Hermit Crabs

Caribbean hermit crab

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From Wikipedia
Land hermit crabThe Caribbean hermit crab (Coenobita clypeatus), also known as the tree crab, the tree-climbing crab, the soldier crab, and the purple pincher, is a species of land hermit crab which lives in the Arabian Sea, the Caribbean Sea, southern Florida, Venezuela, and the Bermuda Islands.

Suitable "crabitat"This species is commonly sold in the United States as a pet. The last of its common names is due to the distinctive purple claw. In captivity they can live to be over 30 years old (and over 40 years in exceptional cases).

Caribbean hermit crabs are omnivorous scavengers who live in colonies of 100 or more in inland areas, and who like to hide in caves or the roots of a tree. They prefer a relative humidity level between 70% and 78%, and a temperature of 24°C (75°F).

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Diet
Caribbean hermit crabs are both herbivorous and scavengers. In the wild, land hermit crabs feed off of coconut trees, left overs from humans, and dead organisms, such as fish and other crabs. Hermit crabs are able to bury their food in the sand to consume later, but other crabs may find them and consume it themselves. In captivity, land hermit crabs can be fed commercial foods that come in many varieties. Hermit crabs may also eat treats that include vegetables such as coconuts, mangos, papayas, apples, bananas, carrots, or spinach.

I have had hermit crabs as pets when I was a kid. They are kind of interesting. I enjoyed them and it was kind of neat to watch them change shells too. This is another type of pet that is good for kids for starters.

I had no idea they could live for so long! I would consider having a crab for a pet. I think they would be interesting to watch.

Thats great and thanks for the information.

I wonder what one would get out of having a hermit crab for a pet? Though I imagine there are many "pets" that this could be said about. I would think they would make a good addition to a tank but not really as a personal pet.

There are s many species of hermit crabs but most of them prefer staying in salty sea waters and I think keeping them in different conditions will not be very good for them There is interesting fact as to why are they called hermit crabs....the idea comes from a hermit that stays all alone in a cave, so does this creature in its shell.

My cousin had a hermit crab one time. I don't mind them and am really interested in their surrounding. I like to learn about how all living creatures lives and eat.

My daughter loves hermit crabs. I can't figure it out either. They are quite boring. One of the crabs we had changed shells every once in a while. Never saw it though- Seemed to do it at night when we were sleeping. The last crab she had never changed shells.

Right now we don't have any hermit crabs. We did look for crabs when we went to the beach in the summer.

Every year when we go to the beach my kids want to bring hermit crabs home for a pet. They are very cool to watch and easy to take care of. They would be a great starter pet for a child.

That is a pretty unusual pet to have. I didn't even know that some people has crabs as pets.

I like Hermit crabs. Even though one of them did pinch me pretty hard when I was a kid.