Betafish305ca

Question, question..... I know, I know... the questions...
But I was wondering.... are hermit crabs able to live in FW tanks? The ones at my FPS, or crab shack, as it called or something, says they just need warm water, and some sand, and some heat.... and they will be fine.... so, would they work with my tropical community fish tank

thx

sirdarksol

No.
They'll live for a few months, but will eventually succumb to osmotic pressure and die.
A lot of fish stores sell them as "freshwater crabs" in order to make more sales. There are two such stores that are close to me that do so (and I'll never buy from them).

Betafish305ca

oh, i see.... would a tank with a sandy slope be okay? and have a few small, friendly fish in the water section?

sirdarksol

I'm sorry, I was thinking of fiddler crabs.
Hermit crabs need saltwater (aquarium salt) to submerge in. As far as I know, there are no brackish hermit crabs in the pet industry. If you can set it up, a sandy slope would be wonderful for this kind of crab.

Betafish305ca

oh, okay.... does it have to be salt? the lady says their freshwater.... is that possible? or is she wrong? the display case is more sand then anything, and those large crab dish things with water in them...

Peffico

Sorry man, but hermits need salt. Those crabs you see at pet stores usually don't last long for the fact they don't have a natural habitat.

Here's what hermit crabs need.

1. Brackish water (really easy all you need is marine salt, not aquarium. And add about a tablespoon per gallon of water)
2.Multiple shells. They need them for when they get bigger so they feel safe and secure and don't stress out.
3. Land. Fairly obvious as hermit crabs aren't completely aquatic animals.
4. Species only terrarnium. Unless you wan't some food for them to hunt. Then guppies should work.
5. Food (of course)

Good luck man

sirdarksol

What Peffico said, except they prefer true marine water, not just brackish. Most hermit crabs live in the intertidal zone (the area that is exposed to air at low tide), so during high tide, they're covered in pure salt water.

Betafish305ca

would these guys be okay for FW??

http://www.petsmart.com/uc/petarticl...reed/3736.html

besides the fact that they are tough guys.... would they be okay with a betta??

harpua2002

No, they definitely wouldn't play nicely with a betta. No crab will. Plus, the article says that they should be kept on dry substrate. They are not aquatic.

Shawnie

did you read the link you posted? sand and dry will not work for bettas...

Betafish305ca

true, true... i feel akward, oops, sorry..... i know that you should keep the hermit crabs moist, do you spray them with FW or SW

sirdarksol

Hermit crabs should ideally be kept in a palidarium (some land, some water) with brackish/marine water. If that can't be provided, a large, shallow dish of brackish/marine is needed for them to submerge themselves in.