Hermit Crab Facts ?A Beginners Guide

The hermit crab makes for a fantastic pet and is not that difficult to look after. However before you take the plunge and go out and buy one, here are some interesting hermit crab facts to put you in the know.

There are well over 500 species of the crabby critters in the world, but only three are currently being sold as pets. These are: the Caribbean species, the Ecuadorian species and the Australian species. Out of these three species, the first two can be purchased in the USA. Because they all originate from warmer climes, they are quite susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity.

You little crabby companions are not really crabs at all since they are born without a shell. Instead they rely on finding discarded shells from other beings such as snails and smaller crustaceans. Once they find a shell that fits, they will stay within that shell until they grow out of it. Only when they find another shell will they get rid of the previous one. One of the most interesting pet crustacean facts is that they tend to be very fussy about the type of shell that they call their home, often spending days or weeks trying to find the right one. More often than not they prefer shells with a mother of pearl lining.

Their diet is quite extraordinary! They are natural foragers and scavengers in the wild and will eat absolutely anything. Carrion such as meat or fish is a favourite as are, vegetables, grasses, bark and even human food waste. This means that they are perfect for keeping as pets because they will eat what you eat. The best diet for them in captivity is a mixture of processed crab food and fresh fruit and vegetables, such as apples, spinach, mango and carrots. One of the pet crustacean facts that you may find particularly surprising is that, like many humans, they have a bit of a sweet tooth and are partial to a piece of chocolate. Naturally this should only be given in moderation.

The crawling crabby critters have two favourite pastimes which are burrowing and climbing. They shed their skin or molt frequently (3-4 times a year depending on size) and they burrow to give protection when doing so. They are also great little climbers and are never happier than when scaling up a piece of bark. If you are going to buy one of these crabby critters then make sure that the aquarium has a good fitting lid because being of an inquisitive nature, your crabs can and will escape.

If you've done any research yourself on facts about these crabby little fellows, I bet you were as gob smacked as me to learn that although land species live on land they have gills rather than lungs, so they need a moist environment in which to survive. This may seem rather strange, but not when you consider that all of these crustaceans are born in the ocean! It is not until they are born that they come ashore to live out the rest of their lives.

One of the most important of the facts about these critters for a potential new owner is the longevity of the species. The lifespan of a healthy example of these crawlers can vary greatly. In the wild they can live anything up to 30 years and if looked after properly in captivity they can live up to fifteen years. There are even tales of the coconut crab living up to 40 years so bear in mind that these crabby critters are not a disposable, throw away type of pet, as you may have first thought.

Now that you've read up on hermit crab facts, I am sure you will appreciate the potential that a one of these crawly companions have, if you are looking for an interesting and endearing exotic pet that really isn't that difficult to care for, once you know how.