MUST HAVE ACCESSORIES
Surf through the topics below to understand everything you need to get started caring for your pet hermit crabs.
1. SHELLS
The general rule is to provide each hermit crab with 3-6 shells to choose from. Once you measure your pet hermit crab's current shell opening across the widest portion of the opening (i.e., diameter), the suggestion is to go 1/4" larger. The most common land hermit crabs sold in the US prefer shells that are referred to as "turbo" shells with an "O" shaped opening, rather than a "D" shaped opening.
We discourage purchasing painted shells because the paints used may contain harmful organic compounds and/or heavy metals. Land hermit crabs are known to renovate their shells by making slight modifications. As they chip at or work on their shells, they will be exposed to paint.
2. LIGHT
Your pet hermit crabs need day and night cycles. As with most animals, natural light is best. If you are adding a light to your terrarium, consider providing UV-B light. It is possible that UV-B light supports metabolism related to certain vitamins and nutrients needed to maintain a healthy exoskeleton. Also, there are claims that UV-B light may increase your pet hermit crabs’ activity during the day. The Zilla Slimline Tropical 25 UVB T8 Fluorescent Fixture is a great option because it does not add a lot of bulk to the lid, is light weight, and will not get hot. Please do not use a heat lamp for your pet hermit crabs. A heat lamp is used to create a “hot spot” which is great for reptiles, but has the potential to cook land hermit crabs and also decrease humidity in the tank.
3. SCOOP
Land hermit crabs are fairly tidy, but there will be mornings when the crabitat has signs of an all-nighter. A small sifting scoop is great for removing debris or sandy pieces of food if you want to keep your hands clean. The mesh provided on many options is too tight to sift the moist substrate so make sure the holes are the right size for the substrate to fall through while capturing the food or debris.