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The following article was published in our article directory on August 13, 2010.
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Hermit Crabs 101: Knowing Your Shelled Pets

Article Category: Advice

Author Name: Steven Black

Hermit crabs are arthropods, similar with spiders, centipedes and scorpions. They have an exoskeleton with jointed bodies and legs. However, even if they are members of the crustacean subphylum, they are not closely related to real crabs. Many of their kind live in tropical forests and warm beaches.

Most species of hermit crabs have long and tender abdomens. For protection, the abdomen can firmly clasp to the inner columns of shells. However, hermit crabs do not have shells of their own. They just pick up empty shells from dead animals. Many species use empty sea snail shells. When their bodies grow larger, they will have to discard their shells and look for bigger ones.

As of now, there are 15 terrestrial species known. The common species kept as pets are the Caribbean, Ecuadorian and Australian hermit crabs. They are easily found, less sensitive than other species and are easiest to feed. However, their lifespan can only reach a few months. There are more expensive types like the Coenobita clypeatus, which can live for more than 20 years.

Despite the name "hermit," these crabs are social creatures. They are found in groups, playing and burrowing in sandy beaches. Studies have proven that they can live longer if they interact with others of their kind. If you are planning to raise them as pets, it is wise to buy at least five of them. Playing and climbing with each other will make their bodies stronger.

There is no fixed design for a natural hermit crab habitat. They may use piles of pebbles, rocks, sand, roots of trees and fallen branches as homes. The indispensable environmental elements are warmth, substrate (soil), humidity and clean water.

People who raise crabs at their homes must mimic this warm-tropical environment. Many aquarium sand-substrates are equipped with heaters at the bottom. The glass walls of a 10-gallon aquarium can adequately keep the moisture inside. The sand will also allow the crabs to dig, molt and play around.

As for food, hermit crabs are not so choosy. Scientists found out that most species of hermit crabs are omnivorous scavengers. They eat dead bodes of plants and animals. They also enjoy feeding on tree barks and animal bones. Some are also observed to eat feces in the wilds.

Feeding a hermit crab at home is now simple with commercial feeds. Pet shop recipes include complete vitamins and nutrients for the crabs. These include Vitamin C, calcium, tannin and carotene. The commercial feeds can either be fine or pelleted, and they are available in packs or in cans. You can also serve them with any human food, except preserved goods and those with monosodium glutamate (MSG).

The bodies of most species of hermit crabs are like insects'. Therefore, make sure that their foods, like fruits and vegetables, are free from pesticides. They are also sensitive to water. They cannot tolerate high acidity or high chlorine content, as it will poison them. You can eliminate chlorine from tap water by using water conditioners. Thus, you can imitate the neutral waters of their natural environment.

Keywords: hermit crabs information, hermit crab habitat, species of hermit crabs, feeding a hermit crab, hermit crab breeding, what do hermit crabs eat, pet land hermit crabs, how to clean a hermit crabs aquarium, hermit crab shells, hermit crabs and care

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