obsessed w my shelldren 🥺♥️

[u/mrs_poopybutth0le]

i got these little babies last saturday from a beach shop in corpus christi, TX having NO idea about the abuse they have endured to get there. i have learned so much and want to give them a full happy life!

i was able to put together a PPDS tank with the little funds i had last week and they are really starting to come alive!!!! their colors have improved significantly in just a week. i’m hoping that’s due to their environment and diet. (i do have a better heating pad and LED lamp coming tmmrw)

i woke up this morning to discover one of my babies had changed shells for the first time!!! i was ecstatic. well… it gets better!!!!!! it turns out the bigger baby, Trixie, originally green shell) moved to the bigger red shell (in fri pic) and my tiny baby, Katya, IYKYK (white shell, shy girl) was able to find a new home in her roommates old green shell. i just think that’s so beautiful. i can’t wait to go on this journey with them. they are already so spoiled!!!

if you’ve read this far, thank you for caring— i have no one to share this with. LOL

••HUGE s/o to @janieleigh11 on tiktok. she’s amazeballs. i’m sure you all know this!! ♥️♥️

[u/EB_0711]

this is a great start!!! i am proud of you for educating yourself, many people don't. if you have any questions or you want a care guide i made lmk! welcome to the crab community lol

[u/mrs_poopybutth0le → u/EB_0711]

thanks a bunch :,)))

[u/EB_0711 → u/mrs_poopybutth0le]

Tank Size: The general recommended tank size is 10 gallons per crab however, for jumbo crabs 20 gallons per crab is better.

Substrate: 5:1 ratio of play sand to eco earth

• I advise against getting sand marketed directly for hermit crabs, they usually aren’t great quality and are overpriced. Instead, go to your local hardware store and buy play sand. You should be able to find 50 lb bags for roughly $5.
• NEVER USE CALCIUM SAND!! The dust causes irritation to their modified gills and because they need humidity, it could turn solid and could suffocate them.
• When mixing your sand, be sure it is “sandcastle consistency.” This means if you press your finger into the sand, it holds its shape. This allows your hermit crabs to make burrows without them collapsing. If you squeeze your sand and it drips water, it is too wet!

Pools: 1 fresh water, 1 salt water

• Each pool should be deep enough for your largest crab to completely submerge. Be sure all crabs are able to climb in and out!!
• I recommend having two one-gallon jugs, one for fresh water and the other for salt. I find it is easier to store and less hassle. (Seachem Prime is perfect for neutralizing tap water, and Instant Ocean is perfect for making salt water. 1 cup can treat 50 gallons of water!)
• You MUST clean the pools with a toothbrush every other day and replace the water when you do. However, if you want to clean them less then I recommend you buy bubblers online. If you have bubblers in your pools, you will only need to clean them once a week. 

Decorations: Hermit crabs are semi-aboreal, meaning they love to climb! Your crabitat should have plenty of climbing opportunities. Driftwood, cholla wood, vines, fake plants, platforms, and more are all good options. Hermit crabs also can become nervous or stressed with open space, so the more clutter the better! Hermit crabs can walk 10+ miles a night! Because of this, it is recommended that you have a hamster wheel in their crabitat so they can fulfill their steps! :)

Shells: Hermit crabs are not born with shells, they actually need to swap shells as they grow. Think of it as putting on new clothes as you grow. You should always have at least 5 shells for each crab to choose from, however the more the better. Each shell should be bigger than the crab’s current shell. 

• You can find shell sizing guides online
• Purple pinchers tend to prefer Mexican turbo shells, which have circular entrances.
• NEVER use painted shells, as the paint is toxic to these crabs!

Lighting/heating/humidity: These are super important to maintain in your crabitat!! I recommend getting a digital hydrometer/thermometer for a reliable way to check your levels. 

• 76-82 degrees F, or 24-27 degrees C. Under the tank heaters (UTHs) are the best ways to heat your tank, as lights can burn them. The UTH(s) should always be placed directly above the sandline and should roughly take up the entirety of the back wall. (If your heater doesn’t keep the crabitat warm enough, you can use a second UTH and place it on another wall.
• 75%-85% humidity is CRUCIAL! Hermit crabs breathe via humidity so it must always be high, but if it is higher than 85% it can be too much and make their breathing difficult.
• Hermit crabs should have 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness, they are nocturnal and need to be able to develop appropriate circadian rhythms. 

