Hermit crabs

[DisneyAddict_M]

DD really wants a couple of hermit crabs. Since we live in a cat-and-dog-free apartment building (except for the people across the hall who have a cat and are apparently above the rules *ahem*), I figured they would be the perfect pets.

Unfortunately, I know nothing about them. What's their life span? I wouldn't have to touch them, would I? (stop laughing) Do they change shells often? Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

 

[DVCLiz]

DD really wants a couple of hermit crabs. Since we live in a cat-and-dog-free apartment building (except for the people across the hall who have a cat and are apparently above the rules *ahem*), I figured they would be the perfect pets.

Unfortunately, I know nothing about them. What's their life span? I wouldn't have to touch them, would I? (stop laughing) Do they change shells often? Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Sorry, your "wouldn't have to touch them" comment is too funny, because it sounds just like me!!!

I don't know much about them - I got DD one last year for Christmas, because she thought they were neat and she wanted a new pet. Ours very obligingly died two weeks later - just long enough for her to have lost interest and turn it over to me for care and feeding...

Best pet we ever had.

 

[luvmy2sams]

We bought DD a hermit crab, Sebastian, back in 2003. The pet store guy said he would live for about 6 months to maybe a year if we were lucky. Sebastian died last week.

Hermit crabs are very social creatures and supposedly do better when they live with other crabs. At one point we had 4 crabs in a big tank, but I think Sebastian preferred to live alone. The other crabs would die within a couple of months, but Sebastian was a resilient little guy. They're very low maintenance. For the majority of his life, Sebastian was in a small tank (those plastic ones with the handles). We used sand for bedding, so he'd have something to dig it, and we had a coconut shell for him to hide inside, as well as a piece of some sort of wood (can't remember what it's called) for him to climb on. Hermit crabs also need humidity so we kept a moist sponge in his tank and used a small light that came with his tank. We'd change the sand out every few weeks. He ate typical hermit crab food pellets...don't buy the other kind because it stinks! as well as popcorn and fruit (especially grapes). When we changed out his food, water, etc. we would spray him with a mister to make sure that he wasn't getting dried out.

Some hermit crabs change shells a lot. Sebastian never did that more than 3 or 4 times, but it's a good idea to have several clean, empty shells in the tank so they can shop around. The most dangerous time for crabs are when they molt. You might think they've died because they grow an entirely new body, and the old one just falls out of the shell. Don't throw it away, though, because the crabs eat it. By the way, you'll know when they die because it smells awful!

I think that covers the basics. Any other questions, feel free to ask or PM.

 

[Jennifer S]

VERY easy pet to have- just wet a sponge. Ours lasted about 8 months - the second one about 2 weeks. Then we got a dog- see my sig?

 

[Karel]

We had hermit crabs for well over a year. They are interesting little creatures. We kept our in an aquarium with sand on the bottom and a screen lid. We used seashells for water and food. There are hermit crab accesories you can buy in the pet stores. Keep some different size shells in the cage for them to move into when ready.

If you see the skin laying there someday, it does not mean that hermit crab has died. Check the other shells and see if it shed its skin.

They are easy creatures to care for. Just make sure they have food and water and spray them a couple of times a day.
My kids took them out to play with - let them crawl around on the table or floor.

 

[Sthronds]

I think that Luv2MySams had some wonderful advice for you. When I was teaching I bought 2 for my classroom. We did research first and they had to pass a test before they could handle them. I just bought the basic set from the local pet store and some sand. I also bought a light that would provide heat. I studied online and had a little book to give me as much info as I could. I would recommend you do that. As far as touching them, I just picked them up by the shell and as long as one of their body parts didn't touch me, I was fine. I passed them on to another teacher when I left the school so I am not sure what happened to them but they were cute little guys.

 

[Tinijocaro]

They are nocturnal- sleep all day. If your dd goes to bed early, it's going to be a very boring pet for her.

Jackie

 

[ChrisnSteph]

They're cute, fun, somewhat low maintenance - but they STINK!!

 

[wuv tigger]

tries to attach it to the tassles on a roller shade, DON'T let them.

You can actually pull them out of their shell by trying to "rescue" them. Good thing my best friend is a vet tech and told me how to get it go back in the shell.

That's my only experience w/ hermit crabs & I must say my last.

Judy

 

[ZebraStripes]

I'm thinking about one (or 2) of these for my DD10. I got a lot of info here Hermit crabs

 

[tmt martins]

They are great little pets that you can play with or not.

To get them to come out on your hand put them in your palm spray alittle water and they will walk right to the water .(it the salt from your hand that attracts them )

The biggest MISTAKE people make is the think they are DEAD when they are just molting .This is important not to touch them why they are doing this but leave alone for a few days they are both fragil in mind and body during this time.

We've had them molt and live for years and have had others die in a few months .

WE got them at the beach the local fairs and at pet store and they all seem hit or miss on the living time.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Thanks for the info everyone. I'm going to save this thread for when (if?) I go through with it. DD goes to bed fairly late (for a 4 year old anyway ) and no one is home during the day, so a nocturnal pet is fine. I'll be sure to keep it away from a roller shade, lol. Thanks again!

 

[Lil_Tink]

tries to attach it to the tassles on a roller shade, DON'T let them.

You can actually pull them out of their shell by trying to "rescue" them. Good thing my best friend is a vet tech and told me how to get it go back in the shell.

That's my only experience w/ hermit crabs & I must say my last.

Judy

I see your hermit crabs are in the big sand castle in the sky now.