In: General
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When adding newly purchased or acquired crabs to an existing colony, for the long-term health of all, we at CSJ recommend the use of an isolation tank. Placing newly purchased or adopted hermit crabs into an existing healthy colony without a quarantine period risks the unnecessary exposure of your healthy hermits to shell disease or parasites. If you are just starting out with hermit crabs and do not have an existing colony or crabitat in place, use of the PPS Reduction Method will allow you to monitor your new crabs for 30 days and bring them slowly up to ideal environmental conditions. The PPS ReductionRead More →

In: Archives
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**A newer version of this article is available: http://crabstreetjournal.org/blog/2018/02/11/land-hermit-crab-shell-guide/ Hermit crab shells sold online are typically sold based on the size of the opening. When purchasing new shells for your hermit crab, measure their existing shell and then choose several shells that are somewhat larger. Hermit crabs typically prefer a shell that fits snugly allowing them to fully seal off the opening to protect themselves from predators and dessication. The photo shows how to take measurements properly. Ecuadorian (C. compressus) typically prefer a shell with a D shaped opening and commonly wear shells that are too small. Other species will wear a variety of shells,Read More →

In: Biology
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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 third maixillipedes and fifth pereiopods for most grooming but used the unmodified first, second, and third pereiopods as well. MostRead More →

In: Ask Milo
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Stephanie asks: I’ve had my hermit crabs for a few months and I have noticed a couple of things. One of my crabs molten but did not change shells, is that weird. Also, my crabs stopped moving around inside the tank. They never are active. What should I do? Hi Stephanie! It is a common misconception that hermit crabs must change shells when they molt. This is not true. Hermit crabs change shells when they decide it is time. A molt can trigger a shell change if the shell was very small fitting prior to molt. You can’t control when your little guys change shellsRead More →

In: Archives
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**A newer version of this article is available: http://crabstreetjournal.org/blog/2018/02/11/land-hermit-crab-shell-guide/ Note: Fun shell changing videos at the bottom of the post. crab_crazy asked: Hi yall! About how often do hermies change there shells? I provide them with shells all the time! Two of my hermies just changed there shell! They look really cute, but, anyway. I was just wondering. Thanks yall! Ronni Julia_Crab Hi, Ronni, Well, there is no exact answer to your question. Some crabs change shells all the time. My Fifi, a PP, after her first molt two months ago, has changed shells at least six times. She went hog-wild after I bought aRead More →

Coenobita abdomen and abdominal appendages

In: Caresheets
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A hermit crabs shell serves two purposes: first protection of the soft abdomen and second it prevents dessication (drying out). A hermit crab that has left the protection and life-sustaining seashell home is telling you it’s in distress.   Physically stressed from poor handling or conditions during capture, transport and/or poor pet store conditions Shell fight-another hermit crab has taken its shell-no suitable shell remains Changing shells and let go of the old one, which was shell-napped by another crab-no suitable shell remains Foreign body/irritant in the shell (sand, pest, fungus NOTE: crabs have been known to hide food in their shell) Temperature is tooRead More →

In: Caresheets
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This recipe can be modified, made stronger for use with very sick crabs, although this strength is fine for more minor cases! General wash for injured crabs: 1 Tbsp. Marshmallow root shaved 1 Tbsp. myrrh powder 1 Tbsp. calendula (marigold) 1 Tbsp. whole chamomile flowers (not powdered) First, you’ll need to make a decoction. Take one quart of water, and heat it over the stove to near boiling. Add one tablespoon marshmallow root, and one tablespoon myrrh. Cover, and simmer for thirty minutes. Remove from heat. Add one tablespoon calendula flowers (marigold) and one tablespoon whole chamomile flowers. Cover immediately again. Let sit until cool,Read More →