In: Biology

ectothermic 1. of, or relating to an ectotherm; cold-blooded From Wikipedia: Cold-blooded organisms (called poikilotherms – “of varying temperature”[1]) maintain their body temperatures in ways different from mammals and birds. The term is now outdated in scientific contexts. Cold-blooded creatures were, initially, presumed to be incapable of maintaining their body temperatures at all. Cold-blooded animals are now called ectotherms, a term which signifies that their heat (therm) comes from outside (ecto) of them; the term cold-blooded is misleading. Advances in the study of how creatures maintain their internal temperatures (termed: Thermophysiology) have shown that many of the earlier notions of what the terms “warm-blooded” andRead More →

In: Biology

heterothermic 1. of animals except birds and mammals; having body temperature that varies with the environment From Wikipedia Heterothermic (from Greek: hetero = “other” thermy = “heat.”) is a physiological term referring to a unique case of poikilothermy. Heterothermic creatures are homeothermic for a portion of the day, or year. More often than not, it is usually used as a way to dissociate the fluctuating metabolic rates seen in some small mammals and birds (e.g. bats and hummingbirds), from those of traditional cold blooded animals. In many bat species, body temperature and metabolic rate, are elevated only during activity. When at rest, these animals reduceRead More →

In: Biology

The molting cycle in crustacean is controlled by hormones. Below is a snippet from a study on crustacean molting that explains the role of hormones in the molting cycle. Land hermit crabs continue to molt their entire life unlike some other crustaceans. ERNEST S . CHANGM, ARILYN J. BRUCEA, ND SHERRY L. TAMONEBodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, P.O. Box 247, Bodega Bay, California 94923 SYNOPSISIn order to increase in size, arthropods must first molt (shed) their confining exoskeleton. This molting process is under the immediate control of the steroid molting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HE). Read the full article More articles on molting:What is moltingIs myRead More →

In: Biology

Overview of the anatomy of a land hermit crab (Coenobita): We are building image galleries of specific body parts. If you have high resolution, clear photos that you would like to donate to this project please contact us via email: crabstreetjournal at gmail dot com Click to be taken to the gallery:Chelipeds or pincersEyesAntenna (antennal flagellum, antennular flagellum, antennule)Mandibles and MaxipellidGills and branchial chamberAbdomen, Uropods, Pleopods, TelsonWater or molt sacEgg clusterGonoporesShieldRead More →

In: Biology, Caresheets

This is a (hopefully) more simplified revision of the original.  I have also created a printable calendar for tracking that is free to download. Introduction: The objective of this method is to reduce the impact of physical stress by keeping the hermit crab above ground eating well and exposed to light. Both are vital to the hermit crab’s ability to recover. This is a thirty day method. While this can be accomplished in three weeks, there is no reason to rush. If you are adding new (wild caught) hermit crabs to your existing colony it is important that you do not introduce sick or contagiousRead More →

In: Biology, Caresheets, General

written by Sue Latel March 8, 2006 Little Billy has had 3 hermit crabs since his 12 birthday. He has a 20 gallon tank housing his 3 small PP crabs. One day when he is at the store picking up some ocean salt water for his crabs, he spots a tank containing 2 poor little Ruggies that have no water except for a damp sponge, huge pellets of food that he doubts they have even attempted to eat, and no ground cover to protect them from the 100 watt heat lamp that is shining directly on them from an open tank top. Billy has been aRead More →

In: Biology

Exact text of the original paper by Herbst: The name Coenobita Clypeatus (usually pronounced seen-oh-bit-a cly-pe-ait-us) may be translated as “shield-bearing monk or cloister brother,” which conjures up a truer image of this often gregarious and variously cloistered resident of tropical East American shores than does “hermit crab.” But, like most common names, “hermit crab” or “soldier crab” in native parlance, will certainly endure. The animal so called belongs to a small family of terrestrial decapod crustaceans quite distinct from the marine hermit crabs. The family Coenobitidas is composed of two genera: Birgus and Coenobita. Birgus is represented by a single species, Birgus latro (Linnaeus,Read More →

