Help - Hermit Crab Questions

[trademan]

I have been blessed with a salt water hermit crab that my daughter and her fiance brought home from Galveston.

The crab was in about 2 feet of water, has a body about the size of a 1/2 dollar and has a good size shell it is wearing.

I currently have it in a 15 gal. tank, filled about 3/4 with brackish 1.010 water,Fiji sand, various cleaned shells and rocks piled so that it can get out of the water if it wants to and a sponge filter.

My questions:

1. What salinity does it need?
2. Does it need to be able to get out of the water or do they stay submerged?
3. What should I feed it?

All advice will be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Help - Hermit Crab Questions

There are hermits at most LFS for reef tanks and they are submerged all the time.

1.I keep my Reef tank at 1.023-1.025
2. Would not know since the ones I have seen are submerged
3. HBH Hermit crab cakes if you want but they are scavengers so they will eat anything.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Help - Hermit Crab Questions

Forgot to mention...I have some Chaeto which is SW algae that is good for reef tanks cause it absorbs nitrates/phosphates and it also host pods which is used for food for most animals. It needs to be cleaned though since it's been bagged for some time now.

Also I have a coralife hydrometer that you can have if you wanna take it all.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Help - Hermit Crab Questions

http://www.hermit-crabs.com/

Here's a link I found but I think these are a bit different from what you got from Galveston.

[trademan]

Re: Help - Hermit Crab Questions

Thanks, checked it out and I agree, don't think that they are the same as this one.

BTW, I sent you a PM, not sure if it went through or not.

[Mzungu]

Re: Help - Hermit Crab Questions

I have one, as well. It's probably the same kind as yours. I keep it in brackish water (I found it in a marsh) at about 1.015 +/- a bit. I'm sure that it will do well in either brackish or full marine. And I'm glad you have a place for it to get out of the water!

Mine eats frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp right out of my hand, goes crazy for them!

I think everything about your setup is perfect. You can raise the salinity if you wanted, but I think he'll be okay in 1.010. Let me find a picture of mine to see if yours is the same kind.

Oh, and if you have any moon snail shells, or spiral shells with openings in a more circular shape, these guys tend to prefer them. Mine started out in a marsh snail's shell, but quickly outgrew it. So just keep those shells in there, make sure they're varying in size, and you're good.  

[Mzungu]

Re: Help - Hermit Crab Questions

This is the best picture I could find so far. Sorry!

[trademan]

Re: Help - Hermit Crab Questions

Thanks everyone. This guy has a LARGE spiral shell of some kind that he's in. I've upped the water to 1.025 and he seems to be a bit more active.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Help - Hermit Crab Questions

Just curious but how are you increasing the salinity and how are you checking it?

[trademan]

Re: Help - Hermit Crab Questions

My daughter went out and bought pre-mixed saltwater which is supposed to be at 1.025, we took the crab and put him in a bucket with the brackish water, drained and refilled the tank with the new salt water and did a drip in the bucket till the water was 3x what it was originally, then we moved the crab.
I'm assuming that the water is 1.025 until I pick up the hydrometer from you and can check it.

[nacra99]

Re: Help - Hermit Crab Questions

Post a pic.. maybe someone can ID it.

[trademan]

Re: Help - Hermit Crab Questions

My THANKS to Eklikewhoa  for the algae and hydrometer - tank is reading 1.024  and to Mzungu for the picture (looks just like mine) and both of you for your advice.
.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Help - Hermit Crab Questions

Not a problem!

Sorry I wasn't home to give it to you myself but some things came up. The hermit should be able to feed off the algae itself as well so that's a plus.

[Mzungu]

Re: Help - Hermit Crab Questions

Glad to help!  :)

Let us know if the hermit likes the algae...might be a good snack for mine!

[CichlidFan]

Re: Help - Hermit Crab Questions

Not a problem!

Sorry I wasn't home to give it to you myself but some things came up. The hermit should be able to feed off the algae itself as well so that's a plus.

Anyone ever notice how you never see EK or superman around at the same time ?

Seems he's always out when I go there too???  ummmmm.......?????

CF