Do hermit crabs drink salt water

Hermits need regular drinking water all the time If you have an Ecuadorian crab, Coenobita compressus which a few pet stores sell you will need to also have a dish of sea salt water. They drink both. Most of the hermits sold in the US are of the type Coenobita clypeatus which drink for the most part regular people water. One thing they should not have is heavy chlorinated water. You can leave your water sit out over night and it will be good, as the chemicals do evaporate out of the water. It will make it de-chlorinated. All plant people know this. Some people recommend Stress Coat (a product you can buy for reptiles) for the bath but it really isn’t necessary if you just let your water sit and feed your hermits sea fan vitamins. We have been feeding our hermits regular water for 50 years and they seem to survive. Many of our customers have the same crabs they purchased from my parents store in OC years ago as children and still use tap water that has sit out for at least 24 hours. Often water straight from the tap doesn’t hurt them but be careful as it just depends on how much and when your City chlorinates their water. You can always go for the general de-chlorinator product or tap water conditioner found in aquarium shops for fish, if your over concerned.

The Ecuadorian crab, Coenobita compressus, bodies have adapted to this sea-shore existence by becoming able to metabolize the salt in sea water. They’ve adapted so well to their environment that they actually need sea water to live. Some recommend it and some wonder about it. If you do have this type of crab they probably need both types of water to drink. Sea Salt and Instant Ocean from and aquarium shop will give you the salt water you need. Table salt will NOT WORK. Salt In the water for a bath will not hurt any type of crab but to drink I don’t think that is the best idea for Caribbean Crabs (coenobita clypeatus). They do need minerals and Sea Fan is a vitamin which really works. It is full of sea salt, minerals, calcium and everything they need to be strong.

SPONGE

A regular natural sponge in the water keeps hermits safe from drowning in a deep dish of water. They do like to nibble at them once in awhile too, so having a sponge even if your dish isn’t deep can be a good thing. You can keep your sponge clean if it gets algae on it by cleaning it in chorine and then of course rinsing it over and over and then dipping it in boiling water to remove any left over chemicals. Just dipping it in boiling water works but it may still have a little green on it. Another good way is to put your water dish and sponges in the dishwasher, and even and real coral you may have (not sea fan). It really works. Be sure to dip them in boiling water after to make sure there are no chemicals left, just in case. The sponge also helps put some humidity into the air by providing a larger surface from which the water evaporates. Keeping their environment humid can be very important. Land hermit crabs have modified, stiffened gills which allow them to breathe air. They are GILLS, however, and not lungs, so are not able to breathe as we do. The air a hermit crab breathes has to be humid or water has to be present in their shell or the gills will dry out and the crab will not endure a long unpleasant death of suffocation which would be similar to a human's death by dehydration.

SAND

Your sand (Not gravel), can be beach sand but microwave it first to remove any sand flees. (If your under 16 ask your parent so do this). We sell play colored sand from a coral base and is good for hermits. You can also buy play sand from any hardware store which is not toxic and safe for all hermits. We do NOT recommend gravel as this is not their natural environment. If you get even the tiniest piece of gravel in your shoe you have to stop and get it out immediately. But if you get sand in your shoes from a walk on the beach, you’ll walk back to your car, no problem, with that sand in your shoes because it does not hurt. The same goes for hermits. If they get a piece of broken off gravel in their shell this could cut them and that could really hurt them. This is why we do not recommend or sell gravel.

Other objects for decoration in a corner do not hurt, shells, beach glass (smooth), coral, wood, are all fine for your hermits environment. Aquarium toys can also be fun for your hermits to play and hide.

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Crab Guides

Do Hermit Crabs Need Saltwater? 

• February 26, 2022

Whether hermit crabs need saltwater or freshwater, if any, depends on a few things. First, there are multiple species of hermit crabs. If you have got a saltwater hermit crab, of course, it will need to be in a saltwater tank. Remember to never use table salt and to instead opt for salt that has been specifically curated for aquariums. 

On the other hand, if you have a freshwater hermit crab, then it will, of course, need to be in a freshwater tank. Remember to check the various levels of the tank to ensure that it is the perfect environment for your hermit crab. 

However, if you have a land hermit crab, then it can be difficult to know whether they need saltwater, freshwater, or any water at all! First, it is essential to understand that whether your hermit crab is a land crab or not, it will need access to water throughout the day.

They require the water in order to keep their gills and their shells wet. Hermit crabs require both saltwater and freshwater in order to thrive. You will therefore need to supply both in their tank at all times. Remember to ensure that the freshwater is pure, or, if it is tap water, to leave it out for at least one day to help with the chlorine levels. 