In: Crabitat, General

written by Kerie Campbell 2005 Two months ago, during deep clean, I took my largest compressus,Houdini, out of the tank, turned him over to have a look, and a red…thing fell out of his shell. I couldn’t believe it! Mites!Huge, red mites. Houdini had a few, Fifi had some, and poor Ghidra,a pre-molt rugosus, was covered with them. I was appalled. I inspect new crabs when I get them for mites, and have never seen any. The only explanation I have is that these mites, being a bright red color, must have snuck in on some of the perlatus – they are the same colorRead More →

In: Biology, General

written by Jennifer Borgesen The fungi:  how they grow and their effects on human health. (includes related article on documentation of fungal exposure and disease relationship) Date: 07-01-1997; Publication: Heating, Piping, Air Conditioning; Author: Burge, Harriet A. Shape and structure of fungi “The fungal cell is similar to that. of plants and animals, containing all of the same organelles (nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, membrane systems, etc.). Like plants, the fungal cell is bounded by a rigid cell wall. However, while plant cell walls contain cellulose as the basic structural material, fungal cell walls contain a material that is similar to that in insect exoskeletons (chitin). MostRead More →

In: General

originally written by Jedediah and updated by Stacy Griffith It is impossible to completely rid your home of insects. https://www.wired.com/2016/01/just-give-up-its-impossible-to-bug-proof-your-home Tip: Need to identify a bug? Place it in a cup of water so you can take a clear photo of it or use a magnifying glass to inspect it. Insects Insects have six legs and three body parts that are usually clearly visible, the head, the thorax (the breast) and the abdomen. Most of them have wings, although those might not be clearly visible, some insects can hide them in a sort of pouch on their back (like earwigs) and some insects have noRead More →

In: General

written by Vanessa Pike-Russell Re-Educate before Rescue! Vanessa Pike-Russell on the importance of educating petstores about proper hermit crab careI understand that it is difficult to ignore hermit crabs in bad conditions. By buying them from pet stores you are are saving some from the bad conditions, however unless they stop selling hermit crabs altogether it is feeding the cycle. (Repeat) If you rescue hermit crabs from a pet store with bad conditions then you are supporting a pet store that is doing the wrong thing, and only encouraging them to buy more hermit crabs since there are no negatives about the way they careRead More →

In: Crabitat

written by Rai Ahmes Relative humidity (RH) is measured as a percentage–absolute and specific humidity are NOT. If it reads in % it’s a relative gauge. RH gauges are fairly inexpensive and commonly available. Gauges measuring absolute or specific humidity are hard to find and expensive; they also read in either g/kg or g/cubic meter (or the non-metric equivalent) not %. “Actual humidity” and “exact humidity” are not measurements. Dial RH gauges are rarely calibrated properly by the time they reach your home. This is NOT the fault of the manufacturer. It is simply the way it is with this type of hygrometer whether it’sRead More →

In: General

written by Vanessa Pike-Russell Recently we interviewed Amy Youngs, a young artist who has “collaborated with another artist, Matt Derksen, to design shells using 3D modelling programs.” http://accad.osu.edu/~ayoungs/prototypes.html Vanessa: What prompted you to create prototypes of hermit crab seashells Amy: I am very interested in the ways that technology interfaces with the natural world and I when I was given the opportunity to work with the new technology of rapid prototyping, I really wanted to make something that would connect with my interest in living things. I remembered owning a hermit crab and I knew that they switched shells and I had been curious aboutRead More →

In: General, Painted Shells

Our treatment of animals will someday be considered barbarous. There cannot be perfect civilization until man realizes that the right of every living creature are as sacred as his own – Dr. David Starr Jordan and now, on with the show… Crab in a cup anyone? First a bit o’ the story. I went to the pet store, the one that I LIKE, and they always have good patties, in natural shells, none of the painted. So I wander to the hermit crab tank and in the aquarium is about 16 crabs in cups, stacked on top of each other. all in red or pinkRead More →

