How to Make a Hermit Crab Habitat

Hermit crabs are one of the most inexpensive exotic pets a person can own. For years, hermit crabs were considered to be a "throw-away" pet that would only live for a few months. This is completely inaccurate. With the proper terrarium that imitates their natural habitat, a hermit crab can live up to 30 years!

Things You'll Need

• 1 Aquarium > 20 gallons
• Aquarium reptile heating pad (1/2 the length of aquarium)
• Wetted substrate (play sand recommended)
• Cut natural sponge
• Salt water (de-chlorinated)
• Fresh water (de-chlorinated)
• Objects for hiding (branches, plastic blocks, aquarium rocks/caves)
• Different sized shells

Instructions

Make a Hermit Crab Habitat

1. Lay out your reptile heating pad wherever you are going to keep your hermit crab habitat. Plug in the heating pad and place the aquarium on top of it. The heating pad should only be 1/2 the size of the tank, this way the hermit crab has a choice of temperature.

2. Add your wetted substrate to the tank. Imitation sand is preferable. This substrate should be 4-5 inches deep.

3. Dig out four bowl shaped spaces in the sand. Three of the spaces should be shallow. One bowl should be larger so the crab/crabs can swim. In the first bowl (the larger one), put in cut sponge to simulate a ramp. Also put in several sponge "stepping stones". Finally, add salt water. Make sure that the sponges make it possible for the hermit crab to easily get out of the water.

4. Add salted water into the second bowl you dug out. This will be for drinking. Add fresh water to the third bowl. The final shallow bowl will be for food.

5. Place the objects that the crabs will use for hiding into the aquarium. You can buy artificial rocks and caves for aesthetic purposes, but if you're not worried about what the habitat looks like, you can use things like margarine containers and plastic blocks. Add natural moss wetted with salt water to these hiding areas to increase humidity in the habitat. Leave enough room so that the hermit crabs have a large exercise area.

6. Add additional shells into the habitat. This is so the hermit crabs can change their homes when they're ready. Add your hermit crab or crabs and you're ready to go.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean habitat regularly to prevent fungal and bacterial problems.

• Maintain a temperature and humidity around 75-84 degrees/percent.

• Rearrange your habitat monthly. This will break up monotony.

• Always monitor your hermit crabs if adding new crabs to the habitat.