I was curious about MHC care

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:16 am

Do MHC need a sand substrate to burrow under and molt ? I'm thinking of setting up a salt water aquarium of mainly Hermit Crabs

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:55 pm

I could be wrong about this but aren't MHC like clean up crews?
like they eat the byproducts of other marine animals..

or can you feed them fish food?.. or maybe algae flakes?
im not to sure.. i'd be interested to learn

But in response to your question.. i would assume that they would need a
sand substrate.. or coral.. as they need to molt..
burrowing would give them a means of a safe environment in which to do that.

MudCrabDude · Post by **MudCrabDude** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:41 pm

Do MHC need a sand substrate to burrow under and molt ? I'm thinking of setting up a salt water aquarium of mainly Hermit Crabs

No, actually. Well, at least in my experience. However, if you are keeping more than one, make sure you have nice ample space (I definitely would recommend against keeping more than one Dardanus megistos in a 10-gallon tank) and plenty of hiding structures such as miniature caves created from various rocks and coral or shells piled on top of each other.

I could be wrong about this but aren't MHC like clean up crews?
like they eat the byproducts of other marine animals..

Depends on the species. There are smaller ones than can live off of alga and the leftovers of larger tankmates and can be kept in relatively large numbers in a tank. Then there is the big Dardanus megistos that is only recommended for dedicated tanks and keepers - active feeders, can eat the fast moving fish in a closed tank system (eventually, they find a way to get them). They can be purchased as big as a walnut but can grow as large as a coconut. The egg-sized ones can really do damage to an undergravel filter system.

or can you feed them fish food?.. or maybe algae flakes?
im not to sure.. i'd be interested to learn

Can be, but due to the nature of current store bought food, I would recommend checking the ingredients. Otherwise, I used to feed mine fresh shrimp, clam slivers, or even dead fiddler crabs. Mine caught a fast moving damsel, once, just saw it one morning munching on a fish that would otherwise stay along the surface of the tank. I don't know how. I don't wanna know how...

PS...you can google Dardanus megistos if you want more info on that species. Definitely a "tank destroyer" and can do damage to filter systems if not concealed properly.