04/09/2026
🦀 WE’VE JUST REVAMPED OUR HERMIT CRAB ENCLOSURE! 🦀
While we wait for more crabbies to arrive, we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to educate our customers before they take the plunge into owning hermit crabs.
HERMIT CRABS NEED MORE THAN JUST A TANK!
Hermit crabs are often sold as “easy” pets, but the reality is that they have very specific environmental needs. If we want them to thrive rather than simply survive, we need to recreate their natural environment as closely as possible. 🌴🌊
🌡️ TEMPERATURE & HUMIDITY
Hermit crabs come from warm, humid coastal environments, so maintaining the correct temperature and humidity is essential. A tank that is too cold or too dry can cause serious stress, dehydration and respiratory problems.
🌱 DEEP SUBSTRATE = ESSENTIAL
Hermit crabs are natural burrowers, and they spend a huge amount of time underground, especially when preparing to moult. They need a deep, moist substrate that they can completely bury themselves in.
A shallow layer of sand simply isn’t enough. They need enough depth to safely dig and create a secure burrow without it collapsing.
💧 BOTH FRESH & SALTWATER POOLS
Hermit crabs need access to deep pools of both fresh and marine-strength saltwater. These aren’t just for drinking, they also use water for bathing, maintaining moisture and regulating the conditions inside their shells.
The pools should be deep enough for the crab to fully submerge itself, while also providing a safe way for it to climb in and out.
🐚 MULTIPLE SHELLS
A hermit crab’s shell isn’t just its home, it’s its protection.
As they grow, they need to be able to move into a larger shell. Providing multiple appropriately sized, natural shells gives them choices and allows them to change shells when necessary.
Without suitable spare shells, a crab can become vulnerable, stressed and even fight with other crabs over limited shell choices.
🌿 A NATURALISTIC ENVIRONMENT
Hermit crabs are active, curious animals that climb, dig, explore and forage. Providing branches, hides, plants, and other enrichment allows them to express these natural behaviours and creates a much more enriching environment.
🦀 THE BOTTOM LINE
A hermit crab shouldn’t be kept in a tiny plastic tank with a thin layer of sand and a water dish.
For the best chance at a long, healthy life, they need:
✔️ Correct temperature
✔️ High humidity
✔️ Deep, burrowable substrate
✔️ Deep fresh & saltwater pools
✔️ Multiple suitable shells
✔️ Hides and climbing opportunities
✔️ Enrichment and opportunities to forage
✔️ Enough space to move, explore and behave naturally
The goal isn’t simply to keep a hermit crab alive, it’s to give it an environment where it can actually thrive. 🦀💚
If you’re considering getting hermit crabs, please do your research first. They’re fascinating little animals, but they deserve proper care just like any other pet.