In: FAQ, Food and Nutrition, General

written by Jennifer Nielsen The existence of an ocean water dish is a source of great controversy in the world of hermit crab owners. Why the importance of this type of water is rarely debated, it seems that the products used in the creation of Ocean Water are the source of much debate. Just as all hermit crab owners know not to use table salt for their crabs, there are two types of salt available for aquarium use. Fresh Saltwater as well as Ocean Water Salt, which although made of the same components have vastly different role within the world of fish keeping. A saltwaterRead More →

In: General

Originally written by Vanessa Pike-Russell Look closely at the hermit crab environment and ask questions about the food, bedding, housing and temperature needs for your new pets. If you have never owned hermit crabs before a book on caring for hermit crabs is a wonderful resource. There is a list of hermit crab guides listed under Books in Product Reviews. Make sure that you can purchase extra shells from the shop or alternatively from a seashell shop, craft store or tourist shop. When I am selecting a crab I will ask permission to pick up and handle the hermit crabs. Slowly and gently pick upRead More →

In: Biology

Originally written by Vanessa Pike-Russell, updated 2018 by Stacy Griffith If you have heard it, you would think that it sounds like something between a frog croak’s, a chicken’s clucking and something else thrown in for good measure. “The land hermit crab sometimes communicates by a whirring-chirping sound, though not too often. These noises usually have been heard during aggressive encounters in the crabs’ natural environment and are seldom heard in captivity. The only behavior observed that may resemble aggression has been when one crab shakes or rocks another to drive him from a shell the aggressor wants. Even in this act neither crab isRead More →

In: Crabitat, General

Written by Vanessa Pike-Russell Hermit crabs are advertised as cheap and easy to maintain, which is not necessarily true. To keep your hermit crabs happy and healthy, you will need to provide a lot more than food and water. In this article we will give you a list of essential and optional items you need. Also you will find some info on basic care and upkeep of the tank, considerations when purchasing. 1. ESSENTIALS Glass tank with lid: A glass tank is preferred over plastic tanks, which will scratch and will not be able to hold the humidity within the ventilated lids. A glass lidRead More →

In: FAQ, Food and Nutrition

Hermit crab enthusiast Jennifer Nielsen compares several brands of sea salt mix in this article.Written by Jennifer Nielsen (aka redjln) While many hermit crab owners realize the importance of providing Ocean Water to their pets, there is a question over which type and which specific product is the best. To answer this, I got Instant Ocean and Reef Crystals enriched blend by Aquarium Systems, Doc Wellfish’s Aquarium Salt, and Aquarium Salt by Jungle. I have gotten a container of Distilled Water to test the products in. Now, I will disclaim right now that I do not have access to a laboratory of equipment. All IRead More →

In: FAQ

Special credit thanks to Wendy at Hermit Crabs R Us for compiling and sharing this list!! After mixing all ocean/sea mixes leave sit for at least 12-24 hours prior to offering to ensure that all the crystals have dissolved. Crystal Sea Marine mix Bioassy FormulaThe site from which I purchased this mix indicates 1/4 lb or 1/3 cup will yield 1 gallon. I found it to only be 1.016 SG when mixed this way. I tested it using 2 different hydrometers-one that was also purchased at the same site as the salt mix. I mixed it using 1/2 cup and got 1.021. (I add anRead More →

In: General

Setting up a proper crabitat can be expensive even with a 20 gallon tank and the bigger the tank the bigger the price tag for stocking it. With some planning and creativity you can upgrade to a large crabitat without going broke. This article is about ways to save money when setting up as well as some common mistakes to avoid. The first thing I can’t stress to people enough is that there are places you can shop that are far cheaper than a pet store!! A new 150 gallon tank will cost you hundreds of dollars. I bought my 150 gallon tank out ofRead More →

