Keeping Hermit Crabs in Hervey Bay as Pets
The Australian land hermit crab is endemic to northern parts of Australia including the Northern Territory and Northern Queensland.
Queensland hermit crabs are light brown to pale brown in colour, with two dark ovals on the front of the head. Their eye stalks are long and are the same colour as their body. Each claw has a dark vertical stripe. They have dark brown spots all over the legs. The abdomen is short and fat.
As the hermit crabs grow, they must exchange their shell for larger ones. Since intact gastropod shells are not an unlimited resource, there is frequently strong competition for the available shells, with hermit crabs fighting over shells.
The availability of empty shells depends on the abundance of the gastropods and hermit crabs, but most importantly on the frequency of organisms that predate on gastropods but leave the shells intact.
A hermit crab with a shell, which is too tight, cannot grow as fast as hermit crabs with well-fitting shells and is more likely to be eaten. Although hermit crabs need to change shells regularly, they will not abandon their old shell unless they have larger and newer ones to change into and unless they feel safe.
Most species are Aquatic and live in varying depths of salt water, from shallow reefs and shorelines to deep-sea bottoms. Tropical areas host some terrestrial species, though even those have aquatic larvae and therefore need access to water for reproduction. Most hermit crabs are nocturnal.
One of Hervey Bay’s most popular pets at Pet World is Saltwater Hermit Crabs:
Note “They must not be kept in Water “
They are an awesome choice of a pet because they do not reproduce with any success at home. The best ones purchased are after (shedding of the outer shell) moulting, this is a sign of them growing, which means they are really healthy. Their old shells or skins are left in the tanks as the hermit crabs eat these for nutrition.
To really enjoy your pet hermit crab it takes a little time and effort to prepare their perfect home.
A few species do not use a “mobile home” and inhabit immobile structures left by polychaete worms, vermetid gastropods, corals and sponges. Natural sponges, dampened regularly will provide the crabs with another source of water and food and will also provide a source of water to help create a humid environment.
Humidity isn’t possible without heat. Hermit crabs are cold-blooded and require an external, constant heat source. An ideal temperature range is between 24-27degrees C. Under tank heaters work the best. These are buried under the sand and should be connected to a thermostat. Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature. Heaters are mainly sold for reptiles but work well for hermit crabs. Overhead lamps will only serve to dry out the tank, killing the crabs. Use a small water mister to spray a fine sheen of water on the tank’s sides to provide moisture for a humid environment. The crabs themselves don’t seem to mind a spray too.
Spare Shells
Spare shells are vitally important. If you’ve provided the right environment, the crabs will grow. If they don’t grow they will die.
Examine the crabs and provide enough shells for each to grow into during its next moult. Use those shells with round openings, not elongated slits.
The hole of each subsequent shell should be about 1/3 to 1/2 as large as the crab’s current one. Just scatter the shells around the sand. Once the crabs have regained their strength after moulting, they will hop out of their old shell and search around for another that fits. Keep the old exoskeleton in the tank, it is a source of nutrition and the crabs will eat it.
Hermit crabs love a variety of food and can be offered pellets, cereal, shredded coconut, and a variety of fruits.
All fruit should be kept fresh and the old fruit removed.
Absolutely Fish and Pets can show you the right pellets that are specially formulated to provide all the nutrients required for a hermit crabs diet.
It is also essential to provide two bowls of water (sturdy non-tipping) – one salt water and one fresh water. The fresh water is for drinking and the salt water is for bathing.
Tank Setup
Cover the bottom of the tank with at least a 5cm layer of clean, dry sand. Anything that mimics the crab’s natural habitat is best, so use cleaned beach sand if you can.
The crabs love to climb and clamber over objects so put in pieces of dried driftwood, barnacles or other beach-like ornaments which will allow the crabs to scramble around. Hermit crabs are deceptively good climbers and can even escape by climbing up the silicon seals at the edges of the tank. To prevent this and to help create a more stable, humid environment, place a lid over the top of the tank. Many tanks come with fitted, partially ventilated lids.
