Secrets to Maintaining Hermit Crab Humidity by Peter Williams

Hermit crabs can be one of the most interesting and exciting creatures to keep as a pet, but unlike other domestic pets such as dogs or cats, hermit crabs have certain environmental requirements in which they will either maintain their health and happiness or they will develop sickness. One of the most important elements for your crabs is hermit crab humidity of the tank.

Hermit crabs are born in the ocean and make their way to the shore to live on the sandy beaches and jungles of the tropics. To survive both in the water at birth and on land, hermit crabs have gills just like fish, and need to keep these gills moist at all times to maintain proper breathing. When hermit crabs are in humid environments, they are able to breath easier through these gills because they can keep the gills wet extracting the moisture from the air.

Hermit crabs also require moisture in the air, or humidity to be able to drink properly. If you've been to the coast at night you may have seen lots of hermit crabs congregating towards the water. They do this because the air along the beach and shoreline is wet, allowing the hermit crabs to breathe easier and not dry out. Hermit crab humidity is very important in this regard.

When you bring home your little hermit crabs and begin setting up their terrarium or hermit crab cage, there are many factors you'll want to consider to duplicate the conditions of the warm and humid tropical environment your hermit crabs have traveled from.

Humidity is one of the most critical elements to maintain in your hermit crab's cage. Creating a humid environment for your hermit crabs allows for the transfer of oxygen in the air through the hermit crab's gills. Without proper hermit crab humidity, your hermit crabs can begin to suffocate due to their inability to draw oxygen out of their environment.

It is a good idea to keep your hermit crab humidity between 70 and 80 percent so that your crabs can breathe properly. It is not difficult to introduce humidity to your hermit crab tank, as a bowl of water placed in the tank will increase humidity levels. You can also add a natural sea sponge to the water dish (both salt water and fresh de-chlorinated water) to increase the surface area for potential evaporation, and at the same time, increases the humidity levels in the tank.

It's also a good idea to monitor your hermit crab humidity by purchasing an inexpensive humidity gauge and attaching it to the inside of the tank. This will give you a good indication on humidity levels and keep your hermit crabs happy and healthy for years to come!

About the Author

Peter Williams is a hermit crab enthusiast and author of hermit crab care books. For more information on hermit crab humidity, visit http://www.hermitcrablovers.com

Different Species of Hermit Crabs by Steven Black

Hermit crabs are classified as a type of crustacean belonging to the super family Paguroidea. In spite of its classification under this lineage, they are not closely related to those referred to as true crabs. These so called hermit crabs typically inhabit places such as the intertidal zone.

Species of hermit crabs usually have soft and long abdomens. These body parts of the hermit crabs are well protected from predators through a salvaged hollow seashell mounted on the hermit crab's back. The body of the crab can retract into this hollow shell when threatened by predators. Most of the time, these crabs utilize the shell of the sea snails found in the shores. Whenever the hermit crabs develop in size, they tend to look for a bigger shell and dispose of the old one. This way of living in a "second hand" shell has brought about to the well-known name as "hermit crab", by similarity to a hermit or a solitary being who likes to live alone.

There are over five hundred of known species of hermit crabs, and out of this number, most of them live in water and in different depths of salt waters, encompassing the shorelines, shallow reefs and to the deep sea bottoms. However, there are also terrestrial hermit crabs that can be seen in some tropical areas.

There is a vast number of different species of hermit crabs that are typical in the industry of marine aquarium. To date, there has been 15 terrestrial hermit crabs species known in the whole world. The Australian land hermit crab (Coenobita varibilis), Carribean hermit crab (Coenobita compressus) and the Ecuadorian hermit crab (Coenobita compressus) are the most types of hermit crabs that are usually kept as pets. There are also some species kept as pets namely Coenobita rugosis, Coenobita cavipes, Coenobita brevimanus and Coenobita perlatus, however they are less common since they are not usually available and are not as popular.

Species of hermit crabs are classified either as omnivores, or those organisms that eat both plants and animals as their primary source of food, and herbivores, or those organisms that are adapted to eat plants. Due to their eating patterns, hermit crabs are very useful in the household aquariums acting as scavengers since they feed on debris and algae.

