How to Make a Crab Cage out of a Box

While on a seaside vacation, you or your child may discover a distinctive souvenir to take home. Tourist towns on the ocean will sometimes offer hermit crabs for sale. If you need a temporary home for your new pet, the right type of cardboard box can work until you get it safely home. A box cage can also serve as a temporary location while you clean and sterilize the crab's primary aquarium home.

Things You'll Need

  • Cardboard box
  • Hermit crab sand or coconut fiber
  • Ceramic water and food dishes
  • Clear plastic wrap
  • Large rubber band
  • Sharp instrument
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Instructions

    • 1

      Locate a strong cardboard box. Make sure the box has no weak areas and is strongly attached together.

    • 2

      Measure the sides of the box and make sure they are at least 1 foot high on all sides. This is to prevent the crab from escaping.

    • 3

      Place a layer of at least 2 inches of coconut fiber or hermit crab sand on the bottom of the box. Regular sandbox sand is an alternative, but you must bake it at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour first to sterilize it.

    • 4

      Place a full ceramic water dish and food dish in the box before introducing the crab to its new temporary home.

    • 5

      Cover the box top in a layer of clear plastic wrap. This helps to hold moisture in the cage, which is important for hermit crab habitats. Secure it into place with a large rubber band around the rim of the box. Use a sharp object such as a compass point or fork to pierce holes throughout the top.