mist the crab the sand gets all wet and gets the crab all sandy, so I prefer not to use sand. can i use the coconut husk stuff?
3. my room is kinda cold (like 65-70 degrees) so do i need a heat lamp/heating pad? which is better? and if i use a lamp what watt light bulb should i use for a 2.5 or 5 gallon aquarium?
4. can i keep one crab by himself or do they need company?
5. what brand of food do you recommend? and what fresh fruits, vegetables, etc can i feed him??
6. i know that chlorine is bad for crabs so I’m going to use PetCo hermit crab water, but they have it with or without salt. which is better?
thanks for your help! :-D

My Crab In My Marine Tank Has Discolored?

By Aquaboy on Friday, May 20th, 2011 | 2 Comments

I have a clown fish and a damsel and cleaner shrimp,hermit crabs they are fine in color but my sally light-foot crab has discolored
I always make sure the water is changed weekly and use tropic marine salt reef pro
check for nitrate,nitrite,pH,ammonia
The only thing i can think of is as the bloke said in the shop use proper Ro water from the shop and check for copper as i am only been using it out of a Aquaworld Compact RO (Reverse Osmosis) Unit and have not changed the filters since i brought it about three months ago.
I have also changed the carbon in my fluval 205 witch he said change every three months?
But has only been two day since i changed and still no difference in color
I have a v2 nano skimmer vecton 120 nano UV sterilizer two power-heads for water movement live rock and has been running for 10 months
I did have a blood shrimp before the crab and he discolored two kept molting eventually died but my cleaner shrimp is ok.
Thanks for looking Danny

Why is my hermit crab “leaking”?

By Aquaboy on Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 | 1 Comment

Question by springfairy556: Why is my hermit crab “leaking”?
When holding my crabs sometimes, clear water like stuff leaks out from them. I thought at first, water, but no its not. Then I thought pee, but I just read that they pee so little that you wouldn’t notice. And when my crab leaks its always noticable because it lands on my hands. Sometimes it happens when his mouth is open.
what does that link have to do with my question! 1 I hate those type of sites. 2. They are not about my question.

Best answer:

Answer by Miss A
umm thats discusting.. lol

http://teengirlsdiary-jade.blogspot.com/

Add your own answer in the comments!

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