How to Bathe Hermit Crabs

Hermit crabs need regular baths to clean away the dried-on food and waste materials that can get stuck to them. Hermit crabs in the wild usually live near water and walk through it occasionally to prevent any dirt and food particles from building up. This can be recreated at home for the same purpose.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Bowl
• Water
• Water dechlorination chemical

Bathe Your Crab

1. Place the hermit crab in a bowl or a casserole dish to keep him from climbing the walls and getting loose. Something wth smooth sides will prevent him from being able to climb.
2. Treat a small quantity of water for the hermit crab’s bath. There are a couple of products on the market that are meant specifically for treating water for hermit crabs. The chemicals take the chlorine out of the water to make it safer for the crab. If the hermit crab products aren’t available, a similar aquarium product such as Stress Coat will accomplish the same thing.
3. Pour the treated water into the bowl, leaving the crab’s head above the water. If the head is submerged, the crab will not be able to breathe. Let the crab splash around in the water and work the food particles loose. If the crab is particularly dirty, let him soak in the water longer in order to remove more dirt. You can help him bathe if the outside of his shell needs extra attention. Bathe the outside of the shell by scooping up some water in your hand and running it over the outside of the shell.
4. Put a towel down and place the crab on top of it after his bath. The hermit crab should not go back into the cage wet. A wet hermit crab will get his food wet which will then mold quickly. Moldy food can cause health problems for everyone in the home.