How to Maintain Humidity in a Pet Hermit Crab Habitat

Maintaining a high humidity level in your hermit crabs' habitat is essential for their health and well being. Hermit crabs have gills to breathe, and you must keep the gills moist so they can work properly. Maintaining the proper humidity level simply requires that you remember to maintain the humidity daily.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Water dish
• Natural sponge
• Humidity gauge
• De-chlorinated water

1. Keep a fresh clean dish of water in the hermit crabs' habitat at all times. The dish should be shallow enough to allow the crabs to get in and out of it anytime they want to.
2. Place a natural sponge in a shallow dish of water if you need additional humidity. This way, the sponge will stay moist throughout the day and help keep the air humid.
3. Wash out the dishes of water and the sponge daily by rinsing under warm water. You should always make sure that the levels of bacteria in the hermit crabs' habitat is at a minimum.
4. Fill a small spray bottle with water. This bottle should emit a mist and not a hard spray or stream of water. Mist your crabs once or twice a day. On each occasion, only spray them once.
5. Place a humidity gauge in the tank. Make sure the humidity level remains between 70 and 80 percent humidity. A humidity level below 70 percent could suffocate your crabs, while a humidity level of over 80 percent could stimulate the growth of fungus that could damage the animals.
6. Close off more of the habitat lid if you are having a hard time maintaining a proper humidity level. This will help keep more moisture from escaping.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use de-chlorinated water in your crabs' habitat. Chlorine will damage their delicate gills.