I am afraid that the bigger hermit crabs might harm the little ones.will he?
Answers:
I sincerely hope that when you say cage you actually mean a glass tank with solid lid. They must have the proper temps and humidity or they will not live long. Anything metal is very toxic to hermit crabs..
Mixing sizes and species is perfectly fine! It actually mimics the natural colonies much better than having crabs ONLY the same sizes together, which will start un-natural shell fights since every crab is competing for the same size shell.
By mixing sizes you can lessen the shell fight problem a great deal!
Hermit crabs do NOT thrive alone and do not do well alone, to keep them alone or separate is cruel and un-natural. They are wild creatures and when in their natural habitat a colony will range in size of micro, size of a dime and smaller up to softball sized crabs and bigger.
Make sure their diet is full of fresh fruits, veggies, meats, fish and whole grains and then there will be no problems. The more protein the better, to help combat aggressions.
ALSO, each crab MUST have at least 4 extra shells in the tank at all times. they must be kept clean and moist as much as possible. Make sure they are the right type and size, paying special attention to the openings.
We have always mixed sizes and species for the last 16+ years and our crabs are all over 5 years old! Our eldest has been with us for over 16 years! Seperation of the crabs and improper tanks and set-up without the proper humidity and temps will result in death and very inactive and unhealthy crabs.
If you need anymore help, please feel free to email us anytime at hermitcrab_rescue@yahoo.com
i have two hermit crabs together in a cage but they are both small all i can say is i wont take a chance with the other dying pyut them in 2 different cages
no, they will be fine get more if you like just put some appropriate shells for them to transfer too.
i would put them in 3 different cages .Better safe than sorry
The name 'hermit' is misapplied to our little friends -- they are quite gregarious and like to be around their own kind. In the wild, they travel in packs of up to 100 crabs, scavenging the beach for food and shells. The reason they travel in packs is simple: Where there are more crabs, there are more shells. Researchers have found by putting one clean, empty shell on the beach, they can initiate a "cascade" of shells changes: One crab changes in to the new shell, another changes into his old shell, and another changes into the other empty shell, and so on. Quite often I find about 20 hermies of my clan all piled on top each other, sleeping. So, please don't consign your friendly hermie to a life of loneliness. As one seasoned crabber once remarked, "Two crabs does not a colony make." Go get him a friend, or better yet, two friends.
HOUSING The very first thing your new pet will need is a 'crabitat.' A crabitat is where your hermit crab will spend most of its time, so choose a home that is clean and roomy. A 10-gallon glass aquarium can be purchased at a reasonable price and makes an ideal 'starter home' for your crab. If you are unable to purchase an aquarium, there are other options available, such as plastic critter carriers. Keep in mind how many crabs you ultimately plan on housing and how you would like their home to look. It will help you make up your mind when the time comes to decide on the size of your crabitat. Make sure the cage will hold your pets, their food and water dishes, extra shells and climbing toys. You want a cage large enough to hold all these things and still have space for the crab to roam if he wishes. This means that the small plastic box that you got from a mall kiosk or boardwalk store is not an adequate shelter for any hermit crab. One way to give the crabs room to wander is to leave an area at the back or front of the crabitat that is completely clear of obstructions. This way the crab has an "express lane" to run down if s/he needs to get some energy out and doesn't want to climb.
i had 2 herment crabs i ask the person i got it from they said put the big one in a different cage so i did and they live for 5 years!!
