Most crab lovers claim that caring for a hermit crab is not particularly difficult. However, at first it is better to follow the instructions so as not to harm your new pet.
Selecting a suitable home
First of all, you should think about where your pet will live. A glass aquarium would be an ideal option. To select the required volume, it is important to decide at the initial stage how many hermits you plan to settle there. Look at the photo and find out the size. At the beginning, count 1 cm of crayfish per 1.5 liters. In order to determine the size of the cancer, you need to carefully measure the inner diameter of the shell with a ruler. Don't forget to provide space for three dishes, toys and various shelters, as well as a free place where the crayfish can walk freely. As in situations with fish, it is important to monitor the number of inhabitants, but a lack of fish will also not help. If you roughly imagine your future crayfish nursery, then 5-6 small crayfish will comfortably live in a 40-liter aquarium. If possible, immediately purchase an aquarium for growth. The wider the pet house, the more different types of entertainment you can build there. Photos of various attractions can be found on the Internet. Buying a 40-liter aquarium will inevitably entail additional expenses as your pets grow.
Don't ignore the advice about having a lid. The hermit crab is an escape artist. If you forget to cover the tank for even 10 minutes, you can be sure that the next time you will spend hunting for the fugitive. A glass lid with ventilation holes is the best protection against the endless search for escaped crayfish.
Perfect lining
Creating a lining not only decorates the aquarium, but also has practical value. The substrate must have a thickness of at least 15 centimeters or the height of the largest individual multiplied by two. For small crayfish, 12.5 is enough, and for a brood, 10. These numbers indicate the optimal depth for molting. Sand is considered the best available substrate. If possible, purchase compressed coconut fiber. To save money, you can mix these two types of soil. Pay attention to maintaining humidity. It is important that both the sand and the coconut fiber are slightly damp. Constant humidification and a glass lid will help achieve this effect. Thanks to this microclimate, crayfish quickly grow in size and develop fully.
Dishes, shelters, toys
The hermit crab loves obstacles and holes. Therefore, try to provide them with optimal leisure time. To do this, it is important to make sure that hermit crabs can easily fit into the narrowest passages and exits. It is advisable to equip the aquarium with several types of shelters, which can be found not only in stores, but also prepared from scrap materials; just look at the photos of finished aquariums. Their number should be proportional to the number of individuals.
Ideal shelter options:
- Ceramic chipped pots;
- Coconut shell;
- Sinks;
- Reptile Caves;
- Other decorations.
In addition to hide and seek, the hermit crab is not averse to practicing rock climbing. If you like to watch agile pets, then install several inclined surfaces for them to climb. Various branches, solid plants, decor, stones and even sea duck shells are suitable for this.
The size of the bowl should match the size of the crayfish that live with you. So, when immersed in a bowl, hermit crabs should go about ¾ of their body deep. It is important that hermit crabs have free access to bowls, since when immersed in water, they store liquid for a long time. For the young animals, build bridges so they can climb and get into the bowl.
During molting, crayfish do not grow new shells, but use those left over from dead snails, so you will have to try and find a large selection of different shells. The breed of hermit crab will determine the preferred shape of the shell opening. Visual photos will help you decide in more detail. To make it easier for cancer to find new protection, periodically keep the houses in salt water.
Proper water is the key to health
The only problem in keeping crayfish optimally is the selection of water. The fact is that ordinary chlorinated tap water burns the gills and leads to the painful death of pets. It is important to use purified water for both drinking and hydration. Purchase several bottles of clean water from a pet store. Don't forget about the aqua conditioner. The usual biological film is not suitable for this purpose; it can only be used for bathing crayfish and for keeping fish. It is necessary to find an air conditioner that will remove chlorine from the water and neutralize metals.
Crayfish use two types of water: fresh and salt. If everything is clear with fresh water, then salted water must be prepared at the rate of 10 tablespoons of aquarium salt per 1 batch of water. Wait 12 hours until the salts are completely dissolved and let the crayfish enjoy. The humidity of the aquarium should be between 79-89 percent.
Feeding
There are no problems with feeding crayfish. The fact is that hermit crabs calmly feed on any type of food, since in their natural environment they consume any available food. They will be happy to eat leftovers from your table, canned food. They will not give up fruits and seafood, which are very important for maintaining optimal levels of vitamins. Feed them meat, cereals, groceries and rolled oats. If you didn’t cook anything today, the crayfish will gobble up the specialized food. It’s true that crayfish don’t eat much, so give the food in small batches and see how they react to it.
