A Clean Hermit Crab Has The Proper Care

Proper hygiene is important in the life of any animals. Hermit crabs should be clean and must be given the care they need. If you have a hermit crab, you have to give them tender, loving care like any other pets by cleaning it and anything that is associated to it. Know the usual things that a hermit crab needs in its every day living because those are the things that could affect them. One of the important things that you must know for a healthy crab pet is the cleanliness of the surroundings and their very own self. Here are the common things that must be cleaned up together with them:

The Shell

The shell is almost their skin that seems permanently attached to their bodies. This is the very thing that is the most closest to them. It seems that they cannot live without it. Their will to have a shell inside them is so intense in a sense that they can kill a fellow hermit crab just to have it even they don't own it. That's how greedy they are when it comes to shells. They use it to cover half of their body protecting the stomach area which is so delicate. A shell must be always clean since this is their constant companion that they drag along when they roam around. To care for a hermit crab, you also need to clean their shells. There are some basic directions on how to secure the shells that keeps away the hermit crabs from harm and here are the following:

- Look for shells that have some cracks or holes that could possibly create some damaged on the well-being of the hermit crabs. If you found some, separate it from the good ones and throw it away.

- Create a baking soda solution by mixing the baking soda to 1/3 of water and immerse the shell for about 20 minutes. Make sure that you see some bubbles before you take out the shell from the solution.

- Shake the shell for the water to come out from it. That is the only way for the water to drip.

- Mix the aquarium salt to 1/3 water free from chlorine. Follow the instructions intended for the aquarium salt preparations. A clean hermit crab is in good care with this procedure.

- Wash the shell for the last time in fresh chlorine-free water and let it stay for about 5 minutes and then drain the water. You could repeat this step in cleaning the shell every time you need to.

The Aquarium

This is the place where the hermit crabs constantly stay. So, if this is dirty, they will be exposed to harmful bacteria that might affect their health. Such exposure will weaken their immune system or worst, lead them to death. So, their crabitat must be kept clean to avoid such situation. Here are the ways on how to do the proper way to clean a hermit crab with care:

- Take out the hermit crabs from the aquarium and put them in a secure place where they cannot easily escape. A container with a high lid is fine.

- Clean all the toys that you have placed inside the aquarium. Use warm water to kill the bacteria that begins to grow in the accessories. This could also be applied to the rocks inside the aquarium.

- Wipe the insides of the aquarium by a cloth with a disinfectant from the mixture of water and vinegar. This will only cost you less the disinfectant you can buy from the department stores. For finishing, rinse the aquarium with warm water. You do the utmost care with your hermit crab that is thoroughly clean.