How to Mate Hermit Crabs

Hermit crabs do not usually breed while in captivity, meaning that in order to breed hermit crabs, the average person must make special conditions for them. Check out these helpful tips to get your hermit crabs to mate.

Things You'll Need

  • Saltwater tank or outdoor pond
  • Moonlight bulbs
  • Wave maker
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a saltwater tank. If you can’t do it indoors, a big outdoor pool can help. In fact, experts suggest that an outdoor pool is the best bet for mating.

    • 2

      Set up a device that can imitate waves in an ocean. Hermit crabs like the motion of the waves, and this may help with their breeding. You can easily find these devices on the Internet or in your local pet stores. Sea Swirl Aquarium Wavemakers is a good brand to try, and you can get these relatively inexpensively.

    • 3

      Set up moonlight bulbs around the tank or pool, as this can help the breeding process. Hermit crabs typically breed at night. These can be bought for under $15, either on the Internet or your local pet store.

    • 4

      Determine whether you have a male and female hermit crab together so that they may mate. This is a difficult process, as the parts of the female are hidden by the shell. Ask at the pet store you buy your hermit crabs at to get a male and female together.

    • 5

      Keep the temperature of your aquarium between 72 degrees and 80 degrees, as hermit crabs thrive at this temperature. Anything below this and they can become weak or ill.

    • 6

      Keep your hermit crabs healthy. This means clean air, full lighting, calcium supplements along with a great diet, fresh and salt water and the proper temperature. If your hermit crabs are healthy, they are more likely to mate.

    • 7

      Keep a large supply of brine shrimp on hand for the larvae to feed on, if you do get your hermit crabs to mate.