| Building a habitat for your hermit crabs is very fun and | | | | 3.) Natural Habitat - Hermit crabs are mischievous |
| exciting, and requires a bit of planning and thought | | | | creatures that love to be curious and crawl around, |
| before diving in and introducing your hermit crabs to | | | | both in captivity and in the wild. This is why it's |
| your home. Usually when we think of crabs or other | | | | important to give your hermit crab plenty of items to |
| crustaceans in the house, we think Saturday night | | | | keep busy, such as drift wood, coconut shells, or |
| dinner, maybe paired with a nice steak, but in this case | | | | artificial jungle plants to hide and keep busy. A climbing |
| we're talking about pet hermit crabs and their habitats. | | | | background also makes them feel like at home. Also |
| Proper planning and introducing the right elements to | | | | be sure to keep a saltwater and fresh water bowl |
| your pet's cage will ensure a happier and healthier | | | | filled with a sea sponge (so your crabs don't drown) |
| hermit crab for the long term. Generally speaking, it is | | | | along with a bowl of fresh food. |
| best to understand and then replicate to the best of | | | | 4.) Shells, and Plenty of Them - Because these types |
| your ability the crab's natural habitat, as they thrive | | | | of crabs aren't born with shells, they look for new |
| under these conditions. Their natural environment is that | | | | shells, specifically sea snail shells, to carry around. |
| of the warmer and more humid tropics, with sandy | | | | These fighters have been known to wrestle to the |
| beaches, warmer temperatures, and increased | | | | death for the other shell, so it is best to keep plenty of |
| humidity. | | | | spare shells in the hermit crab's habitat with different |
| Just follow these six simple steps when assembling | | | | sizes and openings so you don't have to deal with |
| your crab cage and you will have healthy and happy | | | | competing crabs. |
| hermit crabs, which in turn will make you and your kids | | | | 5.) Substrate - In the wild, these crabs love to bury |
| happier. | | | | themselves in either dirt or sand to hide from |
| 1.) Humidity - Since these crabs come from warmer | | | | predators, and also to molt when the time is right. |
| places around the globe, like the Caribbean and other | | | | Giving your crabs proper substrate in their habitat helps |
| places around the equator, they are used to more | | | | them to feel right at home and comfortable enough to |
| humid conditions. Not only do they enjoy a humid | | | | dig, bury, and crawl around, just like they would in the |
| environment more, they require it. These crabs have | | | | wild. For pet crabs, you can use either sand from your |
| gills in which to breathe, so in order to obtain oxygen | | | | pet store or coconut shavings. |
| properly and breathe comfortably, they need a moist | | | | 6.) Lots of Crabs - Hermit crabs are most comfortable |
| and humid environment to draw in their gills. This also | | | | among other crabs and are very social creatures. It is |
| keeps their body moist which is important. Just keep | | | | critical when building your hermit crab habitat to have |
| plenty of salt and fresh water in their bowls and the | | | | many crabs in your tank. At a minimum you will want |
| natural evaporation will do the rest. | | | | three crabs in a 10-gallon tank. This will keep them |
| 2.) Temperature - Because these crabs are from | | | | happy and will be more enjoyable for you to watch all |
| warmer and more tropical parts of the globe, they | | | | the mischief. |
| appreciate having a warm habitat. This requires either | | | | Once you are done with these simple steps, you can |
| a heating pad stuck to the bottom of the cage, which | | | | sit back and just watch your little crabs. Taking a bit of |
| regulates the tank's warmth, or a heating lamp to be | | | | time to build the perfect hermit crab habitat will give |
| placed at the top of the cage. In either case, you will | | | | your crabs more enjoyment and give them the feeling |
| want to ensure the habitat is between 70 and 80 | | | | they are in the wild. |
| degrees to mimic their natural habitat. | | | | |