Proper Hermit Crab Humidity
We were all there at one time or another. You were convinced with a soft smile and glistening eyes by your child to bring home a new pet – actually a hermit crab, and now you’re unsure just what to do with this crustacean.
You are definitely not alone here. All of us who have enjoyed caring for hermit crabs have been where you are and we know that temperature and hermit crab humidity is essential! For those who are new to the hobby and hermit crabs as well as those who are more familiar with hermit crabs, the following provides an overview of hermit crab care in a coconut shell…..I mean nutshell.
Hermit Crab Humidity
Nearly as important as the temperature in your terrarium is the consistent level of humidity for your hermit crab. Hermit crabs require an environment with humidity levels of 70 percent or higher. This isn’t an exact science and you don’t need to measure the humidity each day. Just be aware that your hermit crab desires a home with a tropical feel.
Most excited first time hermit crab owners don’t realize that substrate is needed in the terrarium or cage. When we first brought our hermit crabs home from the pet store, we didn’t know what substrate was either. It’s basically a name for the material placed at the bottom of the terrarium or cage. Because your crab loves to burrow, he needs plenty of substrate to keep him happy, entertained and feeling safe.
You might be asking yourself what kind of material should be used for this substrate. Many owners enjoy using sand for the substrate since sand is found in the crab’s natural habitat, but if this isn’t an option, there are many other options at your local pet store, including shaved and grated coconut shells, which hermit crabs love to also bury. You can find some small and inexpensive hermit crab humidity monitors to attach to the hermit crab cage to help monitor the levels of humidity for your hermit crabs. You can also frequently mist the cage with a spray bottle so the moisture slowly evaporates, creating a more humid environment for your hermit crabs.
No matter what substrate material you use for your hermit crabs, ensure the substrate is deep enough so your little guys can bury themselves. Be careful as you don’t want to fill the cage so deep with substrate the hermit crabs aren’t benefiting from the heater (of course you will need a heater to keep them warm – they’re from the tropics, remember?).
Terrarium Temperature
A terrarium is just a fancy word for rustic hermit crab enclosure. You need to know that your little hermit crab requires a certain temperature environment to stay healthy in his terrarium. Your hermit crab should never be in temperatures lower than 72°F. If your hermit crab is in an environment with consistent low temperatures, you run the risk of unfortunate death. Maintaining proper temperatures for your hermit crab will also help with proper hermit crab humidity.
At the same time you need to find a balance, as you don’t want to roast your hermit crab from the sun through his terrarium. You can tell if your hermit crab is overheated from a musty odor and he will also be discharging a brown liquid.
