If you have any questions or concerns feel free to leave a comment or visit us on Facebook
If this is an emergency remain calm and visit Hermit Crab Owners for assistance.
You can fill out this questionnaire so you can provide detailed information and someone will help you. This will help determine the problem to a sudden issue, explain a death or review your conditions to rule out a problem. Posting a photo of your krabitat is also encouraged to solve concerns. We are here to guide and help you and your hermits.
- What type of enclosure is your krabitat, and how large is it? Can you describe your lid?
- What does your substrate consist of and how many inches deep is it? Is your substrate moist? Is it fresh water?
- What kind of hydrometer do you use to gauge the temperature and humidity? What is the average temp and RH? Where is it located in the tank?
- Do you have a heat source? If so, what kind?
- Do you use moss? If so, what kind?
- What water pools do you have available? Are they treated with water conditioner? What is your water source? Are your crabs able to fully submerge, shell and all? Please list all brands associated with your pools/water treatment.
- How many crabs do you have and what are their sizes?
- If you do not have a photo of your krabitat, can you describe what does it look like? Do you have hiding spots, climbing opportunities and other decor? What kind of decor?
- What does your hermit diet consist of and do you follow any safe or unsafe lists? Which sources are you using and where are you getting your foods?
- What type of interaction do you have with your crabs? For example, do you ever take them out of their enclosure? If so, what for and for how long?
- When and how did you obtain your crabs? Have you ever lost any? If so, explain.
- Do you have a wide selection of fitted shells available?What kind are they? Are they the correct size?
- Have there been any sort of fumes or chemicals near the tank?
- What is the maintenance and upkeep of your tank? How often do you attend it?
- Is there any other information you feel would be helpful for us to know?Please describe in clear detail what the issue.
Browse through the site and check the Emergency Guide for further assistance.
Krabitat 
Hi, I see that you have included Repashy Beach Buffet on your safe foods list. I just want to point out that three of the first five ingredients in this product are fish meals. Federal law requires any fish meal/fish scraps imported to the U.S. to contain a minimum of 1,000 PPM of Ethoxyquin prior to exportation from their country of origin. Ethoxyquin is classified as an antioxidant and pesticide and is toxic and potentially fatal to hermit crabs.
LikeLike
Thank you Lisa! Changes have been made 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was thinking about purchasing a few hermit crabs but while researching I came across a few problems. The main problem is my parents are divorced and my mom leaves on the weekends I’m not at her house so there would be no one to take care of them for a few days. I was wondering if bringing them with me and having another tank for them would cause them too much stress because of frequent moving. Another idea I had is to just take the crabitat with me but I’m not sure if even that would cause too much stress. I really want them to do well and be happy and i know they can be stressed if they move too much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Mackenzie,
It is not recommended to move tanks. Crabs burrow down to molt and this is a stressful period for them. Hermits only need to be closely supervised when recently purchased or placed in a new krabitat. When I leave town during weekends I would leave a variety of dried foods:
-bloodworms
– unsweetened coconut shreds
– dehydrated fruit
– seeds
– calcium
– millet
– a dish with coconut oil and raw honey
I assured to provide a fresh serving during the week:
– mango (fruit)
– shrimp
– oyster
– greens
And they would also feed on moss, safe woods (grapevine, cholla) and worm casting distributed throughout the soil.
An isolation tank (small 10-gallon tank) is recommended to separate if there is ever a concern of an aggressive bully or sick hermit needs to be undisturbed while you are away for the weekend.
There are also hermit group forums on Facebook, Hermit Crab Owners if you need further detailed assitance 🙂
LikeLike
Hello!
I adopted a large hermit crab from a woman a while ago, and he has been alone for five years. He has never had any issues and he has been very happy during the months I have had him and has had one successful molt. However I am concerned that he is lonely, as I’ve never had a lone hermit crab.
He is about four/five inches and is a climber who will tear apart and eat anything (but broccoli, his arch nemesis). I have never introduced hermit crabs into a crab that is already established, so I was wondering if it was worth doing, if he has been happy and does not seem to be having any issues. The tank is set up very well and we just replaced the humidifier as the old one was no longer reliable enough in my opinion, and I’m in the process of designing a second level and adding a hammock for him, as he really does love his climbing. I’m not sure where to find one large enough, and I’m scared he would bully small ones.
Thanks for your opinion and doing such a wonderful thing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Lauren!
Welcoming new hermits to a krabitat may be tricky but feasible. First, there are a few things to take in consideration.
1. Social Hermits
Hermit crabs are social by nature, and there is research that proves they may suffer depression if lonely. Accordingly, it is encouraged to introduce a tank mate.
Your crab may give signs of being ‘happier’ and active because his new tank is more comfortable than the one he had for the last five years.
2. Species
You will come across crabbers that combine different species. Most crabs are shy and will feel more comfortable with another friend of their nature.
3. Hiding Spots
My hermits always receive new crabs with a warm welcome but let’s not forget animals are unpredictable. Your crab may react excited, cautious, or disturbed. Providing hiding spots will give the crabs some time to hide and cool down if things don’t go as planned. Don’t force face to face interactions. Let them encounter one another on their own.
4. Size
My hermit crab Homer is the biggest crab of the bunch. When I pity purchased a tiny crab from a souvenir shop, I worried Homer would gobble him up. From my experience the big ones tend to be gentle giants, it is the small ones that are feisty little peppers. You will soon discover crabs have their unique personalities no matter their size.
5. Supervise
In the event of a fight, you can separate them by dangling a cloth over them. Avoid reaching in or pulling them apart to prevent injury on yourself and your hermies.
6. Space
4-5 inches is a big size for a hermit. You will need a tank over 20 gallons so it will not feel crowded.
I would say decorating a tank is the best part of owning hermits. I would suggest introducing the crab(s) once you are done setting up. There will be less of a commotion as new hermits like to molt right away. Rearranging the decor differently will set a new environment for all crabs, and your current hermit will feel less dominant to guard its territory.
I personally find humidifiers unnecessary. They can also be prone to flooding the tank with time. Wet moss and a hydrometer to monitor the tank do the trick.
As for the hammock, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, this is a great opportunity to get creative and knit/build/create your own.
Last but not least, feed your hermit a well-rounded diet beforehand. Happy crabs lead to a happy tank. I own some picky eaters as well, keep introducing new veggies until you discover their favorites. Papaya, mango, spirulina, popcorn, and spinach is always a hit in the tank.
Thank you for reaching out and learning more about hermits. I hope you find all this information helpful and never hesitate to ask questions and keep learning.
LikeLiked by 1 person