How to Build a Hermit Crab Cage

Hermit crabs need space to hide and move around, as well as to keep their food, water and waste separated. Because they are small, a traditional cage may allow them to escape or get a claw stuck through the bars. Because of this, hermit crabs are often housed in plastic or glass aquariums or small-animal habitats.

Things You'll Need

  • Glass or fiberglass sheets
  • Silicone sealant
  • Tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use sheets of glass or fiberglass to form the floor and walls of the cage. These can usually be bought in hardware stores. They don't have to be particularly thick, as the cage will not have anything heavy in it, nor will it house a creature that can break the glass or crack the fiberglass. The cage will look like an aquarium tank when completed. The shape of the tank can be square or rectangular.

    • 2

      Choose pieces that measure the right length and width for the planned cage. A rectangular habitat will need two pieces that are the same length and width and two pieces that are just as tall as the other pieces but with a smaller width. The bottom piece must be as long as the longest side pieces.

    • 3

      Assemble all of the pieces so that you can put them together quickly. Lay the bottom piece on a flat surface and put some silicone sealant around the edges of the bottom. The sealant should be applied in a thick, unbroken line along each edge. This can be done along the outside edge of the bottom piece, or along the top edge of the bottom. Where you attach the top pieces will depend on the size of your bottom piece.

    • 4

      Place each of the upper pieces firmly into the silicone sealant. Once you get the first side into the sealant, place a line of silicone along one of its side edges and place another side piece against it. That piece will be joined at both the bottom and at the edge of the first piece. Tape the two pieces together to keep them in place until the sealant dries.

    • 5

      Continue with this method until all four sides are completed. If you want a top on your tank, there are a number of screen tops that can be bought to cover the top. However, hermit crabs can't climb up a smooth wall and will not be able to escape if the walls are the height of an aquarium tank.