Crabs can escape if the tank does not have a secure lid. Glass or plexiglass is preferable. [3] X Research source There are two types of glass tanks, terrariums and aquariums. Buy an aquarium, because many terrariums are not strong enough to hold the amount of substrate necessary for a crab.
Prepare coconut fiber according to directions on the box. Then mix it carefully with sand until the coconut fiber is well distributed throughout the substrate. Crabs normally dig in sand and love it as substrate. However, coconut fiber is better at retaining humidity, which is important in an artificial crabitat. For crabs the size of a quarter or smaller you should have at least six inches of substrate. For crabs about the size of a golf ball, you should have about six to eight inches of substrate. Crabs as large as a tennis ball require eight to ten inches of substrate. Anything larger than a baseball will require at least 12 inches of substrate, possibly more.
Most types of crabs prefer a temperature of approximately 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius). Install the thermometer to be sure that the temperature remains around this temperature. Hermit crabs need moist, humid air to breathe properly. To be sure that the air is sufficiently moist, get a hygrometer to test the air. Relative humidity levels should always be between 60 to 80 percent in the crabitat.
Depending on the humidity in your area, you might find that keeping up the humidity with a hand mister can be very laborious. If that is the case, a fogger or humidifier might be better, but be sure to monitor it to make sure that it is not flooding the tank. Using coconut fiber substrate and a glass lid for the tank will help it retain humidity.
Consider getting a heater that can automatically turn off once it registers that the tank has reached the desired temperature.
The salt water bowl should be filled with a mixture of dechlorinated water and aquarium salt mix. You cannot mix table salt into the water. [8] X Research source
Crabs typically prefer shells that fit snugly, without only a little bit of extra room. Be sure to get a shell with an opening about 1/8 to ¼ an inch bigger than the crabs claw. Experiment with a few sizes to see what your crab prefers. Some crabs prefer shells that have round openings, whereas other prefer a D-shaped opening. Purple Pinchers generally prefer round openings. Ecuadorians generally prefer D-shaped openings. Watch to see which your carb seems to prefer. Never give a crab a painted shell. This can be hazardous to their health. [11] X Research source
