How to Clean a Hermit Crab Shell

In spite of their name, hermit crabs are actually very social animals who enjoy being around other hermit crabs. These tropical creatures are fun to watch and play with. They require minimal upkeep. Hermit crabs prefer temperatures in the mid 70's and like a humidity level of about 70 percent. These animals love toys and will climb on anything they can, so be sure to provide some climbing toys for your hermit crab friends.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper towel or soft cloth
• Small bowl
• Warm water
• Small sieve

1. Clean any dirt from the outside of the hermit crab's shell. To do this, take the crab out of the aquarium and hold it . Gently wipe the outside of the shell with a damp paper towel or soft cloth. It is important to be gentle so that you are not pulling against the crab if it comes out of its shell while you are cleaning it.

2. Place a small amount of warm (not hot) water in the bottom of a shallow bowl. Hermit crabs are land animals and can drown, so it important that you use only a small amount of water.

3. Place the crab in the bowl of water and move him back and forth 5 or 6 times in the container. You hermit crab will come out of his shell as soon as you place him in the water, which is a perfectly natural response.

4. Remove the hermit crab from the water promptly after its bath.

5. Place the crab in a container with smooth sides so that it won't be able to climb out. Then, use a small sieve to clean any debris out of the sand in the bottom of the crab's cage.

Tips & Warnings

• You should give your hermit crab a quick bath about every other day and clean its cage once a week. It is a good idea to empty the cage completely for a through cleaning about once a month.
• When cleaning your hermit crab, the aquarium and toys, be sure to use warm water only. Never use soaps, detergents or chemicals of any kind.

Resources

• Hermit Crab Care Forum