Hermit crabs were previously regarded as throwaway pets since they can only live for a few months. However, there are some species such as the Coenobita clypeatus that can survive for 23 years when appropriately taken cared of. Some species can also manage to live for over 32 years. The key to successfully raising hermit crabs as pets is to control the temperature and humidity in the environment and provide enough substrate to allow them to bury themselves.

About the Author

Steven A Black is a hermit crab enthusiast. For more information on species of hermit crabs, visithttp://www.hermit-crab1.com

Hermit Crab Shells Turning White - Should I Be Worried? by Tod Schaffer

You little hermie crabs come in a variety of beautiful and vibrant colors, particularly the marine species, which vary in color from bright yellow, blue to scarlet and are chosen for reef tanks largely for their appearance as well as for their foraging habits. However, it is only natural that hermit crab shells turning white would set off alarm bells in most owners' heads, although fortunately much of the time this is not too serious and can be dealt with quite easily.



As you are all probably aware, you hermies are born without a shell of their own and consequently spend a lot of time sourcing and moving into discarded shells from other creatures, such as sea snails, which they can call their own. Now snail shells naturally a contain a high level of calcium bircarbonate and any drop in these levels will cause them to look faded and eventually to turn white. The discoloration of the hermie shell can also be caused by over exposure to salt, which acts like bleach. This is a natural occurrence for snail shells that have been immersed for long periods in the ocean or even laying on the shore and being washed over by waves and is no cause for concern since your little hermie is likely to hop from shell to shell on numerous occasions and may well opt for a more colorful home next time around.



When your hermie's shell start to turn white in a reef tank is a different matter and points to your crab definitely being deficient in calcium and possibly magnesium. Since hermies are omnivorous, like us humans, they need a well balanced diet of meat, fish, fruit and vegetables in order to function efficiently. A deficit of calcium can cause them to fade and it is important that an owner supplements their hermie's diet with food that is rich in calcium such as cuttlebone and sea biscuits. Cuttlebone can easily be found in the bird section of any decent pet store and can be grated and added to food plus you can purchase commercially prepared hermie food which contains all of the necessary supplements, including calcium and magnesium.



When a crab molts it normally eats its exoskeleton which is rich in nutrients but occasionally part of it is discarded and left on the surface. It tends to look pale and faded and many a new owner has confused this discarded skin with their hermie's shells starting to become white and have feared the worse - that their beloved hermie has in fact died. In actual fact he is probably snuggled up into the snail shell, recovering from his molt.



So, hopefully you've stopped worrying so much about the color of your hermie's shell. After all he is a choosy little creature and will often fight to the death in his quest for the perfect house, regardless of color. Hermit crab shells turning white is not such a big deal and can be controlled by supplementing his diet with calcium rich foods so relax and have some fun with your new found friends.

About the Author

Tod Schaffer is a Hermit Crab enthusiast who has vast experience of raising Hermit Crabs. For more information about Hermit Crab Shells Turning White, Visit Hermit Crabs.

Hermit Crab Molting - Taking Care Of Your Molting Crab by Tod Schaffer

Hermit crab molting is a natural process which is necessary if your crab is to grow. Basically this molt means shedding his exoskeleto, a bit like a snake, in order to regenerate damaged or lost limbs and to grow overall.



The molt varies from individual to individual and may occur just once a year for large crabs and maybe three or four times a year for small crabs. The process also varies in duration and can last anything from a couple of weeks to a couple of months from start to finish. Although there are various signs to indicate that the hermie's molt is not far from happening, be aware that your pet hermie could surprise you and molt unexpectedly, so always have a good supply of empty shells ready for him to move into.



The original hermies molt naturally in the wild, so obviously he knows what he is doing. However, it's still a stressful time for him and it can be tempting for an owner to want to intervene to try and give him a hand. Please refrain from doing this at all costs, since at this time he wants his privacy and will not take kindly to being dug out of a hole and handled!