In: General

In 2006, an editor from World Book’s Animals of the World contacted Stacy Griffith and Vanessa Pike Russell to ask for permission to use some of their photos. Permission was granted and the photos are found in the 2007 volume titled Purple Pinchers and Other Hermit Crabs. It was a great honor to be invited to participate in such a well known encyclopedia series. Vanessa and Stacy had two photos each featured in the book.Read More →

In: FAQ

Written by Travis Wease Tips for saving money and having a safe crabitat: First off there are certain things that you can’t really skimp on when it comes to setting up a safe and fun crabitat. Things like a heat source whether it be lights or a UTH, substrate has a cost, although some are cheaper, humidity gauges, temperature gauges, and the tank itself has a cost, but here are some tips to save money and use items that you may already have laying around the house. 1.Look on Craigslist or Freecycle for tanks. Sometimes you can find them at Goodwill or other re-use storesRead More →

In: FAQ

Written by Marie Davis On occasions one may find that when they do an antenna count they seem to be missing a hermit crab? Where possibly could it be? All empty shells have been looked into, including doing the precaution of turning the shells upside down and placing water within them. There have been occasions when a hermit crab has changed shells and fits so far down within it they are impossible to see. By placing water within the shells and turning them hole side up, if the shell moves hole side down a crabber knows there is a resident within it. Could he beRead More →

In: General, Painted Shells

Written by Stacy Griffith Its been nearly 2 months since I brought home 8 E’s from Petco. Thankfully four of them shed their painted shells before being moved to the main tank. You can watch one of the in the video below. The sole reason shells are painted is to entice your children into begging you for a hermit crab. In most instances the child doesn’t necessarily want the crab but the brightly colored shells. This has been a losing battle for us for many years and I still have no ideas how to convince Petco and others to stop buying from suppliers who pushRead More →

In: FAQ

No. Hermit crabs should not consume or be exposed to stress coat. There is no conclusive evidence that stress coat is beneficial to land hermit crabs. There is concern regarding stress coat coating the gills and abdominal lung. Water treatment products should not include any additive that promotes a healthy slime coat or contains aloe vera.  Read More →

In: FAQ

CrabbyMum asked: Get the odor out of shells? I know to boil newly purchased shells, but I want to reuse some of the shells that are smelly from a crab dying in it. So far, we’ve lost one of the Littles (PP = Faith) and I think another is not going to make it. I have her in iso and will wait til we are sure before dealing with it’s shell tho. But I tried soaking the ones that Violet and Faith were in because the odor was so strong in them yet and then boiled them. I remember reading how Vinegar can damage themRead More →

In: FAQ

Buffing seashells comes with potential dangers. Here’s what to watch out for: 1. Dust and Particulates 2. Sharp Edges 3. Heat Generation 4. Structural Fragility 5. Tool-Related Injuries 6. Biological Contaminants 7. Environmental Considerations By taking these precautions, you can enjoy buffing seashells safely and responsibly. A conversation from our original Yahoo group regarding buffing shells. Rachelrmf asked: I have alot of natural shells that i just love, but have recently (i know i am a bit of a blonde;;lol) relized that my shells are the same as all of the pretty ones i like they just are’nt buffed out. does anyone know of aRead More →

