What To AVOID When Buying Hermit Crab Supplies

For new owners, determining which items are safe when purchasing hermit crab supplies can be challenging. However, this blog provides comprehensive guidance to assist you.

We will review commonly available items in pet stores and online that should be avoided at all costs. This not only helps you save money but could also potentially save the lives of your crabs.

It is concerning to consider that items labeled as "for hermit crabs" might actually be unsafe. We expect the products we purchase online and in stores to be safe. Unfortunately, the majority are not. In the case of pet store products, the focus is often on marketing rather than accurately representing what hermit crabs naturally use in the wild.

Foods

It is advisable to avoid all hermit crab foods labeled by pet stores, whether purchased in-store or online. Only foods from sellers approved by The Land Hermit Crab Owners Society (LHCOS) or small well-established hermit crab food stores should be considered. These sellers adhere to stringent guidelines to produce food products that are entirely safe and nutritionally balanced, ensuring the health and survival of your crabs.

Foods to Avoid

• Krabooz Foods - Treatz, Munchiez

• Zoo Med Hermit Crab Food

• Hermit Crab Pellets

• Hermit Crab Flakes

• Blue Planet Hermit Crab Food

• Aqua One Hermit Crab Food

• Any other hermit crab-labeled foods from pet stores or online

Salts

This topic often confuses new hermit crab owners. Hermit crabs require ocean water in their habitat. Since most individuals do not live near the ocean, it is necessary to create artificial ocean water. The only product that accurately replicates the salinity of ocean water is marine salt.

Marine salt is commonly used in certain aquariums. Therefore, it should be purchased from an aquarium store, a specialist fish pet store, or online through an approved seller.

Please refrain from using the following salts, as they are not marine salts and do not replicate the ocean's natural vitamins and minerals essential for our crabs.

Salts to Avoid

• Krabooz - Saltz Crystalz, Ocean Water Bag

• Aqua One Hermit Crab Salt

• Blue Planet Hermit Crab Salt

• Zoo Med Conditioning Salt

• Soaking Salt

• Table Salt

• Sea Salt Flakes/Crystals

• Himalayan Salt

• Celtic Salt

• Cooking Salt

• Kosher Salt

• Aquarium Salt

• Tropical Salt

Understanding what constitutes marine salt can be somewhat challenging due to the wide variety of specialized salts available. Popular brands within the hermit crab community include Red Sea Salt, Aquaforest Sea Salt, Instant Ocean, Aqua One Synthetic Reef Salt, Continuum Reef Crystals, and Aquasonic Premium Sea Salt.

Marine salt is typically not available at standard pet stores or local grocery stores. It is generally found at aquarium stores.

Water Conditioner

Many water conditioners marketed for hermit crabs typically only eliminate a limited number of contaminants from the water. If you are utilizing tap water, it is imperative to treat it with a product that effectively removes all of the following contaminants:

Ammonia, Chloramine, Chlorine, Nitrates, and Nitrites. These chemicals are detrimental to your crab's health.

Please refrain from using the following water conditioners:

• Krabooz - Zooper Dropz, Dechlorinated Water Bag

• Reptisafe Terrarium Water Conditioner

• Zoo Med Hermit Crab Drinking Water

• API Tap Water Conditioner

• Aqua One Water Conditioner

One water conditioner distinguishes itself by addressing all needs comprehensively, requiring only one drop per litre of water.

Seachem Prime water conditioner is the leading product on the market, offering cost-effectiveness given its performance and minimal usage requirements.

Decor

It may seem unusual, but not all decor is suitable for your hermit crabs. Please refrain from using the following materials.

• Metal

• Eucalyptus Leaves & Branches

• Evergreen Wood - Pine, Cedar, Juniper

• Unsafe Woods - Walnut, Apricot, Laurel, Nectarine, Peach, Plum, Lucky Bamboo, Boxwood, Alder Bark, Apple

• Treated Plants

• Painted Plastic Items

• Tanbark

• Painted Rocks

• Cardboard

• Adhesive

• Sphagnum Peat Moss

• Foam

All the aforementioned items are toxic and may be ingested by your crabs, potentially causing them harm.

