How to Keep Hermit Crab Alive: Prolonging Their Lifespan

ByLinda Corley Updated

Here are some tips on how to keep your hermit crab alive: Monitor the humidity levels in their environment and clean any droppings if they start to build up. Use fresh water to wash the crabs and refill their tank as needed. Offer them food items such as cuttlefish, brine shrimp, or small fish. Keep your hermit crab in an aquarium that has a saltwater environment.

Practical Tips On How To Keep Your Hermit Crab Alive

Give Your Hermit Crab a Friend

Hermit crabs need friends to survive, so they must find an aquarium or some live rock they can call home. Alongside a comfortable place to live, this friend will also help your hermit crab relax and feel secure. Without one, they can become stressed and paranoid, making it difficult to eat or sleep properly. If you keep them in pairs or small groups, their interaction will benefit them. 

Change the Water & Food Daily

Hermit crabs are very active creatures and need plenty of space to move around. In addition to fresh water, feed them small crustaceans, shrimps, or other live food three times a day on top of their dry krill or cockroach larvae diet. Feed them a variety of live, frozen, and dry food items to ensure they have everything they need. Change their water and food daily to keep them fresh and healthy! Lastly, add 1 cup of fresh or frozen vegetables for every 2 cups of water you add to their tank.

One of the best ways to care for a hermit crab is by providing it with flat water and food. Algae, vegetables, and meat should comprise most of their diet. Also, ensure that your water isn’t overfed, as this will result in excess fat hermits, which cannot move freely in their tank (and eventually die). And finally, change both water and food daily – otherwise, algae may build up, leading to problems for your crab!

Provide the Right Amount of Substrate

Hermit crabs need a moist substrate to survive, so keeping their environment as bright and sunny as possible is essential. Make sure an opening in the enclosure allows fresh air in, and water should be added daily if necessary. A teaspoon of substrate per hermit crab will do the trick!

Make Sure You Get the Right Size of a Tank

Be sure to get the right tank size for your hermit crab so it can live comfortably and have plenty of space to move around. Provide fresh water and clean food, ensure enough humidity, and give your hermit crab a place to hide – like under rocks or in an aquarium plant. Lastly, on average, observe how much food your hermit crabs need – small prey items like insects or crustaceans will do just fine!

Provide Shells for Your Hermit

Providing shells for your hermit crab is an essential part of their care. Here are a few tips to help you out: 

  • Feed your hermit crab a varied diet, including fresh fruit. 
  • Keep an eye on them and turn them around daily so they get enough exercise. 
  • This will also ensure that they have access to fresh water and food. 
  • Store the shells in an area that is cool, dark, and humid; make sure there are plenty of them to choose from. 
  • You can also add other suitable items, such as plants or coconut shell pieces for climbing onto.

Handle Your Hermits With Care

Hermit crabs are fascinating little creatures and can be fun to watch in action. However, they need care if you want them to live healthy lives. Here are four tips on how to take care of your hermit crab:

  • Feed them a varied diet that includes fresh fruit, vegetables, and plankton- hermits love food! 
  • Make sure they have somewhere safe to hide when they’re not in use – in a pot on the floor or top of a high shelf in their aquarium.
  • Be gentle with them – don’t grab or poke them, instead use water spray to wet their shell and gently remove them from the tank- he may get agitated if handled roughly! 
  • Keep them clean – ensure their tanks are clean and water is changed regularly.

Handle Your Hermits With Care

A hermit crab needs a steady and varied diet to thrive. Suppose they don’t have enough space to live in; provide them with an artificial climbing wall or cave they can use as their home. They should also be given access to fresh food and water, which need to be nutritious and high in protein. Avoid providing them with too much salt – this could lead to health problems.

Give the Hermit Crab Stimulation

Giving hermit crabs the stimulation they need can make them much more pleasant and lively. Here are four ways to do just that: 

  • Change the water every two days, adding fresh seaweed if needed. 
  • Ensure the enclosure is large enough for the crab to move around in and has a hiding spot that’s out of direct sunlight. 
  • Watch for signs of stress (elevated heart rate, changes in behavior) and take appropriate measures such as providing fresh water or giving them new food items if needed. 
  • Offering shellfish, small invertebrates, or pieces of fruit will keep hermit crabs stimulated and happy overall!

Don’t Disturb Molting Hermit Crabs

Molting is a process that hermit crabs go through to prepare for their next molting cycle. While this can be pretty exciting for them, it can also be quite disruptive to their aquarium environment. To ensure your hermit crab stays safe and un-disturbed during molting, ensure the tank size is big enough and that water quality is good. 

Watch out for predators – they might mistake your hermit crab for an easy meal! If you see your hermit crab molting, leave them be! They will be protected in their shell for a few weeks, after which they will resume eating and behaving normally. Finally, feed your hermit crabs regularly – small pieces of meat or vegetables are all they need!

Keep the Hermit Crab Tank Clean

To keep your hermit crab tank clean and fresh, follow these simple tips: 

  • Feed the hermit crab small pieces of food so it can easily digest them. 
  • Replace water in the tank every two days to ensure it is always fresh. 
  • Keep the aquarium clean by scrubbing away any debris. 
  • Provide a hiding place for your crab – this will help reduce its anxiety and stress levels.

Monitoring the Humidity and Temperature Levels in the Tank

It is essential to monitor the humidity and temperature levels in the tank so that your hermit crab can live a healthy life. By doing this, you will be able to keep them safe and comfortable while living in close quarters with you. 

Remember to keep an eye on their humidity level as it affects how well they digest food. And finally, ensure the water remains at a specific temperature, so they don’t get too cold or hot.