Michaella R
The crab street journal is an evolving group that helps many through all the many ups and downs. It’s a place to cultivate knowledge and love for hermit crabs, which at one point was difficult for me to find. I love my crabs and wanted to offer them more, which is how I found the group. With their help, I was able to help my oldest crab, bubba, have the nicest tank I was ever able to provide him and his friends.Read More →
Ashley R
CSJ has seriously helped me help my crabbies thrive. They were given to me by a family member in a chicken wire type cage with a sponge and pellet food. I had no idea how to care for a hermit crab and so glad I was able to find The Crab Street Journal and get them a proper set up and a start to a better life! Thankfully I haven’t experienced an emergency yet but I know the first thing I will do is search the files in the group and contact an admin. Thank you for all you do!!Read More →
Caroline F
I love the Crab Street Journal! I own nine hermit crabs and, when I have a question I go to this website. I love how the Crab Street Journal always says “No to painted shells”.Read More →
Airborne Irritants and Hermit Crabs
Land hermit crabs breathe through a modified gill. It is important to protect the gills from strong fragrances, essential oils, candles, household cleaners, chemicals, smoke insecticides and other airborne irritants. Be mindful of what you spray or use near the crabitat even if your tank is fully sealed. Residual product may still be in the air when you open your tank. If you are forced to have your home sprayed for insects ensure your tank is fully sealed with saran wrap or something similar. Allow the house to air out at least 24 hours before unsealing your tank.Read More →
Relocating to a new home with your hermit crabs
Relocating to a new house is something all humans do at least once in their life. Sometimes the move is planned and sometimes not so much. Relocating with hermit crabs can be a bit more challenging that moving with other pets. While I’m certain there are other ways to ensure the move goes smoothly we are only going to cover some basics here. First of all, do not move your tank with the substrate and crabs still in it. The biggest danger is the collapsing of molt burrows. Even if you don’t have hermit crabs underground you risk the bottom busting out of the tankRead More →
Setting up a Proper Hermit Crab Habitat (crabitat)
Let’s look at how to set up a proper hermit crab habitat, which we refer to as a crabitat. Basing your tank set up on what you saw at the pet store or mall cart where you may have purchased your hermit crabs is a recipe for disaster. Kritter Keepers and wire cages are death boxes and should never be used. Listed below are the primary components of a proper set up and we will discuss them in detail. If you are not willing to equip the tank properly you should return your hermit crabs or rehome them, they will not thrive without a properlyRead More →
Coenobita Pereiopods
In hermit crabs, the fourth and particularly the fifth pereopods are reduced, usually remaining within the confines of the gastropod shell and hence are not used for walking. These appendages do however becoming important when the hermit crab attempts to right itself, providing anchorage within the shell. Further, the fifth pereopod has become specialised as a gill cleaning appendage, often resting within the gill chamber (Bauer 1981). On the abdomen only the left pleopods are retained (Poore 2004).[1] Hermit crabs used specialized setae on the their maixillipedes and fifth pereiopods for most grooming but used the unmodified first, second, and third periopods as well. MostRead More →
Ask Milo – I need some DIY hermit crab toys ideas
Anna asks: I have been having some trouble finding a good way to make some fun toys that my hermit crabs would love. My Crabitait is plain With nothing for the hermit crabs to really do. I have some branches that they don’t like and a lego 2nd floor which they dont go on unless i put them on there(though they LOVE to hangout under it). Plus the toys at the pet store are to expinzie for my buget. I want them to love there cage. Do have any ideas for homemade toys that would make my hermit crabs have a better time in myRead More →
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