Hey everyone! I'm Brianna. I'm 17 years old. I have always loved hermit crabs but I never knew the proper care for them. Recently I started researching and realized what all hermit crabs need to be healthy and happy. They are very interesting little creatures. Once I learned all about them I adopted 4. I started with a 10 gallon tank and 3 crabs, then I upgraded to a 40 gallon tank and adopted my 4th crab, now I have 8. I want to help people learn that hermit crabs are not beginner pets, and most definitely are a lot of work. They are not just seasonal pets that you buy while you are at the beach. I am starting this RU-vid channel to give care tips, and share information that will help people thinking of buying a hermit crab decide if they can provide the amount of care and housing that these crabs need. I will also be sharing any other pets I decide to get in the future on this channel! I have 2 leopard geckos, a ball python, a red eared slider, 2 rabbits, and a dog as well.
Guys u don’t need a little pool for ur hermit crab! They like Togo in there water boul but make sure u put them in a bath of salt water for there shell
The heat pad shouldn’t be put on the bottom, it can burn your crab. But it on the sides, or at the back of your tank. Also, never use gravel. It’s bad for your crab. (Play sand mixed with eco earth is a good substrate mix for your crab, but just play sand itself is ok. There should also be at least 5 inches to 8 inches of substrate in the tank or larger than your largest crab.)
4:03 you write "under tank heater". No! The heating mat should be placed on the SIDE of the tank, and should be placed ABOVE the surface of the substrate! You should only be heating the air, not the substrate! You need to give your crabs a cool place to escape to if it gets too warm/hot above ground!
i get mine on etsy. thecrabbyshack has ones where you can pick the proper size range for your crabs which is great. mine arrived while my crab was molting and he came up last night and switched into one of them this morning. so they are crab approved. :)
This video is great and very informative! Everyone should know this before getting hermit crabs. It’s so sad how many people buy hermit crabs thinking they are a cheap great first time pets for little kids when that is not at all true.
just buy natural extra shells. you can't force them out of a shell, so just leave natural ones in there and eventually they'll switch. I was lucky that mine actually came in his natural shell (which was super weird because I got him at a petco, and most of the others were painted), but that's super rare. so don't feel bad about yours being in a painted shell. and the danger with the paint is that when they dig, it'll chip. and they eat stuff in their substrate, so they might eat it. and there is no paint that is safely edible to crabs, even if it says non-toxic.
Even if it says the paint is non-toxic t’s harmful for your crab and having a painted shell is actually considered animal cruelty. Please buy natural shells for ur crab’s next molt.
Hey! I have a queustion. I use Flukers Hermit Crab beach. It is not calcium sand and infact says how bad calcium sand is. It is a mixture of sand (regular), coconut fiber and some salt and some calcium carbonate for health. It says that calcium sand is bad and they love it! (I also mix eco earth with it). Anyway, I wanna know if that is ok. Thanks!
You can also find a big bag of children’s play sand (ones recommended for child’s sandbox) at Walmart or homedepot for really cheap, and mix the eco earth with the play sand :)
I actually use the same substrate, and it does work very well. the sand is the proper size grain, it packs well, the coco fiber helps with moisture, all of that. and my crab loved digging around in it (even if it's just a little crater to get comfy). it doesn't have anything harmful in it, and it doesn't stick to them like calci sand much less cement to them. in my experience it's safe and they do well on it. my one complaint is just that the bag size is too small. so for the minimum 6 inches in a 10 gallon tank (so the absolute minimum), you need like 7ish bags. and you won't find that many at a store so you'll have to order, which can potentially be expensive. although I don't think shipping from chewy was bad. so yeah, good substrate but just make it in bigger bags dammit!
One more you missed, never handle your hermit crab if you have used any kind of insect repellents! This will cause a fast death! Change clothes and take a shower is best recommend before handling!❤️🌹
But the channel Crab Central Station says to not handle them outside of their enclosure, because they need to be in an environment that is 75-85% humidity in order to breathe. The stress of being outside their enclosure can cause them to drop their water. They could drop a limb/leg, too. Bad. You could get pinched, too. Bad.
Talkin about the food, I also give my hermits mosquito larvae from time to time (the one sold frozen as fish food). They love them, never saw them eating so much. And I think it resambles their natural diet more than cooked fish. Love!
would a fish tank be a nice environment for them? getting one tomorrow and my siblings are too, we are heading home from the beach tommorow and are going to put them in a carrier but I don’t know what to do after that?
Heather Lear Distilled water is not good for them as it doesn’t have any minerals in it, it can be used temporarily but I wouldn’t recommend it long term.
I love the channel but I have some disclaimers! This is just in my opinion. Today I recently got a hernet crab and a set the book clearly says that store bought food is best but they said add some fruits and veggies and protein so I am recommending store bought! Also in the kit they provide powder to great salt and fresh water. All I need to do is use the tap water and mix the mix! Everything else I do agree witg
no, commercial food will either have copper sulfate, ethoxyquin (usually hidden in the fish meal so they don't have to list in as an ingredient), or mostly likely both. and both are toxic to hermit crabs. also in my experience, the kits kinda suck. now that I've learned more about them, I barely use anything from the kits I originally got. it's more cost efficient to just research what you need and get it all individually. :)
I have done 2 weeks of research. I am getting them tomorrow. I know every last thing about them. I know how to provide a good life for them. I’m here to go over the things I’ve learned. I am very excited to provide Jupiter and Pixel a great home! ❤️
Normally, the Hermit crab association says a 10 gallon for one crab will suffice, 29 is ideal for 2-3, and 5 gallons per crab is bare minimum. I read the article you posted, height is really more of a swing factor than a necessity. (I keep both my hermies in a 20 long, and they've been doing just fine for 5 years)
10 gallons is the minimum, they'll be fine in a 10 gallon if you have smaller ones and not a lot. but I wouldn't recommend it just because fitting all the things they need well is a pain in the ass. you can do it, but it would be easier to just get at least a 20 gallon.