Heating a prepared aquarium
Since hermit crabs are considered tropical inhabitants, the optimal temperature for them ranges from 27 degrees. Most often, the apartments of the average house are not heated enough for them, so install a bottom heater that is attached to the bottom from the outside, this is clearly visible in the photo. It is low-power and gives an increase of only 5 degrees, but this is quite enough. It is not advisable to use tungsten filament because it dries the air quickly. It is ideal if you can create different temperature conditions in different sides of the aquarium.
Today, science numbers about seventy thousand of all kinds of crustacean substances. They live in any body of water. Despite this diversity, many varieties have not yet been studied by science. Scientists note only some representatives of the underwater world. These include the lobster, hermit crab, mantis crab and hermit crab.
Crustaceans, hermit crab and hermit crab, their description
Crustaceans are huge group of arthropods. These include many species of the marine world. These are crabs, shrimp, crayfish and sea crayfish. Currently, scientists count more than seventy thousand of these creatures. Almost all reservoirs are inhabited by these animals.
Crustaceans are active creatures. But in some cases, you can see less mobile forms. These include sea ducks and sea acorns. Scientists note that not every crustacean lives in a body of water; there are also those who happily spend their day on land.
There are crustaceans that can grow both small and large. They can change the color of their body and even camouflage themselves with the appearance of the surrounding soil. Many crayfish move actively, while others, on the contrary, like to lie on underwater rocks.
Hermit crab: description
A hermit crab is a vagrant that lives in shallow sea waters. It has a small house on its back, with which it moves along sand and rocks. Thus, it finds food in the form of organic debris and small algae. Once you see a mollusk shell, you should know that a hermit crab can live in it. Its legs and compound eyes will protrude from the shell, and several antennae may also be visible. The antennae are an organ of touch and an organ of smell.
Hermits live in the shells of rappans, gibullus, nassa and cerithium. Many individuals living in the shells of rapans can reach large sizes. Young hermits can occupy a variety of shells, including rissoi or tricoli.
Unfortunately, without constant protection in the form of a shell, animals are attacked by numerous predators. In this regard, the hermit crab has no choice but to fit into an empty shell and hide. In this case, the shell will eventually adapt to the new owner.
The hermit's claws are, as a rule, large in size, so the animal chooses a larger shell, and then blocks the passage with its claw to be safe. At the same time, it is not possible to pull out a hermit crab in this position. He never, under any circumstances, leaves his home. The only exception may be the need to move to a new house, since the old one has become crowded.
Hermit crabs able to grow throughout life. Therefore, the housing issue worries almost every one of them. At the same time, they can find many empty shells at the bottom, but the animals never attack the snails. They are harmless and colonize only in empty shells. If there is no free housing, the hermit can move in with other crustaceans.
An interesting fact is that the crustacean, in the absence of housing, offers an exchange to its relatives. To do this, the crayfish taps on the shell. If the relative is not against the new tenant, then he taps his claw in response. If he disagrees, then he takes a threatening pose and does not allow his relative to approach him.
There are three species of hermits in Florida. Scientists, studying them, realized that they did not understand each other's language.
In Crimea, on the shores of the Black Sea, two species of hermit crab live. This Cybanarius cancer and Diogenes cancer:
- Cancer Diogenes was named after the famous Greek philosopher. He lived in a barrel and preferred flat shores. Such crayfish are considered small, as they do not reach more than thirty millimeters in length. They have varying colors. As a rule, these colors are gray or pink.
- Clibanaria cancer lives near the rocks. It is several times larger than the first representative. It prefers a rappan shell as a home. Externally it has a beautiful coral reef shade.
Other crustacean inhabitants: lobster and mantis
There are other equally popular representatives of crustaceans. These should include lobster and mantis:
Hermit crab: description
The hermit crab is a unique representative of the underwater world. He is called a pet. Many people do not know that the hermit crab has little in common with other equally well-known varieties of crabs. The hermit crab lives in large colonies. Up to one hundred individuals can live in one settlement.
Externally, the crustacean has a soft and vulnerable body. Its abdomen serves as protection and is used like a sea shell. The crab lives permanently in its shell and does not allow any other crustaceans to approach it.