It is advisable to use the following safe products:

• Plain Plastic Decor

• Coconut Hide

• Acrylic

• Fish Egg Crate

• Cable Ties

• Aquarium Sealant

• Gutter Guard

• Safe Woods - Cholla, Pecan Bark, Cork Bark, Oak Bark, Mopani Wood, Mangrove, Madrona Wood, Birch Wood, Bamboo, Ash Wood

• Sphagnum Moss

• Jute Material (non-painted)

• Seagrass Hammocks

• Colored Plastic (non-painted)

• China, Ceramic, Resin

• 3D Printed Filament Products

• Artificial Plants

• Granite Rocks

• Faux Grass

Tanks/Crabitats

The type of tank you choose for your hermit crabs is critical to their well-being. It is important to avoid the following types of tanks:

• Krabooz - Large Enclosure, Donut

• Tanks with Mesh Lids

• Plastic Containers

• Tanks without Lids

• Tanks with Mesh Gaps

• Tanks with Only a Hooded Lid

The tanks listed below are essential for maintaining a warm and humid environment for your crabs, while also preventing any escapes.

Hermit crabs do not require "breathing holes" as they do not breathe fresh air. They absorb humidity through their modified gills, which is their method of respiration. Enclosed tanks will not cause suffocation; however, they will suffocate in open tanks with fresh air exposure.

• Enclosed Glass Aquarium with Lid

• Reptile Enclosure with Covered Mesh Sections and Secure Lid

Shells

Providing the appropriate type of shells for your hermit crabs is crucial. It is essential to offer shells that fit correctly, are larger to accommodate growth, and come in a variety of shapes and styles.

When selecting shells, it is important to avoid certain types.

• Painted Shells - these are hazardous

• Damaged Shells

• Shells with Perforations

• Shells with Narrow or Slim Openings

• Elongated Spiral Shells

• Sharp-Edged Shells

• Synthetic or Glass Shells

Your crabs require all-natural shells featuring D, oval, or round shape openings. It is recommended to acquire these from approved sellers, online seashell retailers, or select pet stores.

Pools

The pools marketed for hermit crabs are remarkably shallow, to the extent that a crab can only immerse its feet.

Unfortunately, this prevents crabs from adequately filling their shells with water.

Hermit crabs require water storage in their shells to maintain moisture in their soft abdomen and for use during their extended moulting periods.

Therefore, all pools, whether saltwater or freshwater, should be sufficiently deep to allow your largest crab to completely submerge both its shell and body.

Provided there is a safe entry and exit, the crabs will not drown.

Pools to Avoid

• Krabooz Pools

• Shallow Containers

• Shallow Reptile Pools

• Metal Pools

• Flimsy Plastic Pools

• Soft Plastic Pools

• Takeaway Container Pools

• Rubber Pools

The following items are highly reliable for use as pools, offering enhanced stability and resistance to tipping or leaking:

• Small Glass Fish Tanks

• Hard Plastic Tupperware

• Glass Containers

• Resin Containers

• Acrylic Containers

• 3D Printed Pools

• Ceramic Pools

Heat Sources

Maintaining appropriate heat levels is crucial for the survival of hermit crabs, as they require conditions similar to their natural habitat. Australian hermit crabs thrive in temperatures ranging from 27 to 32 degrees Celsius, consistently throughout the year, 24/7.

It is advisable to avoid certain heat sources, as they may be unsafe, pose a risk of burning the crabs, dry out the substrate, or fail to adequately heat the tank.

• Heat Mats with a Wattage Under 20W

• Heat Lamps

• Heating Rocks

• Heat Bulbs

• Ceramic Heat Emitter

These types of heat sources can lead to a dry substrate, cause burns to crabs, only heat a small portion of the tank, and fail to adequately heat the tank's air as required.

There are only two heating products suitable for use on a Hermit Crab tank (we emphasize on, NEVER inside), as placing heat sources inside a tank poses significant dangers.

• Heat Mats above 20 watts

• Reptile Heat Cords

Both items should be positioned on the exterior back or sides of the tank, above the substrate level. This placement prevents the substrate from drying out and protects the crabs from potential harm.