5-10 gallons per crab, you can use tap water, just get a water purifier it’s cheaper than the bottles also don’t take your crabs out and if they’re molting don’t dig . This has some decent information but a lot more detail to be added
10 gallons per crab, tap water can actually have some good minerals in it as long as you dechlorinate it (but admittedly I usually get the bottles because it's easier). and handling is kind of debated, but most people would agree that you can take them out, but you shouldn't really do it too too often. I've handled my crab enough that he really trusts me, which is really great. if I have to pick him up, he is not afraid at all and knows he's not in danger and doesn't need to hide. he doesn't even flinch, and he's never pinched anyone since I got him (he's a friendly little dude). it does make measuring his shell opening more difficult though. XD
Weather you can use tapwater or not is depending on where you live. I live in the east of the Netherlands, near a water winning area. We win water from very deep under the ground. If you live here, the tapwater will actually be cleaner then dechlorinated water. Even in the West of the country, the water is pretty clean. However in the west there is calcium in the water. There are more laws to ensure the tapwater quality then the bottled water quality. I personally want hermit crabs as well but my mom says she doesn't want any new animals anymore
all Hail chedder as they get older they can get to a size of a tennis ball so you’ll need to buy a 20 gallon tank and you can buy those at Walmart or pets smart!
How old are you? Maybe you can prove that you are responsible enough to care for a pet on your own. Start by doing TONS of research. Write down everything you could possibly need to know. Then start saving your money. When you have saved up enough to get the necessities then ask again. <3
There's plenty of DIY projects out there! Just make sure there's no pine in anything you use as it can be toxic to crabs and many other small animals. Craft store are also a great resource for looking at decorations. Just be cautious of paint and pine.
Please don't get pets if you are not able to care for them correctly. I'm a little late, but if you still have them, you can take sticks from outside and bake them (there are a lot of tutorials) and it is completely free.
why does all the crabitats i see use plastic plants? would hermit crabs thrive in a vivarium-style tank? i dont like when a tank looks like a childrens playground, and id like to make an living, thriving natural tank, would that be possible for them to live in? also, would they get lonley if you only get one, or is it more optimal to get a pair? thanks in advance :)
Føurcent okay, great, the more the merrier :) okay, so it's just a matter of trial and patience to see wich (non harmful) plants they will leave alone?
I know I am very late, but someone may still find this usefull. I collected infos around about safe plants, and after that I put sphagnum moss, fittonias and other stuff in the tank (so, real plants). The crabs LOVE to climb on those, they do. I always find them up here, althoug they have a "climbing park" made in natural hemp rope. So far the plants are doing good and growing (I've had those for 6 months) and they are amazing for keeping humidity high without mold (I never went under 78% since I've got them). The crabs are doing super good too!
fake plants are fine for them, but you can also go more bioactive if you want. the only real difference is that they will nibble on real plants, but otherwise neither is better than the other. and yeah, you need at least 2-3.
Jack Studios I don’t personally have marine hermit crabs, but I would be glad to research their care and make a blog post or youtube video about them for you :)
UmI saw this quality video and was like “WHAT THE HECK?!?! WHY DOESNT SHE HAVE LIKE 100K SUBSCRIBES, AT LEAST?!?!” Great work, kid. I’m sure that you will have more subs soon, girl. Keep up the great work. 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿
I don't have a lot of money. I am using 3 table lamps to keep my crab warm and since I have school for 6 hours every week I can only mist my hermies tank befor I leave for school @6:50AM and when I get home @3:00PM Eastern time. And I am using blue calcium sand for the bedding and I only got 1 bag and it's not 2 inchs thick and I'm feeding my hermie (Bambi is her name) this food mixture called food medley and it contains Dried mealworms, dried shrimp, and pellets.
Sonia Johnson Okay, that is very dangerous. For one, Calcium Sand will kill your hermit crab! It will get into his/her shell and harden causing them to become concreted into their shell. Please switch over to 6 inches of (5 parts) playsand and (1 part) eco earth. Then for the food you're using, anything marketed for Hermit Crabs is dangerous. Your crab needs fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats, from the safe food list. They need plenty of shell options. (5-6 correct size shells per crab) Plus having only 1 crab can lead to your hermit crab becoming depressed and not even seeking out food. You need at least 5 gallons per crab but 10 is better, so if you get another crab so yours isn't lonely you will need at least a 10 gallon. Please message me on Instagram and I will help as much as possible to try to save your hermit crab. @b.hermitcrabs
LPS Gaby you act like the hermit crab is going to purposefully eat the sand he knows about hardening since he is a popular RU-vidr that posts caring vids on his other channel and the sand is made so they can eat it