As it develops and matures, the hermit crab changes its place of residence. He goes in search of another new shell that is the same size as his body. Lives exclusively in shells of mollusks and snails. Today, there are more than five hundred varieties of hermit crabs that live all over the world. Most crabs live in salt water. The crustacean representative lives only at depths. It's easier to find a new sink there. There are species of crabs that like to spend time in coral reefs, near water or along the shore.
They feed depending on their habitat. In general, they are omnivores. But the smallest representatives of crustaceans can eat seaweed en masse. Some large crabs eat only shellfish. Others prefer corals for lunch. Large hermit crabs are capable of feeding on other crustaceans. Quite often, both hermit crabs and crayfish are stocked in aquariums. At home, they are also able to survive with proper maintenance and care. At home, they need to be fed with fresh vegetables and fruits.
The body of hermit crabs is predominantly soft; they do not have a durable shell, so most species protect their abdomen with empty shells. They hunt with them, and they also take refuge in them in case of danger. Three pairs of limbs, including claws, usually protrude from the shell. The crayfish hunts with its left claw, and with its right claw it protects the entrance to the shell. During the process of evolution, hermits have greatly shortened their hind legs. It is with them that they now hold the shell when moving.
Habitats
Hermit crabs are found in the waters of the Baltic, Northern, and Mediterranean seas, off the islands of the Caribbean, and on the coasts of Europe. As a rule, they choose shallow water and only some species prefer a depth of 70-80 meters.
Nutrition
Hermit crabs are predators. They eat mollusks, worms, and other crustaceans. In addition, they are scavengers. By eating the remains that decompose off the coast, crayfish thereby help maintain cleanliness in the area.
Hermit crab shell
Hermit crabs choose the shells of about 25 species of mollusks as shelter. Without them, they are very vulnerable and easily become prey. The main selection criterion is the ratio of the internal volume to the weight of the sink.
Since the hermit crab is constantly growing, it is regularly in search of a new shell. Usually, immediately after molting, he begins to look for a more spacious home. If there are a lot of shells where it is located, then the replacement process occurs quickly and without problems. But if there are no shells, then the hermit crab looks closely at other similar crayfish. If he finds someone whose shell is clearly not the right size, then with special taps he offers his brother an exchange. If the neighbor agrees, he comes out of the shell. However, if something does not suit him, the hermit crab blocks the entrance with its claw. Very often there are real fights between crayfish for a cozy living space.
Symbiosis of hermit crabs and sea anemones
Very often, hermit crabs settle on sea anemones, which protect them from enemies. Sea anemones, in turn, move very quickly with them in search of prey. Sea anemones have poisonous tentacles that paralyze the victim. Some crayfish prefer to settle the sea anemone directly on the claw, with which they block the entrance to the shell in case of danger. If it is necessary to change the shell, then the hermit crab carefully carries its neighbor to its new home with its claw. Very often, hermit crabs that have not found a shell for themselves settle an anemone directly on their body.
Use a suitable container. The best option would be a glass aquarium. When deciding how many hermit crabs you will keep, it is important to correctly calculate the size of the aquarium. The following empirical calculation method will help you: 1 cm per 1.5 liters. To find out the size of the crayfish, you need to measure the inside diameter of the shell opening. Remember that the aquarium should have three dishes, climbing toys, hiding places, sinks and room to roam. The aquarium should not be overcrowded, but it should not seem empty either. A forty-liter aquarium will be an ideal home for six small crayfish. You may want to immediately get at least a 75-gallon aquarium, which will have enough space for everything. The larger the aquarium, the more space there is for crayfish to walk around, and the larger “climbing” equipment you can install in it. In any case, you will have to increase the aquarium if you started with a forty-liter one. But, on the other hand, crayfish will not grow too quickly in a small aquarium. Since there will be no water in the aquarium, you can use a used tank that is even leaking water.
Use the correct lid. Hermit crabs are escape artists. If there is a suitable hole in the aquarium, the cancer will definitely find it and escape. Cover the aquarium with a glass lid, which will prevent the crayfish from escaping and will retain moisture in the aquarium. Make sure the lid has ventilation holes.
