by Karen Reams

Created on: May 12, 2008

Land hermit crabs are fast becoming the "in" pet. They are easy to care for, inexpensive and fascinating to watch. It is best to have more than one land hermit crab as they do get lonely and this loneliness can cause them to die.

My family has 2 land hermit crabs, Sebastian Jr. and Frank and we spend many a happy hour watching them and playing with them.

Where do they come from?

Let's take a look at Land Hermit Crabs and where they hail from.

Land hermit crabs are found throughout the Western Atlantic, throughout the Caribbean and the southern tip of Florida.

Land Hermit Crabs live near water, but they only return to the sea to lay their eggs. They are decapods crustaceans, which means that they have 10 legs, the same as a shrimp. Land Hermit Crabs, unlike their similar cousin the Sea hermit Crab, will only survive if they have dry land. If a Land Hermit Crab gets left in the water for too long it will die.

After saying that, though, Land Hermit Crabs do require moisture. Land Crabs breathe through gills, and for these to work they have to remain moist. So, to keep a Land hermit Crab healthy just place a natural sponge in the cage and keep it moist. A moist sponge will not only keep the crab most but will also give a higher humidity that crabs like.

A long with a moist sponge, it is important to provide fresh drinking water for your crab. All you will need is a small dish in the cage. If you use a deep dish the crab may tumble into it and may drown. In fact, a small scallop type shell works well and is attractive.

What do they eat?

It is not difficult to feed Land Hermit Crabs as they are scavengers by nature and will eat just about anything that is available. Captivity does not seem to curb this instinct. Left overs such as, lettuce, fruit, vegetables and peanut butter will be much appreciated. You can buy commercial foods for Land Hermit Crabs, and they do serve a purpose. Commercial foods will contain sea salt and other grains and minerals that are good for the diet of a Land Hermit Crab.

What about their shells?

Land Hermit Crabs do not come 'with' their shell. They have a life-long search for shells as they have extremely soft abdomens that need protection. In the wild this protection, usually ends up as an empty seashell, which will provide great protection as well as helping to retain moisture for the gills.

Once a land Hermit Crab finds the perfect shell he will be able to close up in the shell, and its large claw will totally block the opening.

One shell will not suffice, as the crab grows it will need to find larger protection. In a cage of Land hermit Crabs you will need to keep larger spare shells. When it is time for a change the crab will check out the other shells and will then swap within a 24-48 hour period.

When providing shells to change into check out the size of the opening. The crab will need a new shell that has a larger opening than the one he is in. Some larger shells will in fact have smaller openings. The opening should be about the same size as the crabs large claw.

Source: Owner experience

Wikipedia

www.hermit-crabs.com

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