HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hello! I would really like my hermit crabs to get some natural sunshine and explore outside! I am just not quite sure how I should do it. Should I let them free rome in the grass? I now where I live they spray for mosquitoes and my neighbor use roundup like crazy. So I don't think letting them free rome in the yard is best thing. I was thinking about putting them in there travel tank or getting a big empty storage bin for outside play time. Have any of you guys tried this? What should I prepare for if I take them outside? Thank you! I hope you all have a wonderful day!

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I would not recommend crabs being oustide of their crabitat. They do not need it, and conditions outside of the tank are not likely to be ideal temp and humidity.

curlysister wrote:I would not recommend crabs being oustide of their crabitat. They do not need it, and conditions outside of the tank are not likely to be ideal temp and humidity.

Okay thank you!

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Agreed. They’re not out-of-the-cage playing animals like mammals or birds. Moving them around like that is likely more stressful than anything.


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JoeHermits wrote:Agreed. They’re not out-of-the-cage playing animals like mammals or birds. Moving them around like that is likely more stressful than anything.


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Thank you! I feel like I didn't explain well what I was thinking about. I am really bad at putting my thoughts into typing. I hope I said that right. I was thinking about make a proper setup with proper humidity and temp , and then just put that outside. And let them do their thing for a short period of time. So they could get natural sunshine. I know it is bad to handle them and I only do it when I have to.

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I agree as well, but I understand where you're coming from! I thought of setting up a child's wading pool outside for the crabbies with substrate, waters and climbing things. But, as stated before, #1 hands off #2, that's not even close to their natural environment. So, I pitched that idea! We just want to do so much for our claw babies that isn't necessary because we love them so much!

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Xenocrab wrote:I agree as well, but I understand where you're coming from! I thought of setting up a child's wading pool outside for the crabbies with substrate, waters and climbing things. But, as stated before, #1 hands off #2, that's not even close to their natural environment. So, I pitched that idea! We just want to do so much for our claw babies that isn't necessary because we love them so much!

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Okay thank you! I am happy I asked for advice before I even tried.

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We always ask before we do anything just to see what other people suggest...or don't suggest! It never hurts to ask!

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Xenocrab wrote:We always ask before we do anything just to see what other people suggest...or don't suggest! It never hurts to ask!

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I haven't done anything that is outside the box with my hermit crabs, but if think of something I will definitely ask for advice!

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What if my house is around %60 humidity (or higher) and the temperature at 75 F? (Same for outside)

Oliviet#1 wrote:What if my house is around %60 humidity (or higher) and the temperature at 75 F? (Same for outside)

The humidity is too low (there is a risk of gill damage below seventy percent).


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If you do decide to take them out make sure whatever they are in is partially in the shade. They could potentially overheat in direct sun and should always be provided a cooler area. Also be extremely cautious of escapes, if they take off you won't find them. We've had many people find hermits wandering around neighborhoods before.

It really depends on where you are and what the temps are like. We were at 85 degrees and 92% humidity here in Ohio today. Crabs would have been fine outdoors! And I never worry much about brief excursions, the two oldest crabs in captivity spent close to 20 years wandering around a house in New Jersey in winter for hours every night. Furnaces will dry out the air into the teens easily.