How to Bathe and Clean Your Pet Hermit Crab

A weekly bath removes debris from the claws and shell of your pet hermit crab. Bathing is a way for kids to participate in the care of their crab. It also encourages your hermit crab to become active. Use any small container for your hermit crab's new bath.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dish
• De-chlorinated water

1. Fill the dish with 1/2 inch of lukewarm de=chlorinated water. Distilled water and water with de=chlorinator (conditioner) added are both acceptable.

2. Put your hermit crab into the bath slowly and gently, lifting it by the back of the shell.

3. Move your hermit crab around the bath in a delicate motion to help remove debris, but don't leave your hermit crab in the bath for more than 1 minute.

4. Remove your hermit crab from the bath. Allow it to walk around on a dry surface for a few minutes so that it can dry off. Supervise your hermit crab while it dries so that it doesn't crawl off a high surface (like a table).

5. Place your hermit crab back into its enclosure.

Tips & Warnings

• Use less water if your crab is particularly small.
• Don't fill the bath with more than 1/2 inch of water. Hermit crabs are land crabs, and they may drown in deeper water. Never submerge your hermit crab in water.
• Don't bathe your hermit crab more than once a week. Hermit crabs bathe on their own when water is provided in their environment. Bathing them too frequently can cause stress to your crab.