In: FAQ

Ken Lipe (CrabCon shell vendor!! On Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/theshellstore On Ebay: https://www.ebay.com/usr/mirrormaker   Sea Shell City:http://www.seashellcity.com/hermitcrabs.html Naples:http://www.naplesseashellcompany.com/hermit_crab_shells.html Wonders of the Sea:http://www.sealifegifts.net/shells_small.html The Hermit Crab Patch:http://www.hermitcrabpatch.com Sea Shell Worldhttp://www.seashellworld.com/hermit-crab-shells.html Shell Horizonshttp://www.shellhorizons.com/products.asp?category=74 Sea Shell Shophttp://www.seashellshop.com/Replacement-Shells/ Richard’s Sea Shells (Formerly Deltona Shells)http://www.richardsseashells.com Looking to buy a large quantity? Try Atlantic Coral Enterprise – minimum $100 order https://www.atlanticcoralenterprise.com/ProductCart/pc/home.asp Searching on Etsy or Ebay will also yield a lot of results for shells. You can also find hermit crab shells on amazon. If you know of another quality web site, please feel free to e-mail us the link so we may add it to our list.Read More →

In: FAQ

When the power goes out the biggest concern is keeping the crabitat warm. Allowing the temperature to fall below 72F is dangerous. We don’t have any data indicating at what temperature a crab will die or how long it can be exposed to this temperature before dying. Hermit crabs are tropical animals so they are not meant to endure cold temperatures for extended periods of time. This article will suggest some ways to insulate a crabitat or deal with a power outage/lack of heat. Some of these ideas will also work in a pinch if your tank heater fails and you can’t get a replacementRead More →

In: FAQ

Our beloved hermit crabs are ectothermic creatures, which means they depend on the environment to regulate their body temperature. This means maintaining their crabitat at proper temperature and humidity is literally a matter of life and death. With warm summer temps comes the risk of a too hot crabitat, below are some tips to help cool down your crabbies on a blazing hot day. First remember that hermit crabs are tropical creatures so they can handle brief temperature spikes and be okay. A prolonged heat wave will be too much for them to handle. If you cool your home by opening windows and using fans,Read More →

In: FAQ

A thermostat monitors the temperature and turns the heat pad on and off to keep the temperature at the value you entered, like the one in your home that controls your heat or air conditioning. Most thermostats come with a probe. Inkbird is a brand we trust and they offer many different options for heat and humidity monitoring. A rheostat or dimmer is a dial that allows the user to adjust the level of heat based on their preference but is not automated in anyway. It works like the volume knob in your car. Rheostats can be used with a thermostat but it’s not necessary.Read More →

In: FAQ

Originally posted at All Things Crabby Things Hermit Crab Care Blog The first step to creating and maintaining humidity in your tank, is a good lid. A screen lid alone is not sufficient. A glass/plexiglass/lexan lid, cut to fit is the best option. Plexiglass/lexan can be purchased at most hardware stores and be cut to size for free. This can be placed on top of your existing screen lid for stability. Coroplast is another good option for a lid. This can be placed on top of your existing screen lid for stability. In the short term, you can use plastic wrap over the screen lid. SomeRead More →

In: Crabitat, FAQ

The LHCOS official stance on PVC is: Use at your own risk The safety of PVC is a hotly debated topic and without research on its effect on crustaceans we are not able to make a determination.  Below are some arguments against and for PVC. CrabbyAbbey answered: PVC isn’t a safe product to be used in a closed environment or with land hermits that tend to taste sample their surroundings, or really anywhere for that matter. It’s production includes chlorine and lead and it leaches chemical gases into the air, especially in heated areas. In closed areas like crabitats these dangers are even more harmful.Read More →

In: FAQ

Determining whether your hermit crab is molting above ground (surface molt) or has passed away can be challenging, as both states may appear similar. During molting, hermit crabs often exhibit behaviors that might be mistaken for death. Molting Indicators: Assessing the Situation: Recommendations: In the early stages of the molt, the large cheliped (pincer) becomes somewhat paralyzed as it prepares to pull free of the old exoskeleton. The large shape of the claw must be pulled backwards through the smaller exoskeleton. The soft underlying tissue must be contracted to allow it to pass through the smaller parts of the exoskeleton. The hermit crabs’ equilibrium gland,Read More →

