What Kind of Water Should a Hermit Crab Be Put In?

If you've recently purchased a hermit crab or found one in the wild, you are probably wondering what kind of water should a hermit crab be put in, and how much water it needs to survive. The answer to both of these questions depends on the type of hermit crab that you have.

  1. About Hermit Crabs

    • Hermit crabs are found on beaches and tidal areas and make popular pets because they are generally easy to catch and easy to care for. There are many species of hermit crabs, but, in general, hermit crabs are classified into two types: marine and land hermit crabs. Depending on the type, water requirements vary, but all hermit crabs need access to water in order to survive.

    Marine Hermit Crabs

    • Marine hermit crabs are able to live out of the water for several days, but their primary habitat is the water. In captivity, saltwater tanks are the ideal environment for aquatic hermit crabs, and the salinity of the tank should be constantly monitored in order to be kept at optimal levels.

    Land Hermit Crabs

    • Land hermit crabs can survive underwater for brief periods of time but will eventually drown if left immersed. When providing them with water for drinking and bathing, never give them tap water, as it contains chlorine and other chemicals which can be toxic to hermit crabs. Any water used on or given to hermit crabs should first be de-chloronized. De-chlorinization and water conditioning solutions are available at most pet stores.

      Provide land hermit crabs with fresh water in shallow dishes on a daily basis, and provide them with a larger dish of water in which to bathe themselves. Any water dish that is large enough for a crab to climb into should also be shallow enough for it to climb out. Place rocks and substrate next to the water dish to give your crabs something to hold on to when they enter and exit the water.

    Bathing Land Hermit Crabs

    • Some land hermit crab owners believe that bathing land hermit crabs on a weekly basis is necessary, while others believe that, as long as you provide your crab with a shallow dish of water for self-bathing, extra baths are not necessary. If you do decide to bathe your crab, do not immerse it fully in water for prolonged periods of time and never leave it unsupervised in water with no way to climb out. Most land hermit crab experts recommend that you bathe your hermit crab after it molts, otherwise the smell of exoskeleton can sometimes cause other hermit crabs in the tank to attack and eat the newly molted crab.

    Considerations

    • If you find a hermit crab in the wild, take the time to identify whether it is a land hermit crab or a marine crab. If you are not sure, bring it to a pet store as soon as possible and ask an employee to help you.