Care of Hermit crabs

[stn0404]

Hi guys,

I am about to buy hermit crabs from Petmart. Less than $10 each if i am not wrong.

We can't feed them with tap water? Use only boiled water?

Can we just feed them with fruits?

How big can they grow?

[Don90]

I'm worried about how to clean the shit.

And since the substrate is sand, it is quite hard to clean the shit right?

Unless have to hand pick?

[Quixotic]

http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Hermit-Crabs

[diboroan]

Did not know about the tap water part, guess I'm lucky nothing happen to the hermit crab.

[girlanimated]

http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Hermit-Crabs

very good article. go read!

NEVER EVER use boiled water as the crabs still do get some oxygen from the water even though they're land hermits.
misting the tank regularly (with one of those waterspray bottles) would be good, the usually come alive once the tank's been misted =)
always dechlorinate and DO NOT USE TABLE SALT.
IODINE CAN KILL THEM.
DO NOT USE COLOURED SHELLS FOR THEM EITHER! JUST NATURAL ONES!!
paint can kill them!!


another point is, although the article says pineapple is a good food for them, it isnt. i recommend bananas as they're attracted to the sweet smell and taste. yep yep. any questions just pm me. been keeping hermits for years =)

[richmaster]

i used to give them tap water and they were fine but don't take any risks and i saw a hermit crab that was bigger than an orange in some store