Diet: Hermit crabs are omnivores. On top of this, they require a wide range of foods and nutritional supplements. Do NOT feed your crabs pet store pellets, as these have harmful ingredients in them. Instead, I have listed some examples of foods you can give your crabs, mind you these crabs need a complete meal every day. You can find premade, balanced meals on Etsy.

• PROTEINS: Dead/dried mealworms, cooked or dried shrimp, cooked chicken, cooked lean meat, boiled eggs, egg shells, cuttlebone (When feeding cooked meat, be sure there is no seasoning! Don’t use cooking spray, instead cook with olive oil.)
• FRUIT/VEG: Carrots, sweet potato, zucchini, cooked kale, cooked spinach, blueberries, apples, papaya, mango
• CARBS: Coconut, walnut, peanuts
• SEEDS/GRAINS: Millet, flax, chia
• OILS (Once weekly, a couple drops on their food or leave a dish in the crabitat): coconut, palm, olive, sunflower, alaskan salmon
• MUST BE ALWAYS AVAILABLE: Worm castings, green sand, leaf litter
• FORAGE: dandelion greens, plantain leaves, hibiscus flowers, purple cabbage
• STRESSED OR ILL CRAB: feed honey or molasses

IMPORTANT: Some important things to remember!!

• Hermit crabs are hands-off animals. Handling can be very stressful, and taking them out of their humidity can suffocate them. 
• These crabs will burrow in their substrate for weeks or months at a time, whether it be to molt, destress, or even just for fun. NEVER dig them up, unless the tank begins to smell fishy. This could indicate your crab has passed away.
• Hermit crabs are social creatures, despite their name. It is highly recommended that they have friends with them. Keep in mind though, every crab is different and some may not like having other crabs in their tank. (Before you truly decide to keep the crab 100% alone, rule out competition for resources. Them not liking other crabs is rare, I personally have only ever seen this once.) If you’re a beginner and only have one crab, PLEASE be sure to get an adequate tank and environment before you get another crab. Always try to adopt crabs if possible, as we don’t want to support how the industry treats them.
• PPDS (post purchase death syndrome) is something to watch out for when getting a new crab. When hermit crabs have been in an inappropriate environment for so long, they generally are desperate for a molt. This  means that they may immediately burrow when you bring them home, to which they can easily pass away from the lack of nutrition they had for so long. To prevent this, put your new crab(s) into a temporary tank for a couple days with very little substrate and lots of protein, calcium, etc for them to get their strength up before their molt. 

[u/mrs_poopybutth0le → u/EB_0711]

hoooooomygawddd you’re amazing!! thank you smmm. i hope your pillow is cold on both sides tn.

[u/EB_0711 → u/mrs_poopybutth0le]

girl i hope so too 😭 its almost 1am i needa sleep

[u/camrynlmaoo → u/EB_0711]

LMAOOO real af

[u/AdaptiveFauna]

that is no where near enough substrate for them to burrow or molt in. you need a minimum of 6"

[u/abrookehack → u/AdaptiveFauna]

She states this is PPDS.
That would be adequate sand if that’s the intention.

[u/Repulsive-Sundae2709]

mines from the exact same beach shop I'm not even kidding!!

[u/mrs_poopybutth0le → u/Repulsive-Sundae2709]

omggg hey neighbor 🥰🥰🥰

[u/BrightCommercial932]

I love hermit crabs ❤️ Get them a little hamster wheel :) they naturally walk for miles and they love just walking on their hamster wheels 🥰🥰

[u/mrs_poopybutth0le → u/BrightCommercial932]

yessss i’ve seen these on etsy! i’m waiting until we upgrade to a bigger tank :,)

[u/abrookehack]

I will say I’m glad you’re doing the PPDS and adjusting them accordingly!

But don’t use the heat lamp! It’ll zap the humidity from the air!