In: Biology, FAQ

Originally written by Vanessa Pike-Russell and Lisa Loseke updated by Stacy Griffith Arthropods (e.g., insects and crustaceans) must molt their exoskeletons periodically in order to grow; in this process the inner layers of the old cuticle are digested by a molting fluid secreted by the epidermal cells, the animal emerges from the old covering, and the new cuticle hardens. The molting process is a central, and nearly continuous, part of a crab’s life. A hermit crab may spend 90% of its time getting ready to molt, molting, or recovering from a molt. There are many dangers to molting including predation, difficulty in movement as musclesRead More →

In: FAQ, Food and Nutrition

This is a compilation of forum posts from our old site. To date we have not confirmed whether diseases fish may have can be passed onto hermit crabs.Sat Mar 05, 2005Ladycrab wrote:Bought some gold fish for the hermies. Froze them last night just need to know if they need to be prepared any special way before serving them??? Julia_Crab wrote:There’s a bit of controversy afoot about the goldfish method right now. Freezing is a great way to kill any bacteria that might have affected the crabs, if any, though. I’m still not convinced that crabs can be affected by bacteria in the food, but I’mRead More →

In: FAQ

This is a compilation of forum posts from our old site. You can read more about how shell disease affects hermit crabs. TroppoDec 13, 2006 Today I read an interesting article in a Queensland newspaper that crabbers(particularly Australian crabbers) who feed their crabs prawns, may like to read. Below is an excerpt. Prawns posing disease threat.The increased volume and decreased price of imported green prawns has further escalated the risk of spreading the diseases, white spot syndrome and taura syndrome to the state’s prawn stocks. The Department of Fisheries and Primary Industries has initiated it’s own testing and sampling program as a measure to protectRead More →

In: FAQ

Originally written by Vanessa Pike-Russell Sometimes it takes a while to bond with your crab. they might not feed from your hand from the first time you try but if you persevere and are patient, it will happen. Gently hold the back of their shell with thumb and forefinger, and hold a piece of fruit (fresh or dried), nut (especially almond) bread, popcorn or cracker near the crab’s cheliped, or grasping claw, perhaps even brushing the food against it until your crab starts to become interested in the food and and they will responsively clutch at it and then want to taste it. You shouldRead More →

In: Caresheets

Originally written by Vanessa Pike-Russell Behaviour in the Wild Land hermit crabs are territorial animals, and as such they will often act aggressively towards one another to establish a ‘pecking’ order among their colony. Sometimes this can be in the form of ‘feeler’ or antennae fights, others in violent pushing or flicking fellow tank mates out of the way. Usually this is not serious enough to warrant intervention. However, some hermit crabs will act in a manner that is harmful to other hermit crabs, often trying to pull their hermie buddy out of a desired shell, or attacking eyes, antennae, claws, legs or abdomen. IfRead More →

In: Caresheets

Originally written by Vanessa Pike-Russell It is important that your land hermit crabs are able to bathe themselves. Bathing allows your hermit crab to re-hydrate their gills, replenish shell water and adjust the water salinity as well as flush out feces and wash off the sticky juices and food stuffs which are present when you offer fresh fruit, seafood and raw foods. Hermit Crabs urinate through their antennae, so any water spills during handling is shell water. Hermit Crabs have an anus located on the end of their abdomen, and have been observed to flick any wastes (droppings) out of their shells. These feces are oftenRead More →

In: Caresheets, Crabitat

Compilation of information by Vanessa Pike-Russell and Stacy Griffith To keep your hermit crabs healthy and happy their environment should be kept in optimum temperature and humidity levels. If you are not able to keep the environment stable then your crabs will weaken and become stressed which will lead to death. Hermit crabs are ectothermic creatures and must have a warmish and cooler side to their substrate. If your temperature falls below 75F on a frequent basis you need a reliable and safe method for heating your crabitat. Whatever type of under tank heater or other heating method you use, it is STRONGLY recommended thatRead More →

