QuestionI have a few questions about hermit crabs. I had some this past year, but it ended very horribly, one escaped the tank, one died from a fungus bloom in his shell I didn't know about, and the other I'd just rather not talk about(it was a post molting accident, the molt went fine, though). Anyway, I want some really good answers from an expert. 1) Can two tiny crabs live in a 5 gallon glass set up with 2 inches of sand, a hermit hut, a glass lid, a uth, an over head light, 2 food shells, one water dish and a plastic climbing grid? It will only be temporary, a week or two at most until I can find a used 10g and more sand (the three I mentioned before lived in a 10g, but after they died, I was broken hearted and threw it in the dumpster). 2) what commercial brand of food do you recommend, I will be feeding a variety of fresh foods, I have a 3 page list of things they can eat, but I am just talking a staple diet, can you suggest one? and lastly, what would you suggest as a bedding? Is there a "recipe" as far as mixing sand and coconut bedding, or is there something even better than sand/coco bedding?
AnswerOkay, a lot to answer here.
You say that one died of a fungus bloom. I've never heard of this. Are you sure that the crab didn't just mold after death?
1. The will need some ocean-style salt water as well (maybe in a bottle cap?) but yes, if it's very temporary they will be okay.
2. I do not recommend commercial food but I buy my general basic food from The Happy Hermit Crab http://www.thehappyhermitcrab.com/ and I also make my own. This is a good alternative to commercial food that contains harmful preservatives.
3. Bedding. I mix 2 parts coconut bedding to 1 part sand and a bag of moss. My crabs love it but everyone is different. Experiment a little. See what you like. If you want, change things for the next deep clean and try something new!
Good luck!
