Molting sometimes takes 2-6 weeks to complete. Some smaller crabs will molt more often, but not always. Most crabs will molt every 18 months or so. In addition to all of the healthy foods, sprinkle crushed cuttlebone or oyster shell over the food 2-3 times per week. Remove all uneaten food after 24 hours and replace with fresh. Also given by good crab owners are cooked egg, peanut butter, cereal, popcorn, and pesticide free grass and marigold flowers. Be sure that there is not butter, sauce or spices on the meat when you feed it. Crabs will eat meat such as chicken, beef and seafood. Mangoes, coconuts and papayas would be found in their native habitat, so are also perfect for your crabs. Offer good vegetables and grains in a variety of colors such as shaved carrots and ground corn, nuts, oatmeal, dark leafy greens, sweet peppers and cucumbers, eggplant, sweet potatoes and zucchini. However, it is believed that if you offer a variety of good, nutritious foods, the commercial food is not necessary. Commercially prepared hermit crab food has a proper balance of vitamins and minerals for your crabs. Omnivores, scavengers Land hermit crabs are opportunistic omnivores. This makes spot cleaning the enclosure very easy. Hermit Crabs are very clean - they defecate into their shell, then occasionally “scoop their poop” out with a back leg, usually all in one place. Also, there is no danger of your crabs over-reproducing, as land hermit crabs cannot breed in captivity. Males and females get along fine, not matter the combination. However, it is not necessary to sex your crabs when purchasing them for the same habitat. It is possible to tell the difference between male and female crabs, but they must be out of their shells in order to do so. They are colonial creatures and do best in captivity when living in a group of three or more. Docile and tolerant can be handled, but excessive handling may cause stress to the animal. Land hermit crabs cannot breed in captivity, so all hermit crabs available in the United States for the pet trade are imported. It is also advisable to choose crabs that are a similar size as one another. Just to be on the safe side, it is advisable not to mix the species together in the same habitat. Viola hermit crabs ( Coenobita violascens)Ĭavipe hermit crabs, or “Cavs” ( Coenobita cavipes)īlueberry hermit crabs ( Coenobita purpureus)Īll of these species are available in the pet trade. Hermit crab species that typically prefer shells with oblong or D-shaped openings include:Įcuadorean hermit crabs, or “Eccie” ( Coenobita compressus) Rugosus hermit crabs or, "Ruggies" ( Coenobita rugosus) Strawberry hermit crabs ( Coenobita perlatus) Indonesian hermit crabs, or “Indos” ( Coenobita brevimanus)Ĭaribbean hermit crabs, or “Purple Pinchers” ( Coenobita clypeatus) Hermit crab species that typically prefer shells with circular openings include: They are also called Soldier crabs, tree crabs and Caribbean crabs. Most pet land hermit crabs in the United States are Caribbean hermit crabs (also commonly known as Purple Pinchers) Coenobita clypeatus. * If temp falls below 75 degrees at night, may need supplemental infrared or ceramic heat. Can live to be over 30 to 40 years old! “Jumbos” are thought to already be over 20 years old.
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