What are the common misconceptions about hermit crab cage?
Unfortunately, there are some common false information about cage for hermit crab that even experienced owners may get. If you want to keeping hermit crabs as pets, you should take the time, reading this post in order to choose the best hermit crab cage.
#1 Hermit Crab can live happy in any type of cage
Hermit crabs require humidity of around 75-85%, this helps the hermit crabs breathe properly. Humidity below seventy percent can cause the crabs to suffocate and die. For this reason, they should not be kept in the wire cages. The only enclosure suitable for these animals is an aquarium.
Wire cages do not work to maintain the incredibly humid environment that your pets need to be survive. The glass tank with solid plexiglass lid is the best option.
If you have limited budget a large plastic storage tote/tub can temporarily be used to house crabs. However, you always should save up to get a glass tank for hermit crab.
#2 They do not need much space
Hermit crabs may be social animals, but it does not mean that they do not need to move away from their buddies for some alone time. Your crabs may get stress when overcrowded. Hermit crabs need enough room to seek seclusion by completely burying itself during the molting. It will help they feel safe from other, potentially hungry, hermit crabs.
Basically, each crab requires at least 10 gallons to live happy. This allows enough room for molting, climbing, eating, sleeping, hiding, and digging. If you want to keep two hermit crabs, you will need to prepare a cage at least 20 gallons.
#3 Hermit Crabs can live in front doors tank
Be careful about choosing a terrarium for your hermit crab. Aquariums are designed to hold water, so they can accommodate several inches of substrate, but many terrariums have doors on the front. This means that these front doors tanks only keep a couple inches of sand. While crabs will not do well when only provided a couple inches of sand for substrate.
Ideally, substrate depth should be at least half the tank’s height. Having deep substrate really is important, as this is the only way a molting crab can protect itself. This is why you should not choose a glass tank with front doors to keep hermit carbs.