Learn about
Hermit Crabs
(Source: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/9411/#intro)
This is a Land Hermit Crab.Introduction
Land hermit crabs are crustaceans known as Coenobita clypeatus. They live in the wild in the western Atlantic. Hermit crabs have a three sections: a head, a body (cephalothorax), and an abdomen which they protect with their shells. Hermit crabs have gills on their big claw in order to conserve moisture. Hermit crabs sometimes go for long periods of time without food or water. However, hermit crabs need to keep their gills wet to maintain good health. It is usually best to place them in or near water once a day. Although hermit crabs might look harmless, they can use their claws to grip things tightly. Trust me; I've had one attached to me for five minutes. If one should attach themselves to you, put them under luke warm water. Even the very smallest hermit crabs can draw blood if it becomes frightened. Hermit crabs usually travel in groups of 25 (approx.) in the wild. So it is important when you have hermit crabs as pets that you have several of them to keep each other company.
Some Hermit Crabs live in the ocean and cannot kept as petsHermit Crab Behavior
Hermit crabs are nocturnal, so they may seem inactive during the day. But if you wake your hermit crabs up during the day, they usually sleep during the night. It is important for a hermit crab's well being that they get exercise outside the the cage. I found that since I started to let them out of their cages to roam free, they seem to live longer on the average. Usually, hermit crabs will go towards dark areas, such as under a couch, since they are nocturnal. If you do let them out of the aquarium, it is important that you watch where they go. It can be amusing to watch them run across the room. Unlike most people, I let my crabs out a day or two at a time. They like to wander in and out of my C.D. case. Also, I have two crabs too large to fit comfortably into my ten gallon, so I just let them run free in my room. Although, I have had to take some precautions in doing so- making sure they can't get behind furniture and that all electric cords are off the ground. I found that they keep out of the walkways, but you should still watch each step you take. They seem to like having the freedom to move, but they always return to the same location eventually. I feel that giving crabs the freedom to wander around is a more natural lifestyle for a crab to live in. Since I started to let my crabs spend most of their time outside the cage, they live longer. They live between 1-4 years on the average; where as before, I was lucky if they lived for 6 months in the aquarium. And I have noticed that large hermit crabs are not aggressive towards smaller hermit crabs. Usually, hermit crabs are only aggressive to hermit crabs of similar sizes.
Hermit crabs like to be kept in groups
Activity:
Begin a list of everything you will need to buy in order to keep a Land Hermit Crab. Also, have a parent or teacher call, or visit, a local pet shop to find out how much these items cost.
