The official Hermit Crab Association recommends the following supplies (can be found at The Hermit Shack) in order to ensure the health, happiness, and longevity of your hermit crabs:

A friend! Hermit crabs are social and will get lonely without a friend or two or ten.
Glass aquarium or terrarium (plastic/wire cages don’t hold in warmth and humidity).
Glass or plexi-glass cover for the aquarium to keep in humidity.
Humidity gauge (hygrometer) to make sure the tank stays around 70-80% relative humidity.
Temperature gauge (thermometer) to make sure the tank stays around 72-79 degrees F.
Under-tank heater or low-wattage (15-25W) incandescent moon- or night-glow bulbs for heat.
Either half or all the tank filled with a diggable substrate such as playsand, beach sand, compressed coconut fiber, or fine crushed coral.
Optionally half the tank filled with smooth aquarium-safe gravel to give the crabs an option.
At least 2 extra shells of each size needed by your crabs.
Food dish filled with quality commercial crab food & treats.
Crushed cuttlebone or calcium-sand sprinkled in the food as a calcium supplement.
Occasional fresh food dish with fruit (no citrus), veggies, nuts, and cereal (no dairy).
Freshwater bowl (non-metal) with a sponge (so smaller crabs don’t drown).
Dechlorinizer or water conditioner, since the chlorine in tap water is dangerous to crabs.
Dechlorinized saltwater bowl with a sponge (for proper salinity of their internal & shell water).
Marine salt found with saltwater aquarium supplies (not table salt, it is harmful to crabs).
Climbing toys, such as cholla wood, cork bark, coral, driftwood, and wicker baskets.
Hiding shelters such as half-logs, caves, and coco-huts (to feel safe and relieve stress).
Misting bottle to give the tank an occasional humidity boost.
Dechlorinizer with a protective slime coat for bathing crabs once a week or month.


Special Thanks to: © 2004 Ashley Wise