Q&A for How to Make Your Hermit Crab Live for a Long Time

Yes, but you really should consider getting him a buddy so he won't be lonely. Loneliness is the #1 killer of crabs, because they are used to being in packs/groups in the wild.

It depends on how big the cage is. A cage needs to have enough room to hold your pets, the food and water dishes, extra shells, and toys. You want it to have all that and plenty of room to roam around.

Yes, use saltwater in its aquarium. Leave a bit of dry land for it, too.

In the wild, they can live up to 30 years. However, the best you can hope for in captivity is around 20 years with optimal care.

The shell will look really tight and the hermit crab will try to take it off.

A female hermit crab can lay anywhere from 800 to 50,000 eggs at a time, depending on her size.

It depends on how big the cage is. A cage needs to have enough room to hold your pets, the food and water dishes, extra shells, and toys. You want it to have all that and plenty of room to roam around.

They eat most of what we eat, minus the seasonings (no butter, salt, or spices). You can feed them plain shrimp, chicken, fish, organic fruits and veggies, eggs, and many other things. Consult the Crab Street Journal website for more information.

Not necessarily. But if you have a deeper or fuller bowl of water, they would need something to grab onto so they don't drown.

Your hermit crab is customizing its shell by chipping away at the opening to get the "perfect" fit. This is why it is very important that you provide unpainted shells for your hermit crab. Painted shells are toxic and can poison your hermit crab.

Hermit crabs and all crabs can eat a little fish food, but I wouldn't recommend it exclusively, because it doesn't give them the right nutrients. Give them hermit crab food.

Hermit crabs do not breed in captivity. If the female has eggs, they will die, as we do not have the resources to keep them alive. They drop the eggs in the ocean in the wild. There are people that have successfully bred them, but it is an elaborate set up.

No. Sponges harbor bacteria. Crabs need to get into the water bowl to groom, drink, bathe themselves, and replenish shell water.

You should put your hermit crab with other hermit crabs. Hermit crabs live in colonies of up to a hundred in the wild, and they can die of loneliness.

No, you should use play sand and coco fiber.

Yes! Wire cages can kill them. Get a 10-gallon aquarium and play sand immediately.

No. I used to have sponges in my crabitat, but I took them out because they were soaking up all the water. You just need to change them when they get moldy.

It does not matter what age but at least older than one year. If you get your hermit crab before one it will most likely pinch.

Yes, but it should be unseasoned and given to them in small quantities on rare occasions.

I'm very sorry for your loss. Don't rush yourself. It takes time to get over the loss of a pet, just the same as if you lost a friend or family member. Unfortunately, there is no easy or fast way to get over loss. Only time will heal you, how much time is up to you. You could do a few things to help ease your grieving process and distract you, like studying or working out. You could also try to be productive. Clean something up or try to fix something. It's perfectly okay to cry about this, and you can also talk about your feelings with someone you trust or write about them in a journal.

No, since hermit crabs need protein. To make sure they get protein, you can feed them foods such as unseasoned chicken, beef, fish, or any dried sea creatures from the pet store.

No. Even moist, it is very low odor. Old coconut substrate does get dusty, so keeping the substrate fresh helps it stay more humid and less dusty.

Soak the salt water in a sponge. This way he can drink without the possibility of drowning in a bowl.

No. Your hermit crab could have been old or possibly sick, but it wouldn't die of loneliness.

Yes, they do. It is completely normal for a hermit crab to bury themselves in the substrate and exit their shell for a few weeks while molting. Just make sure you have plenty of extra shells for your hermit crab to choose from after it comes up.

You cannot give a hermit crab too much food, as they only pinch off and eat what they need.

I only have one hermit crab, and he has been with me for 6 years.

You should provide it plenty of larger natural shells from which to choose and just leave it be. It will change when it wants to.

No, hermit crabs do not carry diseases or transmit them to humans. However, their living conditions, if unsuitable, can affect them.

Hermit crabs hide when they feel threatened, like if something moves unexpectedly or a shadow passes over them. They'll either barricade themselves in their shells or seek shelter elsewhere.