Hermit Crabs have no directly relation to crabs. They come
from the super family Paguroidea. They are named as ‘hermit’
crabs because it is their characteristic to occupy abandoned
seashells. They do this to protect their delicate abdomen.
Nearly five hundred species of hermit crabs are known to exist
and most of them live in water. They live in colonies of
approximately hundred occupants.
As the hermit crab grows it changes its shell and searches for a
bigger one. Also, hermit crabs with well fitting shells grow
faster than the ones with tight shell and the later ones becomes
a prey very easily. But the availability of abandoned shells is
less and hence the hermit crabs fight each other so as to get
ownership of a shell. The number of shells available depends on
the population of gastropods around. Very rarely do hermit crabs
trade each other’s shells. The new shell will be selected if it
is at least one-third bigger than the present shell. The hermit
crabs also have a tough exoskeleton, which doesn’t grow with the
hermit crab. But the crab shed this exoskeleton and grows
another one very fast. This process is known as molting. Molting
cannot be determined before hand, but hermit crab does become
inactive and may bury itself in the gravel for two weeks. A
small hermit crab molts once a month and larger crabs molt once
every eighteen months.
Hermit crabs are even kept as exotic pets. Pet owners like them
because they are the one requiring least-maintenance of all the
exotic pets. They do not grow more than the size of a peach and
can be kept in a normal aquarium. They are scavengers and feed
on algae and debris formed in the aquarium. Many of the species
of the hermit crabs are part of the marine aquarium trade, some
are herbivorous and some are omnivorous. Blue legged crab, zebra
hermit crab, red reef hermit crabs, common hermit crab and red
tip crab some of the types of hermit crabs which are kept as
pets. The most desirable of them is the red reef hermit crab or
scarlet hermit crab. It has a bright red body with yellow
colored eyestalks. But some even grow to nearly twelve inches
and feed on clams, corals, and crustaceans.
The aquatic hermit crabs live in salt water with salinity
ranging from 1.023 to 1.025. The temperature should vary from
seventy-five degree Fahrenheit to eighty degree Fahrenheit for
the tropical species. The aquarium gravel bed should be filled
with algae and they should also be provided with different types
of shells for the hermit crab, to choose from. If they have a
larger option they will change their shells frequently, which is
an interesting activity to be watched. Food dishes can also be
added as a landscape, but the dishes should be low so that the
hermit crab can climb out of it. Even other activities like
digging, climbing, etc. are very interesting to observe.
They should be fed and watered daily. Commercial food is
available at the pet store. But along with that, fresh
vegetables and fruits can also be added to the diet. Care must
be taken that the fruit or the vegetable shouldn’t be left in
the aquarium for more than one day or else it will contaminate
the water. The gravel must be removed and the tank should be
washed every month. They also must be watered, meaning that
everyday they need to be sprinkled with lukewarm water. This
applies for land hermit crabs.
It is very easy to train a hermit crab. Training is more like
playing. The hand must be held out and the hermit crab must be
allowed to crawl on the palm. If the hermit crab pinches and
doesn’t let go, run the area under a little lukewarm water and
it will immediately let go.