Making The Hermit Crab Cage A Home While Setting Up the Tank
Making the hermit crab cage a home does not need to be elaborate, such as a cage for a dwarf hamster or guinea pig. However, you want to set up your tank to make it appealing for your pet.
However, where do you start and what do you need to do to create a nice crab home and maintain a healthy environment for your pet?
Keep in mind that the hermit crab prefers a tropical type environment. Therefore, you want to make your tank as much of a tropical hermit crab paradise as you can.
You can choose to use either a plastic tank or a glass tank for your hermit crab. However, since this particular crustacean is a master escape artist, you need to ensure that your cage is secure with a lid. This will keep the crab safe and reduce the chance of having to go hunting for your crab at any hour for hours at a time.
Although, there are plastic tanks being marketed as hermit crab kits, they do not offer the room needed for a good crab tank. They are much too small.
You really don't want to get any tank that is smaller than 10 gallons - and of course, if you can afford something bigger, that's even better. Not only are you going to place your Harriet the Hermit Crab in here, but you'll want to give her some accessories as well - at the very least a food and water bowl.
Substrate: The Floor Covering
The floor covering of the crab cage is the substrate. The best choice of substrate for your hermit crab is sand. It also offers an interesting substance that a crab can burrow into. Hermit crabs love to burrow, since it is a natural behavior.
If you choose regular "playground sand", which by the way can be found at any hardware or home improvement store, you may want to rinse, dry and bake it (at 300F). This sterilizes the sand. And you can always re-wash it whenever you feel it's needed.
Of course, there are other options for your substrate. Some of these are created for reptiles, like coconut fiber-based bedding. The fiber is ground finely so it looks and feels quite a bit like soil. That makes it good for burrowing. You may also want to consider crushed coral. The two substrate materials you'll want to avoid are gravel and wood shavings.
How Hot Would My Crab Like It?
You crab will prefer the temperature of the tank to range from between 72 and 80 F. if the temperature drops below 72 degrees for any length of time or on a regular basis this can cause the crab stress and weakness. While in such a weakened state, crabs are more susceptible to becoming sick.
Unless you live in a tropical climate yourself, more than likely you'll need to use a heater to keep your new family member healthy and happy. Some owners use a combination of both heaters and lights to keep Harriet happy.
Humidity
Along with recommendable temperatures, your hermit crab has humidity requirements. Sure crabs are land based creatures. However, since they breathe through gills they need humidity in the air. When the air is too dry, a crab will suffocate to death.
Therefore, you need to keep the humidity of the tank at around 70 to 80% in order for your crab to be able to breathe properly. You can keep humidity levels up in your tank by doing a few things. Keep in mind that the water dish adds humidity and if you include a natural sea sponge in the water dish it will help too.
The sponge will be able to absorb and hold a great deal of water. It provides a wonderful surface area for water evaporation, which helps boost the level of humidity in the tank.
You now know the essentials for making the hermit crab cage a home. Your crab will happily burrow away during the years while you enjoy its company.
However, where do you start and what do you need to do to create a nice crab home and maintain a healthy environment for your pet?
Keep in mind that the hermit crab prefers a tropical type environment. Therefore, you want to make your tank as much of a tropical hermit crab paradise as you can.
You can choose to use either a plastic tank or a glass tank for your hermit crab. However, since this particular crustacean is a master escape artist, you need to ensure that your cage is secure with a lid. This will keep the crab safe and reduce the chance of having to go hunting for your crab at any hour for hours at a time.
Although, there are plastic tanks being marketed as hermit crab kits, they do not offer the room needed for a good crab tank. They are much too small.
You really don't want to get any tank that is smaller than 10 gallons - and of course, if you can afford something bigger, that's even better. Not only are you going to place your Harriet the Hermit Crab in here, but you'll want to give her some accessories as well - at the very least a food and water bowl.
Substrate: The Floor Covering
The floor covering of the crab cage is the substrate. The best choice of substrate for your hermit crab is sand. It also offers an interesting substance that a crab can burrow into. Hermit crabs love to burrow, since it is a natural behavior.
If you choose regular "playground sand", which by the way can be found at any hardware or home improvement store, you may want to rinse, dry and bake it (at 300F). This sterilizes the sand. And you can always re-wash it whenever you feel it's needed.
Of course, there are other options for your substrate. Some of these are created for reptiles, like coconut fiber-based bedding. The fiber is ground finely so it looks and feels quite a bit like soil. That makes it good for burrowing. You may also want to consider crushed coral. The two substrate materials you'll want to avoid are gravel and wood shavings.
How Hot Would My Crab Like It?
You crab will prefer the temperature of the tank to range from between 72 and 80 F. if the temperature drops below 72 degrees for any length of time or on a regular basis this can cause the crab stress and weakness. While in such a weakened state, crabs are more susceptible to becoming sick.
Unless you live in a tropical climate yourself, more than likely you'll need to use a heater to keep your new family member healthy and happy. Some owners use a combination of both heaters and lights to keep Harriet happy.
Humidity
Along with recommendable temperatures, your hermit crab has humidity requirements. Sure crabs are land based creatures. However, since they breathe through gills they need humidity in the air. When the air is too dry, a crab will suffocate to death.
Therefore, you need to keep the humidity of the tank at around 70 to 80% in order for your crab to be able to breathe properly. You can keep humidity levels up in your tank by doing a few things. Keep in mind that the water dish adds humidity and if you include a natural sea sponge in the water dish it will help too.
The sponge will be able to absorb and hold a great deal of water. It provides a wonderful surface area for water evaporation, which helps boost the level of humidity in the tank.
You now know the essentials for making the hermit crab cage a home. Your crab will happily burrow away during the years while you enjoy its company.
About the Author:
Learn more about Hermit Crab Cage. Stop by Matthew A Sanders's site where you can find out all about hermit crab cage and what it can do for you.
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