Use suitable padding. This is a convenience that hermit crab owners most often forget about. The thickness of the substrate layer should be more than twice the height of the largest crayfish. For medium-sized crayfish (the size of a golf ball), the bedding depth should be at least 15 centimeters for molting. For small crayfish (the size of 5 kopecks), the thickness of the soil should be about 12.5 cm, and for tiny crayfish (the size of a penny), at least 10 cm. These are standard depths for molting. The best substrate is sand, but you can also use compressed coconut fiber sold under the names "Eco Earth", "Bed-A-Beast" or "Forest Bedding". You can also use a mixture of both. The sand and coir must be maintained at a certain level of moisture. The litter should not be dry, but also not completely wet. There should always be sand in the sandcastle. The humidity is checked as follows: your finger should not go into the sand too easily, but also not be wet when you pull it out. Sand of such humidity will provide your crayfish with stable growth due to successful molting (change of shell). Do not use sawdust, gravel, newspaper, etc. as a substrate...
Place dishes, toys and hiding places in the aquarium. Make sure the shelter has an opening large enough for the crayfish to enter and exit. It is advisable to place more than one hiding place in case one of the crayfish wants to be alone. Although they are social creatures, sometimes they like to truly be hermits. Coconut shells, ceramic flower pots, large shells, artificial reptile caves, aquarium decorations, and much more can be used as shelter. Basically, it doesn't matter. Hermit crabs love to be in hiding during the day, so they will spend a lot of time there. They are also avid climbers! Provide them with special equipment, and you will provide entertainment for both you and them. You can use cactus tubes, vines, fig tree, driftwood, cape wood, swamp wood, Lego, balsa bark, artificial or live plants, rocks, large coral, barnacle shells, aquarium decor and much more. It's not difficult to do, and your crabs will love you for it! When placing dishes, remember the following: place dishes with water away from the heat source. If water is near the heating element, bacteria will multiply in it. Store the water in a cool area of the aquarium. Make sure the dishes are deep enough for the crayfish to immerse 3/4 of its body. The dish should be large enough for the crabs to climb into and fill their shells with water. If the dish is large, place sea shells, small pieces of aquatic wood, or artificial plants nearby so that small crabs can get into it.
Prepare the water. Hermit crabs need two types of water - fresh and salt. Hermit crabs cannot drink tap water. This water is treated with chlorine, which can cause painful blisters on the crayfish's gills (they have gills). For this reason, all water (including drinking water, as well as water used for air humidification) must be free of chlorine. Buy a small bottle of water from the fish section of your pet store. Follow the instructions for using the water. It is better to have some water in reserve than to buy it every day. When choosing an aqua conditioner, do not buy “Biological film”, as it is strictly used for bathing crayfish and keeping fish. Look for a conditioner that removes chlorine and chloramines and neutralizes heavy metals. Do not buy conditioners that stimulate the formation of biofilm, unless they are intended for bathing. Take another batch of water and add some aquarium salt to the mixture. 8-10 tablespoons of salt will be enough. You may be told that only exotic species of hermit crabs need salt water, but this is not true. All hermit crabs, including the purple mite crab (Coenobita clypeatus), require salt water. Many crabs drink salt water for hours before molting. And their water supply section of the shell has a certain balance of iron. By providing salt water to the crayfish, you allow them to choose which water they would like to drink. Leave the water overnight until it reaches room temperature and the salt dissolves.
Place food in the dish. Hermit crabs are omnivorous scavengers that digest nutrients from any available food, both in the wild and in captivity. Feed the crayfish everything you eat yourself, not sugary, seasoned, salty foods, or canned food. They love grapes and blueberries, as well as most unsalted nuts. Apples are also a favorite fruit. They like many vegetables, and seafood, in general, is extremely necessary in their diet. It is better that their diet, if possible, be as varied as possible - this way they will receive all the necessary nutrients. Give them meat whenever possible, and you can also feed them plain cereals, rice, pasta and oatmeal. Many hermits love special food for T-Rex crayfish. You can write down what they like and don't like and experiment with different foods. Hermit crabs eat very little and in small quantities. It usually takes hermit crabs several hours to eat half a packet of cornflakes. Therefore, do not think that your hermit crabs are starving just because they always have food in reserve! However, remember to change the products every 24 hours to prevent contamination of the tank.