In: Caresheets

Originally written by Vanessa Pike-Russell-Updated by Stacy Griffith What is Humidity? Humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air. It can be expressed in several ways. “Specific humidity” is the mass of water vapor per unit mass of combined dry air and water vapor, generally expressed in grams per kilogram. The specific humidity of an air parcel does not change with temperature. “Absolute humidity” is the density of water vapor, expressed as grams per cubic meter of air. “Relative humidity”  is the ratio of the partial pressure of water vapor to the equilibrium vapor pressure of water at a givenRead More →

In: Caresheets

Originally written by Vanessa Pike-Russell-Updated by Stacy Griffith There are a few reasons your hermit crab may be less active than you expected. Is your crabitat boring? One way to increase activity is to create an obstacle course within the tank, using cholla logs or driftwood, coral and/or rocks. Providing an enriching environment will encourage your hermit crabs to explore. They are curious beings and they love to climb. Land Hermit crabs are primarily, but not exclusively, nocturnal creatures. That means that in the wild they sleep during the day and are active at night. This allows them to escape the drying heat of theRead More →

In: Caresheets

Originally written by Vanessa Pike-Russell-Updated by Stacy Griffith All hermit crabs require some access to salt in their diet, no matter what species. The habitat of land hermit crab species differs from location to location, and they have adapted to the environment they live in. Approximately 3.5%, or 35 parts per thousand solution is recommended for the “Ocean Water” pool within your tank. Typically mixing according to package directions is sufficient. If you are using distilled or spring water it may have varying amounts of salt already within the water, so take that into consideration.. It is important to note which type of water youRead More →

In: Caresheets

What is Autotomy? Comes from the latin words autos for “self” and tomos for “cut Autotomy can be described as self-cutting, Websters dictionary describes autotomy as a “reflex separation of a part (as an appendage) from the body: division of the body into two or more pieces.” Hermit Crabs can autotomize (drop) and regenerate (regrow) their limbs from juvenile to adult stages. The break occurs along a fracture plane located at the appendage’s base. Why do land hermit crabs drop limbs? The rate at which the limbs regenerate depends upon the molt cycle (Morgan, 1900; Zeleny, 1908; Bliss, 1960; Skinner 1962, 1985). During aggressive encounters,Read More →

In: FAQ

Originally written by Vanessa Pike-Russell-Updated by Stacy Griffith Common Name/Scientific Name Dust Mites – House Dust Mite Dermatophagoides sp. “Dust mites are microscopic, small enough to live inside the weave and fibers of your clothing, bedding carpet and such. They don’t actually bite they are waaay to small .. they actually live on the skins flakes we shed. When people have problems with dust mites it is because they are actually allergic to the proteins in their saliva and excrement! So there is precious little on a hermit crab to attract or sustain a dust mite. Grain Mites – Grain Mite Acarus siro L. “StoredRead More →

In: Caresheets

A hermit crabs shell serves two purposes: first protection of the soft abdomen and second it prevents desiccation (drying out). A hermit crab that has left the protection and life-sustaining seashell home is telling you it’s in distress. Below we expand a bit on these causes. Physical Stress Land Hermit Crabs endure a great amount of stress before reaching the pet store. The harvesting and shipping of hermit crabs is a very inhumane process and the crabs suffer because of it. They then arrive in pet stores, who in most cases, don’t know how to properly care for them. They arrived stressed out, dehydrated andRead More →

In: Food and Nutrition

Land Hermit Crabs are arthropods. Arthropods have a stiff cuticle made largely of chitin and proteins, forming an exoskeleton that may or may not be further stiffened with calcium carbonate. They have segmented bodies and show various patterns of segment fusion (tagmosis) to form integrated units (heads, abdomens, and so on). The phylum takes its name from its distinctive jointed appendages, which may be modified in a number of ways to form antennae, mouth parts, and reproductive organs. Land Hermit Crabs in the wild eat a lot of protein in the form of dead fish, prawns, seaweed, cuttlefish as well as other forms of proteinRead More →