So, I am Izzy, and owner of an assortment of animals. This page is dedicated to one of the most mis-understood of them, Hermit Crabs. After having almost a year now, Im STILL leanring so much about them, and finding out that there is still so much that NO ONE knows about them!
The Crabitat- Shown here, is their place of residence. Its a standered 10 gallon aquarium from PetCo, cost me all of $10.99. (and people buy those plastic totes for over $11! and their only 1/2 the size!). It has an undertank heater, and a 75 watt red heat reptile bulb. Many people will say thats WAY to much, but seeing as my house is very cold, and my air temp stays around 72-78f, I feel its fine. And if you look in the picture, on the left, you can observe Walter trying to sit as close as possible to it. So there ya go.
As for Substrate (bottom layer stuff) its poorly mixed, but 10 lbs of calcuim carbonate reptile sand, and 1/2 a block of Forest Bed. I bought the
Kritterz brand sand, (petcos store brand) which is relitivly new, and was on sale :) but
Calcisand brand and
Vitasand brand are also awsome. I have also used plan saltwater aquarium sand and many people use playsand, but I like the idea of when they eat my sand (yes,
when) they get some Calcium. Either
Eco Earth or
Forest Bed are acceptable, I have used both with fine results, I get whichever is on sale. Theres also some gravel under the food dishes, for drainege and clean ability. NEVER use JUST gravel, as they cant dig in it, its fluctuated tempeture to easily, it doesnt hold humidity, and its ugly (ok, sot he last one is a cruddy reason, but yes, I think it looks ugly in terrariums.)
I have 4 dishes, 1 for food, 1 for treats (which are uaually messy), 1 for fresh water and one for salt water. the crabs enjoy leaving spare shells int he salt pool... Thanks guys, just what I was looking for!
As for toys, they have a peice of dried Cholla cactus, a half log hidey hut, a plastic bush, and their beloved peice of coconut fiber climing background. Im also building a "dock" or second level, so I have more surface area for them. :)
Meet the Purple Pinchers-
(No, I havnt checked for their true genders... They are all failr small and squirmy, so Im just calling them the guys :) )
Walter and Ralf- They were my first two I purchased. they were purchased as micros, and I had put them in a 2.5 gallon fish tank with a thin layer of sand, a water dish, food dish, humidity gage and a plastic palm tree. After Joining the Hermit Crab Association, I soon had them moved into a 10 gallon, with so many amenities, I had to take out my plastic palm tree (and it was so cute! oh well) Walter is fairly friendly, and is often out, enjoying climing the coconut climing background. Ralf is much shyer, and always has been. He enjoys digging and hiding under the log.
Rascal- Mr. Pinchy. He ws purchased about a month after the big tank upgrade, as a micro. I bought him because he was almost all white, and he is still my palest crab. After spending the first 4 months I owned him underground, He's ALWAYS the first one out and about, but he's also the most agressive. he's been known to go after the new guys and me.... He loves the climing background and sometimes pushes Walter off....
Crabby Twin #1 and Crabby Twin #2- They were purchased about 3 months after Rascal. They were the same size, Micros, and in identical shells. Very cute! But about a week and a half after purchase, one died (Im saying it was #2, couse I couldnt tell them apart) and #1 went under to de-stress and moult. #2 was my only crab death as of now. #1 enjoys playing under the log and digging very randome holes in the tank. I mean VERY randome.. He digs down about 1 inch and walks off.....
Winston- Winston.... Well, he's very new, purchased before christmas 05, so I havnt gotten to see his personality yet. He changed shells right away and dug under. We'll have to see!
Im looking into geting either a 20 long or an 18 high, and getting a few more crabs. I think I want to try another species along with these guys. :) Also, there are some big crabs at my work whom never get purchased, and I would like to one day save one, and have a big crab! (though at this rate, my guys will be huge soon!)
