QuestionI am assuming that the strawberry crabs also like to have house mates. Do the house mates have to be strawberry's also? The strawberry I am purchasing is considered a large strawberry. If I buy other crabs can they be smaller? The tank I am putting them in is a 20 high, will they climb up driftwood? What about live plants? Could I put some non poisonous plants in the tank to help keep up the humidity?
AnswerHi,
thank you for your question.
It's best to keep at least two crabs of each species, there are some differences in behaviour between the species (for example, Es are often much more active than PPs). The size isn't that important, they usually get along fine, even very big and very small crabs. Sometimes a crab is a bully, then it's better to have an even bigger crab, but that is rare.
Land hermit crabs love to climb and will certainly enjoy driftwood. You can also use hardwood like hazel, oak, bech, birch, willow or poplar, if you can get untreated branches. Make sure the crabs cannot reach the lid, they are escape artists and a big crab may be able to push open the lid.
Live plants won't last long because the crabs eat them and climb all over them, but as long as they last, they help with humidity, make the crabitat look nice and the crabs have a lot of fun with them. Here's a list of safe plants that you can use:
http://www.epicureanhermit.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Item...
Bromeliads are sturdy and last longer than other plants. Air plants are safe, as well as bamboo (not lucky bamboo, it's not a real bamboo), mangroves, spider plant, cordylines, spiderwort (tradescantia) or inch plant.
I hope I was of some help to you
Jennifer
