Does a Hermit Crab Really Make a Good Pet – The Pros and Cons

Hermit crab pets are considered exotic. By exotic, we usually mean rare and hard to find, but the fact is that although few people keep them as pets, they are available in large numbers. These crabs belong to the family of “Paguroidea” and are omnivores or herbivores which means that they eat everything. There are also terrestrial and aquatic species.

Aquatics are good if you have a fish tank because they are useful as scavengers for algae and debris. Land crabs are those normally kept as pets. Before you decide to buy a hermit crab as a pet, you need to know everything about them. Below is some information on the pros and cons of owning this interesting animal that will help you get started.

Hermit crab pets

Benefits:

A hermit crab for pets requires very little maintenance. This means that the owner does not need to feed or take care of them constantly like other pets. It is very cheap to keep them because they do not eat much and need little refuge.

A small aquarium will work perfectly for your hermit crab. Make sure it has enough sand for them to dig and moult and a variety of shells larger than the one in which they live.

They don’t take up much space or require a certain type of area.

I have never heard of a hermit crab eating someone’s slipper.

They make no noise.

You don’t have to get up in the middle of the night to let them out.

These animals are very inexpensive. You can buy a full set of crabs with 2 crabs, a cage, sand, seashells, food and water dishes, a climbing tree, etc. for $ 30.

They are excellent pets for children to teach them about responsibility. If they forget to take care of them, as children are used to, it is okay for a parent to do so.

Hermit crabs for pets can be adapted to your busy lifestyle. A few minutes a day will meet most of their needs. Their cage will only need a full cleaning once a month.

The inconvenient:

Hermit crab animals are not interactive. There is a lack of “bonding” compared to other pets. It’s like having fish in which you can’t do much except watch them. although they crawl on your hand.

They will need a good substrate to be able to dig there to moult. The wet sand is fine but the gravel is not as good as it cannot be buried very easily.

Although many species of hermit crabs die in a short time, there are exceptions. For example, some species can live up to 23 years if properly cared for and it has been reported that some have lived more than 32 years.

Although they require little maintenance, their homes need a regular cleaning or they may start to smell bad.

Your pet crabs need warm, humid conditions. They need to have relatively high humidity and therefore may need to be sprayed with water or have a large damp sponge in their house.

Any water that comes into contact with your pet’s crab should always be free of chlorine.

Your pet will need his food and water dishes to be changed daily, without fruit or vegetables not consumed.

They are nocturnal, which means they are more active at night. This greatly reduces viewing time, as they usually stay in their shells during the day.

Each pet hermit crab will need its own shell. Make sure you provide a number of shell types and sizes. The shells form a protective cover for their soft abdomen. You should make sure to provide larger shells for the crabs as they exceed their current ones.

Hermit crabs are unusual but interesting companions and easy to care for. They are curious about their environment, they have distinct personalities and are also active. These features will provide an interesting visualization. The fact that they are relatively low maintenance increases the appeal of keeping them as pets. This means that if you don’t want to spend a lot of time taking care of your pet but are looking for an interesting one, it will fill the bill. Although you can’t walk them around or play research, they are great pets for kids, because their friends probably won’t have them. They are the perfect show and tell the story of the school. They are easy to feed and care for so the kids can do it by themselves. Overall, a hermit crab for pets is the perfect choice for the whole family.

How long Do Hermit Crabs Live?

As far as hermit crabs are concerned, they can be considered as one of the most colourful and fun-loving creatures in the entire world. They were actually first domesticated by humans. These creatures are not just docile and placid but they also make great pets that are both fun to take care of and will even learn tricks for you.

Hermit crabs are so fascinating and so interesting to watch. Their shell is really thick. They are mostly found in tropical and subtropical areas. Hermit crabs have proven to be very hardy and resilient creatures that can survive many different kinds of living conditions and also given the right surroundings, they can also live for a very long time.

Because they require a constant water supply and it is almost impossible to provide it with a natural habitat in their own area, they require a hermit crab habitat that can provide them with some kind of water. The hermit crab habitat may also need some kind of substrate as well.

Habitat construction is a crucial part of maintaining hermit crabs. They need specific and proper building materials to hold their shells together. They also need this for their eggs, so that the eggs can be fertilized easily.

When a hermit crab starts to eat there will be enough room for its young to crawl out but it is still very important to provide your hermit crab with an area to sit in. This is where the habitat is built. You will need a low place so that it can stand up and also get some air circulation.

It is important to start out with a good size. Since there are many species of hermit crabs, the proper habitat should be adapted for each. Your hermit crab habitat needs to be equipped with all the right things like plenty of lighting, anair pump and a water pump to supply it with water.

You should also use artificial sand that is filled with liquid to add to the mix. When using a small container like a glass jar, put the sand inside and make sure that it has been sprayed with a water-based putty to make sure that the sand will seal it.

A well-built hermit crab habitat would consist of several walls that can be covered with some type of substrate material. This includes paper, sand or cardboard. These will serve to give your crabs ample food and to keep their burrows clean.

Once you are finished with the walls, you can now turn your attention to the substrate of your hermit crab habitat. The substrate material can be anything from coarse material to a paper cup with shredded newspaper. These should be torn and cut into small pieces so that it can be used for making their burrows and for creating nests.

As a precaution, be sure that your substrate is completely dry before putting the hermit crab in the enclosure. And the nest is the next important thing that needs to be placed inside the habitat. After the nest is complete, then it is time to place the eggs inside.

These eggs will hatch within hours and once they emerge from the eggs, the hermit crab is ready to start eating. Just like any other animal, hermit crabs have their own special needs and the only way to satisfy these is through proper habitat construction.

In conclusion, habitat construction is the biggest deciding factor when it comes to how long does hermit crabs live. Remember that it is important to provide proper housing for your hermit crabs. A proper hermit crab habitat is the most important thing that can make or break a successful hermit crab pet.