Install a heating source. Hermit crabs are tropical creatures found in places like the Caribbean and the Florida Keys. They need a temperature that ranges between 24-29 degrees Celsius. Most likely, your apartment is not warm enough for these creatures, and you will need an additional heating source. If you have a 40-liter aquarium, then for heating it is best to use a heater located under the aquarium. These are small pads attached to the outside of the aquarium that usually raise the temperature by 4-6 degrees. I would recommend placing the apparatus at the bottom of the aquarium. Even under a thick layer of substrate the heater will be effective. When placed outdoors, the heater heats the air outside rather than inside the aquarium. You can also use tungsten filament heaters, which can heat any size tank to any temperature. But such heaters have one significant drawback: they quickly dry out the air. When using heat lamps, be sure to select the correct wattage. 40 W will be enough for a 40 liter aquarium. Make sure the heat source is on one side of the aquarium and not in the middle. This is necessary so that different parts of the aquarium have different temperatures, and the crayfish can be where they like. No matter what type of heater you use, be sure to purchase a thermometer/hydrometer to determine the air temperature in your aquarium.
Add shells. Hermit crabs do not produce their own shells. They take them from dead gastropods, such as snails. In captivity they should have a large selection of shells. The hermit crab should be the perfect size for the shell. If its legs are showing a little and you can see its eyes, the hermit crab will be looking for a new shell. Simply throw new shells into the tank and the hermit crab will pick up replacements when it's ready. Crayfish with purple ticks like shells with a round hole, while Ecuadorian hermit crabs like shells with an oval hole. From time to time, you can dip the shells in salt water to attract the attention of the crayfish.
Prepare the aquarium and wait. Spray the walls of the aquarium with a spray bottle. Turn on the heater and wait at least 45 minutes. Condensation will form on the inside of the aquarium as a result of the heater operating, and the humidity level will increase. Hermit crabs breathe with reinforced gills that only function properly if the air is moist. The humidity level that hermit crabs prefer is approximately 77% - 88%, but under no circumstances should it be lower than 70%. By keeping the sand and water dishes wet, the humidity level should remain within an acceptable range. If it goes down, use the spray bottle again. Once the temperature and humidity have reached the desired range, move on to the last step.
The hermit crab is a prominent representative of the crustacean class. They have many species, each with its own little characteristics, but for the most part they are similar to each other.
Description of the hermit crab
The hermit crab lives almost its entire life in the shell of a gastropod, although in rare cases they can choose another shell, the main condition is that it is quite spacious and comfortable. Life in the house is due to its relative vulnerability. So, outwardly it is covered with a hard chitinous shell. But its abdomen is practically unprotected by anything, and therefore, in order to protect itself from predators, they hide their entire body in the shell.
It is also important to note that there are species that, after growing up, leave their shells and move onto land. To protect their vulnerable belly, they tuck their tail completely under them. The sizes of these crayfish are quite varied, some are as small as a fingernail, and some are as big as a fist. As they grow, they change shells during molting. At the same time, always selecting a new house both in size and weight, so that it is not difficult to carry it with you.
Only the head and three pairs of legs protrude from the shell. The left claw of the first pair of paws is always larger than the right one. It is with this that he closes the entrance to the shell when he hides. The remaining legs are used for quick movement and securing in the mobile home.
The color depends on the species and age of the individual. There are blue, purple, red, pink with different shades. Juveniles are almost always pale beige in color. The hermit's eyes are oblong in shape. As additional protection, they may place sea anemones on their claws or shell. At the same time, anyone who wants to take the sink or climb into it can at least get burns.
Habitat and food
Hermit crabs live on the shores of Australia, Indonesia, the Marshall Islands, Malaysia and so on. Various species are found almost all over the world from the Indian to the Pacific Ocean. They live in shallow waters of seas and oceans. The greatest depth at which they occur is 80 meters. Some species live on shores or in forests located directly next to the ocean.
Nutrition varies depending on habitat. Land hermits feed on spoiled fruits, fallen coconuts, and small insects. Marine species are primarily predators and their frequent food is annelids, dead fish, and shellfish.
Reproduction and features
Free by nature and habits, hermit crabs do not reproduce in captivity. Therefore, for the purpose of reproduction, you always have to buy a female with eggs. They reach puberty in the second year of life. At this time they are already sufficiently formed. Almost all species reproduce in water, so that even after leaving the marine environment, they have to return for breeding time. They live for about 11 years. Sometimes more or less depending on habitat and nutrition. Aquarium lovers often choose this particular type of crayfish as a pet. Although they do not breed in captivity, they are quite easy to care for.
- Class - Higher crayfish
- Order - Decapods
- Superfamily - Hermit crabs