The best course of action if you suspect that your hermie is about to molt or a molt is in the offing is to ensure that you provide your hermie with all that he needs for the duration. Some owners like to put a molting hermie into an isolation tank but most pet stores sell dividers for the main tank, which makes life a lot easier because you can simply partition a section off, knowing that the temperature and humidy levels are unchanged. It's important to know that a pet hermie can be at danger from other crabs immediately after the molting process because he is soft and drained of energy, so that's why he needs to be isolated for his own safety.



Make sure that he has a good supply of moist substrate (play sand is by far the best) and give him plently of depth so that he can dig a decent hole in which to hide. He can do without any distractions such as toys or climbing frames, but he will need plenty of food and water to fuel his tank for the journey ahead. A calcium rich diet is important during the hermie molt so try giving him some cuttlebone shredded or diced with his other regular food.



Once molting is over, which can take several weeks for a large hermie, he will still need time out to harden and regain his energy before being reunited with his mates. He may appear a little timid at first, almost afraid of his own shadow, but rest assured that you will soon recognise when things are back to normal. Once his previous character has emerged and he has settled into a new shell, then you can pop him back into the main tank with his friends.



I would recommend that you read as much about hermit crab molting as possible, so that you can recognise all of the signs and when the time comes you'll be more than prepared to look after your little friend.

About the Author

Tod Schaffer is a Hermit Crab enthusiast who has vast experience of raising Hermit Crabs. For more information about Hermit Crab Molting, Visit Hermit Crabs.

Is My Hermit Crab Behavior Normal? by Tod Schaffer

Hermit crab behavior can vary signifcantly from one individual to another. If you own several, I am sure you will have recognised that fact that each individual has its own personality and traits to go with it. A good indication of whether you are buying a suitable hermie for a pet is to observe the hermie's personality and habits when it is inside its shell.

Now I know this sounds a bit dumb, but you can tell a lot about a hermie by how he reacts when he is placed on your upturned palm. If he comes out fairly quickly then the signs are good because he is obviously quite curious and relaxed around humans. If he comes out after a while, making clicking noises, then he is curious, yet frightened, which is not a bad thing. However, if he comes out clicking and tries to pinch, then he is aggressive and probably would take a lot of taming in order to make a good pet.



Another way to guage the hermie's personality is by introducing them to other hermits and seeing how they react. A friendly hermie will use his feelers to gently touch another hermie's feelers whereas an aggressive hermie will lunge towards the doorway of another hermie, spoiling for a fight. It is, however, normal hermie habits and practices for a large group to be observed pushing and climbing over and under each other. This is more like playing and is pretty harmless behavior.



Digging and climbing are normal hermie practices both in the wild and in captivity. It is important, therefore, to create a home from home and ensure that your crab has sufficient sand in which to dig and that he has a supply of rocks, shells, wood and plants in which to climb and explore. If your pet hermie seems to be digging feverishly, then he may well be about to molt which again is normal crab behavior and vital if he is to grow in size.



Nocturnal activites are very much part of normal hermie practice and go a long way to explaining how a neat and tidy crabitat is totally trashed by the morning! Hermies tend to remain fairly inactive during the day and may well emerge on mass around sunset. If you keep several of the crawly critters it can be fun to watch all of the activities taking place.

Some of them will make a mad dash for their food and water bowls whilst others will be feverishly going round the tank looking for places of possible escape. Resourceful crabs will be eating food that they had hidden away for later, whilst other more "fashion conscience" crabs will be trying on different shells. Quite often, your crabs will all pile on top of each other in an effort to get to the top of their tank and this will explain why their climbing frame is laying on its side in the morning. Crabs can certainly wreak havoc in numbers!



Hopefully this has covered a lot of common ground with regards to hermit crab behavior but you can find a lot more detailed information in my website.

About the Author

Tod Schaffer is a Hermit Crab enthusiast who has vast experience of raising Hermit Crabs. For more information about Hermit Crab Behavior, Visit Hermit Crabs.

Essential Hermit Crabs Info by Peter Williams

Hermit crabs can be one of the most fascinating creatures to watch from behind the glass, as their behaviors are interesting and sometimes downright hilarious. Hermit crabs are borrowers all their lives, as they acquire and carry their hermit crab shells wherever they go.

