Hermit Crabs?

[TheMissingLink]

My 8 year old son keeps on me about getting him some of these little guys. Do any of you out there have them? If you do can you tell me a little about them.

I've been reading all day on them and was just looking for some info from a live person.

My son has his own male bp and takes good care of him does his own feeding and cleaning with my watch full eye behind him.

He's looking to expand his little zoo

[nwheat]

My kids have a couple of hermit crabs. They are easy, fun pets. The main cause of death for captive hermit crabs, I think, is not having an appropriate place to go while molting. They need to dig down into some moist substrate and be able to stay buried for several days - undisturbed. I use a deep deli cup filled with moist coco fiber. Both have successfully gone through at least one molt in there (several for the little guy). If they are forced to molt on the surface, they rarely survive.

Good luck with them!

Nancy

[Brandon.O]

go with the hermit crabs, i would reccomend them for kids, they are pretty hardy, easy to take care of and really interesting.

be careful.....they are addictive !!

if you need anything else, just let us know....ive been keeping them for a LOOOONG time.

[TheMissingLink]

Thanks

My big concern is heat. Whats the best way to keep them warm?

[Jerhart]

I had hermit crabs growing up and I loved them!

One question tho, can they breed in captivity?

-Josh

[Brandon.O]

I had hermit crabs growing up and I loved them!

One question tho, can they breed in captivity?

-Josh

As far as I know...No, they cannot. I beleive NOBODY has gotten them to breed in captivity succesfully, you need the ocean.

keeping them warm shouldnt be too hard. Avoid heatlamps, they will dry them out (keeping them moist is 100% nessasary) go with a heat pad or put them in a warm room in your house.

like i said before, hermits are pretty hardy and alot of people debate whether or not they need supplemental heat. I would say that you need it if your house goes below 65-70.

i have kept them with, and without heat and i didnt notice any difference in behavior, eating or anything else, my room stays about 70-75 though.