How to Care for Land Hermit Crabs

Summary: Hermit crabs are relatively small crustaceans that are usually found in or near the ocean. Unlike true crabs, they are known for the practice of using abandoned shells for their homes. They do this because of their soft underbellies, and not because they are antisocial, as implied by the name. The truth is quite to the contrary; hermit crabs tend to live in groups of 100 or more. As they get bigger, hermit crabs must trade their smaller shells for bigger ones. Since there is a relative scarcity to the number of viable shells, and there are many crabs potentially vying for a new home, often times hermit crabs must fight each other for the bigger shell.

As pets, hermit crabs usually occupy fish tanks for the purposes of eating algae and performing general tank cleaning. They can also be in a dry aquarium on their own, or with other hermit crabs. Whatever the configuration you choose, learn some basic tips and techniques for caring for your hermit crab. Our expert will teach you specifically about dry land hermit crabs in this free video series. Lessons include bathing your crab, cleaning the tank, learning about the anatomy, essential supplies you’ll need, and how to feed a hermit crab.