How to Groom a Pet Hermit Crab

By eHow Pets Editor

Rate: (5 Ratings)

Grooming your hermit crab can be a fun experience for both you and your crab. A simple, weekly bath helps to maintain your crab's health, cleanliness and aid in its development. Give your crab a bath to help it to maintain its shell and body.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Plastic containers
  • Paper towel
  • Tepid water
  • Dechlorinating solution

Step1
Choose 2 containers to bathe and dry your crab. Select containers that are non-metallic and big enough to accommodate your crab. Suitable containers are dishes and plastic containers.

Step2
Line one container with a paper towel.


Step3
Pour tepid water into the other container.
Step4
Dechlorinate the water.
Step5
Add any special ingredients to the water. Pet shops often sell special hermit crab bathing supplements that aid in a crab's grooming, bathing and development.
Step6
Place your crab in the water in an upside-down position.

Step7
Wait 2 to 3 minutes as your crab sits in the water.

Step8
Watch your crab emerge from its shell and sit in an upright position. The crab's movements cause the water to undulate inside the shell and debris to be expelled from it.
Step9
Remove your crab from the container of water.



Step10
Hold your crab over the water as the excess water drips off its shell and body.


Step11
Put your hermit crab in the container lined with a paper towel and allow it to dry off completely.
Step12
Replace your hermit crab in its habitat.

Tips & Warnings

  • Never use chemicals or detergents when grooming your hermit crab. Crabs are very sensitive to chemicals and contact with them can be poisonous.
  • A lengthy submergence in water can cause your hermit crab to drown. Do not leave your submerged hermit crab unattended for more than the length of time that it takes to bathe it.

Comments

| View All Comments
Flag This Comment

on 4/27/2008 This is also known as Bathing your Crab and is NOT RECOMMEND by Hermit Crab owners all over the globe!!!
i've have had hemit crabs for 6 years and learn this "grooming" Stress your crab and may kill it!

View All

Post a Comment

POST A COMMENT

Request a New How-To Article

Looking for more How To information? Chances are there’s an eHow member who knows how to do what you’re looking to do. Submit an article request now!

eHow Article:  How to Groom a Pet Hermit Crab

eHow Pets Editor

eHow Pets Editor

Category: Pets

Articles: See my other articles

Related Ads