Don’t let the hermit crab name fool you. Hermit crabs are anything but hermits. They thrive on social interaction. Having just one hermit crab in a tank can drive them crazy I think. I’ve had people bring me strawberry hermit crabs that act strangely and invariably, it’s because they were alone.
Regardless, I am here to help you properly care for your Strawberry Hermit Crab. Different hermit crabs from different locals actually have different needs depending on the species. It doesn’t deal with a strawberry hermit crab like it does with a purple claw crab. And when I say strawberry hermit crab, I mean Coenobita perlatus.
Description
The most distinctive thing about a strawberry hermit crab is its color. Generally bright strawberry red with white grainy spots, with glossy grayish-black eyes. They have thick bodies and thick legs for climbing.
accommodation
Most people buy their strawberry hermit crabs from a kiosk in a mall or pet store. And most receive a small plastic box to store the crab. I’m telling you right now, that box is NOT good for a crab (crab habitat). It’s fine for a temporary shelter, but your crabs need some space to roam and interact.
You should have bought at least 2 crabs, preferably 3, to start. I would recommend starting with a 10 gallon aquarium. They are easy to find and inexpensive. Although bigger the better. I recommend that you add a heater under the tank to keep the temperature high.
Cover the bottom of the tank with sand or coconut coir (sold as Forest Bedding®, Bed-A-Beast® and Eco-Earth®). This is so your crab has something to dig into. I prefer a combination of coconut fiber and sand. It provides them with a stable substrate to excavate. You need it deep enough for them to bury themselves, but not deep enough to override a heater under the tank.
Next you need something that they can climb on. I use some pieces of choya wood to get them up. Some plastic plants will work too. Strawberry hermit crabs are known to be destructive. So they’ll make a mess of that well-organized crab you just made. Be prepared for that.
Maintain a temperature of at least 72 ° F and I would say no more than 90 ° F, and a humidity of 70%. You want a “tropical” feel to your crabs. If it’s too hot, you will smell a musty odor and notice a brown liquid coming off the crabs. TURN OFF THE HEAT IF THAT HAPPENS!
Diet
The first thing you need for a strawberry hermit crab is a bowl of salt water. You can get safe salt at your local pet store or online, DO NOT USE TABLE SALT, it contains iodine, which kills crabs. Use a saltwater aquarium salt for pets. Use distilled water or filtered water without chlorine. Pure tap water can kill crabs. The chlorine blisters their gills, causing a slow and painful death.
Strawberry Hermit Crabs need 2 bowls of water. One salt, one fresh. Make sure the container is not so deep that the crab can drown in it. Place a sponge in each bowl of water for the crabs. It is also a good idea to place a piece of wood, a stone, or something in the water that the crab can grab in case it becomes distressed in the water. That way you can go out alone.
A plate of food should be enough. It is very important to feed your strawberry hermit crab a diet rich in carotene. Some of the best foods are sun-dried shrimp, plankton, and color-enhancing fish foods. Make sure they always have access to these foods, and your crab will maintain a healthy red / orange color.
Maintenance
I feel like bathing a crab is almost unnecessary. Only under certain circumstances will I bathe them. When they come home for the first time, after a move, and that’s it.
Spot cleaning is best done weekly. Removing exoskeleton chunks, food chunks, and other debris. Put all the climbing toys in, or it’s a good time for a remodel, keep the crabs from getting bored. If you use coir substrate, clean up what you can see and change the entire substrate every few months.
Following these tips will help you maintain a happy and healthy crab population.
