Beginner’s Guide to Hermit Crab Care: Habitat Setup, Diet, Shells & Basic Needs

Land hermit crabs are fascinating pets but caring for them requires much more than the pet store told you if the hermit crab is to survive. This beginner’s guide to hermit crab care will help you set up the proper habitat (crabitat), understand their dietary requirements, and help your new pets thrive instead of merely surviving. This guide only covers the basics. Our website is full of in-depth care articles to give you a deeper understanding of your hermit crabs. I’ve included links to other helpful articles at the bottom of the page.

My book is the most detailed and comprehensive hermit crab care book available.

Purchase The Complete Guide to Land Hermit Crabs and Their Care: Changing the Mindset of Hermit Crab Keeping in our shop or on Amazon.

Setting Up a Proper Hermit Crab Habitat

Best Tank for Hermit Crabs

•  Minimum tank size: Go as big as you can afford. A 10-gallon tank will only be suitable for 2 very, very small hermit crabs.
• The tank doesn’t have to be new (check the newspaper, craigslist, yard sales, Facebook Market).
• The tank doesn’t have to hold water.

Hermit Crab Habitat Lid

• A mesh lid can be used with a solid barrier on top to retain humidity but a glass lid is the ideal option.
• YYu can use saran wrap in a pinch but not ideal long term.
• A piece of plexiglass or coroplast can be cut to fit inside a mesh lid frame.
• Hermit crabs are escape artists! Place heavy weights or locks on your lid

Substrate for your Hermit Crab Habitat

• A minimum depth of 6-12 inches OR 3 times as deep as your largest crab is tall – which ever is deeper.
• Play sand meant for a sand box is perfect http://amzn.to/1PLQOMu
• Coco fiber which is shredded coconuts http://amzn.to/1KhJaHb You can use bricks or loose coco fiber.
• Mix the play sand and coco fiber together, roughly 5 parts DRY sand to 1 part DRY coco fiber. 5:1 Ratio Chart – Created by Savannah Claussen

How to Heat Your Hermit Crab Habitat

• We recommend Ultratherm heat pads. http://amzn.to/2EVPmb2 If they are sold out on Amazon check BeanFarm.com
• Ultratherm heat pads can be insulated with Reflectix Reflective Roll Insulation or other DIY options to retain heat. http://amzn.to/1PLR1zg
• Place on the back wall of the tank to provide gradient heat. (Warm and cool zones)

Hermit Crab Lighting

• Hermit crabs require a 12/12 hour cycle of light and dark.
• UVB Lights can be used if you understand how to properly install and maintain them.
• LED programable lights are an excellent choice. The Hygger light shown here will mimic nature with a sunrise and sunset transition.
• If you have a well-lit room that will illuminate the tank during the day you can get by without a lamp. No direct sunlight on the tank.

How to Make Tap Water Safe for Hermit Crabs

• Tap water contains chlorine and/or chloramines which are not safe.
• A product is needed to remove the chlorine and chloramines. We recommend Prime Aquarium Water Conditioner http://amzn.to/1PLRcu9
• Prime also binds ammonia which makes it the perfect product for filtered pools.
• Distilled water is devoid of necessary nutrients and should not be used.

Hermit Crabs Require Ocean Water

• Freshwater aquarium salt is not the same as marine salt.
• Instant Ocean is the most common brand and is easy to find. We prefer the Reef Crystals. http://amzn.to/1SrKxnM

• These other brands are also good and may be available in your particular area:  Fluval Sea Salt, Red Sea Salt, Coralife, Oceanic Sea Salt, Tetra Marine Sea Salt and Marinium.

Hermit Crab Food and Water Bowls

• If you are on a budget disposable food storage bowls work fine. Double them up to catch leaks.
• Water pools should be deep enough for your largest crab to submerge.
• Provide exit ramps for small crabs

(Photo credit: Elizabeth Smith)

Temperature and Humidty Gauges for Hermit Crabs

• Temperature and humidity are vital to hermit crab survival and can not be properly maintained without gauges.
• Skip the cheap, analog gauge at the pet store, go wireless and digital. WalMart carries a digital indoor/outdoor thermometer and hygrometer combination gauge. You can also buy them online. http://amzn.to/1KhJDZM
• Hygrometers should be calibrated prior to use

What do Hermit Crabs Eat?

• Hermit Crabs are omnivorous scavengers so they can eat most anything.
• Not sure where to start? Try one of our Hermit Crab Food Variety Packs which cover all dietary needs with staple foods.
• Purchase food mixes from other LHCOS Approved Sellers with confidence you are feeding safe and nutritious foods.

Creating a Temporary Crabitat in a Bin

Bins are not a permanent home, but may be needed in emergencies.

Translations of this page

Hermit Crab Care 101-English

Hermit Crab Care 101-French

Hermit Crab Care 101-Italian

Hermit Crab Care 101-Swedish

Hermit Crab Care 101-Korean (coming soon)

Hermit Crab Nutritional Requirements-English

Hermit Crab Nutritional Requirements-French

Hermit Crab Nutritional Requirements-Italian

Hermit Crab Feeding Guide-Korean (coming soon)

Want to translate to another language for us? Contact Us-crabstreetjournal@gmail.com

The following articles are beneficial and will cover everything you need to know to get started keeping land hermit crabs as pets. This is only a small sample of the information available on The Crab Street Journal. Keep reading!

Hermit Crab Habitat (Crabitat) Guides

Setting up a Proper Crabitat
Why dry substrate?

Hermit Crab Humidity Guides

How do I create and maintain humidity in my crabitat?
Calibrating your Humidity Gauge

Hermit Crab Habitat Heating Guides

Methods for heating your crabitat

Hermit Crab Molting Care Guides

What is molting?
Pre Molt Symptoms
Is my hermit crab dead or molting?

Hermit Crabs with Dropped or Missing Limbs Care Guides

Caring for hermit crabs with limb loss or other deformities
Why do land hermit crabs drop limbs?
Technique for Adjusting New Crabs – PPDR Method

Hermit Crab Out of Its Shell (naked) Care Guide

My Hermit Crab has left its shell! What do I do?

Hermit Crab Diet and Nutrition Guides

Hermit crab food guide
Safe and unsafe foods

Hermit Crab Water Guides

How do I mix ocean water?
Why can’t I use just tap water alone?

Hermit Crab Shell Guides

Land Hermit Crab Shell Guide
Painted Shells

Locating an Escaped Hermit Crab Guide

Locating an Escaped Hermit Crab

Keeping Hermit Crabs on a Budget

Cost Cutting Tips
A guide for setting up a large crabitat on a budget

Hermit Crab Emergency Care Guides

For emergency care information, visit Emergency Care for Pet Hermit Crabs: Handling Common Issues and Crises.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do Hermit Crabs Live?

With proper care, hermit crabs can live 40+ years in captivity. Read about Jonathon Livingston Crab who lived 48 years with Carol Ann Ormes.

Can Hermit Crabs Live Alone?

While they can survive alone, they are happiest and healthiest in groups.

Do Hermit Crabs Need Fresh and Saltwater?

Yes, they require both fresh and saltwater pools for drinking and bathing.