Hermit Crabs ~R~ us - View Single Post

silver616 · 06-15-2008, 11:02 PM

Welcome, Congrats, and Enjoy!!!!

It sounds like your basic set-up is pretty good!!! I can understand why some would say you need bigger tanks, but in the past I had success with keeping a similar number of small crabs in a 10 gallon tank (don't know about the "jumbo's" b/c I don't have any, but 2 in a 10 gallon tank sounds reasonable). I have since "up-graded" to a larger tank b/c I am a "crab addict" and wanted to get more crabs! Anyway, for now, I wouldn't worry too much about the size of your tank!

I agree with others who have said "no" to bathing crabs!! I do not do it (other than when I first get them home from the pet store) b/c I believe it does stress them out more than is necessary. Instead, I make sure to have salt and fresh water dishes deep enough for them to submerge themselves in if they so desire!

A humidity guage is a MUST!! I personally believe keeping the right humidity level (I aim for 75%) is one of the most important aspects of crab care!

The other thing I would encourage you to do to is not to use any commercial "crab" foods due to the nasty preservatives that could harm the crabs! The only commercial foods I use are Hikari Bio-Pure freeze dried products (no "bad" preservatives). Also, I noticed you mentioned "cheez-its" and I assume you mean the "people-food" crackers! If so, I would definitely stop giving them those RIGHT AWAY!!! They have "people" salt on them which is VERY DANGEROUS for your crabs!!!!!!!! In fact, it could kill them!!!!!! I can't stress enough...do not give them any table salt (aka "people" salt, iodized salt, etc)!!!!! When giving them "people food" make sure salt is NOT one of the ingredients listed!!!!!!!

Sorry about your recent crab losses!!

Good luck!!!!

06-15-2008, 11:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
silver616 "Preparing For Second Molt" Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 378	Re: not sure if crabs are dead Welcome, Congrats, and Enjoy!!!! It sounds like your basic set-up is pretty good!!! I can understand why some would say you need bigger tanks, but in the past I had success with keeping a similar number of small crabs in a 10 gallon tank (don't know about the "jumbo's" b/c I don't have any, but 2 in a 10 gallon tank sounds reasonable). I have since "up-graded" to a larger tank b/c I am a "crab addict" and wanted to get more crabs! Anyway, for now, I wouldn't worry too much about the size of your tank! I agree with others who have said "no" to bathing crabs!! I do not do it (other than when I first get them home from the pet store) b/c I believe it does stress them out more than is necessary. Instead, I make sure to have salt and fresh water dishes deep enough for them to submerge themselves in if they so desire! A humidity guage is a MUST!! I personally believe keeping the right humidity level (I aim for 75%) is one of the most important aspects of crab care! The other thing I would encourage you to do to is not to use any commercial "crab" foods due to the nasty preservatives that could harm the crabs! The only commercial foods I use are Hikari Bio-Pure freeze dried products (no "bad" preservatives). Also, I noticed you mentioned "cheez-its" and I assume you mean the "people-food" crackers! If so, I would definitely stop giving them those RIGHT AWAY!!! They have "people" salt on them which is VERY DANGEROUS for your crabs!!!!!!!! In fact, it could kill them!!!!!! I can't stress enough...do not give them any table salt (aka "people" salt, iodized salt, etc)!!!!! When giving them "people food" make sure salt is NOT one of the ingredients listed!!!!!!! Sorry about your recent crab losses!! Good luck!!!!