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 Hermit crab is one of the wonderful creatures that all the pet lovers are overlook. Many people think that this animal is moving too slow and nothing to enjoy keeping them. However, it’s so unique that it can change its shell most of the time. Keeping hermit crabs may be fun!
First, remove from your mind the idea that
these creatures are very low maintenance. It's not that they require a
huge amount of your time, but they do require weekly bathing, new food
every few days, new water every day, heat, and a regularly cleaned
environment.
Habitat: A hermit crab will be very comfortable in a
10-gallon or bigger aquarium with a few inches of sand or stones at the
bottom. Two shallow dishes of water are required – one for salt water
and one for dechlorinated fresh water. You can buy additives at pet
stores in preparing each water dish. Sponges sitting in the dishes work
very well to help add humidity to the habitat.
You'll also need a thermometer and humidity gauge. The tank needs to
be between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use either an
under-tank heater, or low wattage lighting to provide heat. The
humidity must also be between 70 and 80 percent to keep your hermit
crabs healthy.
It helps to have a lid on your tank to keep in moisture, and to keep in your crabs. They can be quite the climbers!
Food: Commercial hermit crab food can be purchased at any pet
stores that sell the animal. Supplement their daily food regiment with
assorted fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, or small
pieces of fish and meat. You can also offer some pieces of cuttlebone
or boiled egg shells for calcium.
You will need to clean food dishes daily and remove any uneaten bits
of food from the tank. Also rinse and refill water dishes daily.
Shells: Be sure to provide plenty of empty shells in a
variety of sizes. Make sure to also have a variety of shells in
different shapes and styles, and with various opening sizes. You never
know what type of shell a hermit crab may like, and if a good selection
is not provided, crabs can fight over the best ones!
Bathing: Hermit crabs need to be bathed once per week to stay
healthy. (This is also a good time to clean the rest of the habitat)
Fill a bowl about one inch deep with lukewarm tap water. Very slowly
place the hermit crab feet first into the water. Often, the hermit crab
will seek shelter inside its shell during this process. As the crab
emerges, the water will go into his shell and rinse it clear of any
debris. After a few minutes of walking around, take the hermit crab out
and place it into his newly clean tank. (This may also be a good time
for a treat of fresh carrots or any other type of treat)
Cleaning the habitat: About once per month, do a thorough
cleaning with hot water. Avoid detergents and chemicals as these can be
harmful to your pets. Sand can be washed and boiled or baked to
sterilize it for re-use, if desired. Hermit Crabs are very friendly and
fun pets. While they do require a good deal of care to keep them
healthy, they are very rewarding pets and can be quite the stress
reliever. As with any pet, research should be done before you make the
decision to adopt it.
Today, popularity of keeping hermit crab is increasing! You may want to keep one.
About the author:
Tonia Jordan.
This article has been submitted in affiliation with
http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums.
Tonia Jordan is a freelance Journalist and an author at Writing.com
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