Do hermit crabs make noise? 

Although we don’t tend to think of hermit crabs as being the noisy type, they do in fact make noises! They communicate with each other and even with us. It simply takes a trained ear to know what your little hermit crab is trying to tell you! 

For the most part, hermit crabs make a sort of croaking or chirping noise. They usually do this when they are being disturbed. That can be when you are trying to move them around, touching them, etc. That is their very polite way of telling you to leave them alone! 

In some cases, you may notice hermit crabs chirping towards one another. While some believe that this is merely their way of communicating with one another, others suggest that this is a form of aggression towards each other.

The truth is that you may be able to guess what your hermit crab is trying to tell you over the years by paying attention to their behavior and their needs. However, you should not necessarily be worried about hearing the noises that the hermit makes. It is perfectly natural for them to chirp. However, if they are chirping because you are picking them up, given that they generally do not like that, avoid picking them up when you do not have to! 

Will hermit crabs kill snails? 

Many tank owners naturally want to host a varied tank, including lots of different species. Some of the most common animals that people want to keep together are hermit crabs and snails. The two being shelled, relatively peaceful animals, they should live perfectly well together, right? 

Generally speaking, hermit crabs and snails can live together. There have indeed been instances in which hermit crabs have eaten snails, but these instances can be avoidable. One of the main reasons that hermit crabs may eat crabs is because certain species of hermit crabs are great at eating dead or decaying matter. If they sense that the snails are dying, then they will eat them. While this is potentially a good way of keeping the tank clean, it can definitely be a bit distressing to look at! 

However, hermit crabs will also eat snails if they become too hungry. If the hermit crabs do not have the right food source or at least the right amount, then they will scavenge for food, even eating their other tank members. Therefore, the best way of keeping hermit crabs and snails in the same tank is by ensuring that both of them have a good source of food, from the variety to the amount.

It would also be wise to keep extra shells in the tank to avoid the snails or the hermit crabs becoming territorial about the shells. Finally, having enough space for both is essential. While they are both relatively small creatures, they do need enough room to be able to thrive. If you are still concerned about hermit crabs and snails being in the same tank, then you can also opt for buying smaller hermit crabs, ones that will not necessarily be capable of taking on a live snail. 

Will hermit crabs kill each other? 

While hermit crabs are known for being peaceful creatures, they have also been known to be violent. Not only will they attack their prey or predators, but they will also attack each other when necessary. It does take a lot for a hermit crab to kill another of its kind; however, in some circumstances, it can happen. 

Hermit crabs are territorial animals, and if there are too many of them in one place, then they will become violent towards one another. They may also fight to protect their own shells and food source. While they usually end their bickering with just a fight, hermit crabs have definitely been known to kill one another in extreme cases. 

That being said, hermit crabs are definitely social animals, and they do well in company. In order for them to be able to live peacefully together, there are a few things that you will need to do. First, you will need to ensure that there is plenty of room in the tank for all of them. You will need a tank of at least five gallons of water for two hermit crabs.

If you have more than two hermit crabs, then you will need to calculate the amount of space that you require accordingly. You will also need to ensure that there is plenty of food for all of them so that they do not have to fight over the food or even eat one another. Finally, it is a good idea to keep extra shells in the tank, to ensure that they do not become territorial over the shells. 

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What do you do with hermit crabs with salt water?

Pet hermit crabs need a bowl of fresh water AND a bowl of ocean salt (not table salt) water in their cage at all times. The easiest way is to buy 2 gallons of distilled water, label one Fresh and the other Salt (mix saltwater according to directions). Each bowl should be big enough for your largest crab to climb in to.

How often do hermit crabs need saltwater?

Hermit crabs require frequent baths in salt water in order to maintain their health, but there are some variables that may affect how often your hermit crab needs a bath. Hermit crabs require bathing daily if the humidity levels in the habitat of the crab are less than 70%.

Do hermit crabs enjoy salt baths?

Most hermit crabs require a salt bath to thrive and maintain their health. Keep your hermit crab healthy and happy by placing a sea salt bath inside their tank. Furthermore providing a source of sea salt will help accommodate their need for an ocean side environment.

How do I make saltwater for hermit crabs?

Tap water contains idonide and other chemicals. Mix 1 1/2 tsp of sea salt with one cup (8 oz.) of water. Mix 5 cups sea salt, with 1 gallon of water.