What supplies do I need??

Andyfox · Post by **Andyfox** » Sat Mar 14, 2015 5:06 pm

Hello fellow hermit crab enthusiasts! I'm new to the hermit crab world and am interested in getting some crabs (probably 2 PP). I've read a bit about them and was wondering what supplies I need for the "crabitat", how much it will cost per month/year to have to hermies, and also how to get over fear of holding them. The only other pet I've ever had was a hamster and it didn't end well, because I was afraid it would bite me. I know hermit crabs have pinchers, but was wondering if the PP pinchers hurt a lot?

I really want hermit crabs, but not if they'll have a bad life because of me

. Thanks!

hermitcrabdc · Post by **hermitcrabdc** » Sat Mar 14, 2015 5:39 pm

I think if you read over this thread you'll find answers to everything you will need for crabbing
http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 51&t=92457
The starting total is usually around $100 or more depending on how big the tank is and what supplies you choose to make rather than buy. After all the basic supplies are bought you really only need to buy food and water conditioners. You can use food from your kitchen to feed them as long as no seasonings or butter is used. Most people use Instant ocean for their salt water, I think a box is something like $6 and lasts months. A bottle of dechlorinator is can be bought for around $3. That should give an idea what monthly costs are.
You can read more on food here,
http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... m.php?f=25

Pinches hurt, I've, thankfully, never been pinched but the stories from people who have tell you that it hurts. A solution to worrying about being pinched is, don't hold them

. Hermit crabs get easily stressed from being handled, they are pets more to watch than hold. Staying hands off keeps you from being pinched and the crab from getting stressed

I hope this helps you out

YYWW · Post by **YYWW** » Sat Mar 14, 2015 11:52 pm

I second everything hermitcrabdc wrote

Pinches extra super hurt. Like papercuts 20 pages at a time that won't let go.
Hermit crabs are all harvested from the wild, so they cannot expect to become domesticated. Human (or any other species, really) interaction is not a part of their normal lives, so they should not be expected to get used to being handled. Individual crabs may show tolerance to their keeper's presence, but that is generally a stroke of luck.
Think of keeping crabs as being like a cross between keeping reptiles and fish. Crabs use both types of products, live in aquariums, provide viewing enjoyment, and are a bit more interactive than fish but less so than reptiles (you never pet a crab). If you just want to pick them up to snap a pic and record in a log, that can be done by just holding their shell. They won't whip out just to pinch you.
They won't have a bad life with you because we will be here to help you do your best. I hope you receive some great crabs and have a happy crabbing!

Crabbers unite!!!

Post by **wodesorel** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 3:39 am

May I ask what it is about hermits that interests you?

I agree, they can really pinch hard, and it will hurt. They're easier to pick up and move around than most pets because you can grab them by their shell and keep away from their claws. To actually handle them will put you at risk. One of the safest ways to get used to them is to wear jeans and sit with them on the floor, and let them crawl on your legs - your skin is safe, and they can't fall and hurt themselves. You'll be able to learn what they are okay with and what they aren't, and figure out if they are friendly enough to go farther with. I had an adoptee once that I sat with on the couch, and he ran up my shirt and started tearing at it with both claws! I could barely get him off of me, and he stayed in the tank after that.

If you're looking to get 2 hermits, a 20 gallon long is a great starting point and should last two small crabs many years. Off the top of my head:

$20 -glass tank at a $1 a gallon sale
$15 - glass or screen lid for tank.
$25/$30 - Ultratherm UTH ordered online (includes shipping costs) that will cover the entire back of tank
$7 - playsand from hardware store
$5 - cocofiber from pet store
$5 - moss for moss pit (I consider this a must, they love it!)
<$10 - box of Instant Ocean. It's cheaper if there's people with saltwater fish in your area.
<$5 - dechlorinator, make sure it removes chloramines and ammonia
around $15 - shells (craft store, online)

And then the other stuff is as crazy as you want to get. You can use plastic tubs, or buy reptile items:

2 bowls deep enough to submerge with a way back out
at least one food dish
corner caddies are awesome to use any vertical space
hides of any kind (homemade coconut huts, reptile hides)
climbing items (wood, sticks, you can use things from the backyard)
vines
fake plants (craft store)
mister
humidifier (if you need it)

Now, per month it'll be the cost of water and electricity. (Which is not much.) Food costs can be as little or as much as you want - they can eat the same things we can so if you're a meat and seafood eater and have fresh fruits and veggies then they can have a tiny portion of your meals and be perfectly happy. Otherwise you'll need to buy them veggies and fruits (cut into meal sized pieces and freeze so nothing goes bad) and freeze dried insects and/or seafood from the reptile and fish aisle (around $3-$7 per item).

All in all, a really pretty 20 gallon long with items purchased thoughtfully could be had for between $100 and $200. Food costs for year could be as little as $0 and probably more realistically around $30 or $40 for a big variety of things - deep freeze what you buy and that will last for years and years since they eat so little at a time.

Andyfox · Post by **Andyfox** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 12:54 pm

Thanks! As for your question, I'm interested in getting two Ecuadorians. I was going to go with purple pinchers, but they can get big and their claws are kinda scary.

KellyCrabbieLove · Post by **KellyCrabbieLove** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 3:02 pm

You need a much bigger tank, deeper pools and more substrate for Es. Keep that in mind.

Post by **wodesorel** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 3:35 pm

KellyCrabbieLove wrote:You need a much bigger tank, deeper pools and more substrate for Es. Keep that in mind.

Agreed. They're also more likely to pinch, some will abandon shell and run naked when picked up, and they can become aggressive as they grow larger. And they do get just as big as PPs, just in tighter shells!

Not just a bigger tank and deepers substrate, but more heat and more stable humidity as well.

The bonus is that they are a super active species!

Andyfox · Post by **Andyfox** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 6:40 pm

Agreed. They're also more likely to pinch, some will abandon shell and run naked when picked up, and they can become aggressive as they grow larger. And they do get just as big as PPs, just in tighter shells!

Not just a bigger tank and deepers substrate, but more heat and more stable humidity as well.

The bonus is that they are a super active species!

Okay, I'll keep that in mind. I guess I'll go with two or three purple pinchers than. I'm just very afraid of a :crabblush:

pinching me.

Post by **wodesorel** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 7:18 pm

You never have to handle them - these days most crabbers choose to be hands off rather than hands on. Them staying in their tank doing their thing all the time is perfectly okay for them!

HCA: Hermit Crab Association