Hermit crabs aren't born with a shell, unlike other types of crustaceans like crabs or lobsters. They have to go find an animal that has passed to use their shell as protection. It hasn't been until relatively recently that these adorable little creatures have become household pets.

You will want to get as much info on these hermit crabs as you can, given their different physical and behavioral tendencies over other kinds of pets. To properly care for them in your home, read up on hermit crab info, their background, and their natural environment so you can replicate as best as possible.

Hermit crabs are crustaceans that as a part of the coenobitidae family, if you want to think back to your early biology classes. Hermit crabs have an exoskeleton, meaning they wear their skeleton on the outside of their bodies, and have five pairs of clawed legs. To further protect themselves from predators, hermit crabs use the shells of snail shells.

Hermit crabs are interesting in that they can survive both on land and in the water (they were born in the water), and have gills like fish in which to breathe. Most of their time is spent on land, but hermit crabs to migrate towards the water to restore their moisture balance.

Hermit crabs are extremely social animals that love to live in clans or groups, and are very entertaining to watch both in the wild and in captivity. When they are placed in a terrarium, they are even more interesting in the comfort of your own home!

When searching for more info on hermit crabs, you will find hermit crabs, while not officially nocturnal animals, are more active in the evening time. This is so that they are less susceptible to predation by birds during the day.

Hermit crabs also undergo an interesting process called molting, in which they shed their outside skeleton, or exoskeleton as they grow. Very interesting hermit crab info! During this natural and healthy process, some physical changes occur, such as increased appetite, excessive digging or burrowing, and constant bathing in water - both salt and fresh water.

If you're looking for hermit crab info on their diet, it's important to feed your hermit crabs foods rich in calcium, carotene, and antioxidants. Colorful vegetables such as corn or carrots will give hermit crabs the nutrients they crave. Obviously junk foods like macaroni and cheese or tortilla chips is not healthy for your hermit crab.

It's best to keep all your hermit crab info handy as a reference guide to hermit crab behavior, diet, health, and overall care.

About the Author

Peter Williams is a knowledgeable hermit crab enthusiast. For more accurate
href="http://www.hermitcrablovers.com/hermit-crabs-info">hermit crabs info, visit http://www.hermitcrablovers.com

Tips On How To Buy Hermit Crabs Online by Jessica Peloski

Unlike other pets like a dog, rabbit, turtle, kitten these days what is turning the attention is the keeping of hermit crabs as pets. Owning these interesting and wonderful creatures in the aquarium bring curiosity to those who are totally unfamiliar to them. As we are talking about pet crabs its important to make a scrutiny related to this fascinating creature, a phenomenal one, extremely attractive with its extra ordinary look perfected by nature.

It is a creature that is naturally active in the nights and quiet and calm in the day time, an adult crab finds the sea to go back and lay eggs interestingly, such behaviors let one find it interesting to own such a pet, as totally endearing to become a part of your life.

The nature of the hermit crab as a fact that is important to know is that this water born sea creature prefer being in a moisture friendly environment. Never have to worry about the level of the temperature because what we human are comfortable with the amount of heat or cold and sustaining it, the same applies with the hermit crab too.

But one have to be a little attentive when using a room heater or an air conditioner in the same room where it is placed and the level of temperature must not be very high or very low, just moderate. A proper arrangement of keeping the crab environment humid and wet is always required, sufficient amount of air is also very essential for their health.

But these few little things mentioned are just not enough to make survival easy for a crab. It does require a little hard work to provide them with the utmost comfort and suitable environment.

The internet offers to be a huge market place where one can buy hermit crabs online and can have a variety of different options and tips for maintaining and supporting the priorities of this delicate piece of nature. And as you find your options and requirements for owning hermit crabs you can order and buy from online dealers who have full knowledge and can educate the owner well and give support throughout.

Surely after a detailed and satisfying search you can go ahead and buy hermit crabs online.

About the Author

Jessica Peloski writes articles about hermit crab care and keeping hermit crabs at pets. For more information on how to buy hermit crabs online, be sure to visit http://www.hermitcrablovers.com