Hi friends, I wanted to ask if anyone has ever kept these friendly crustaceans any time? I bought it yesterday from a Lfs in San Gwann course they're so friendly, interesting behaviour and easy to keep had invited me to get one too. I've placed mine in a plastic aquarium, about 35cm x 20cm x 20cm, covered the base with coconut fibre "those used for terrariums", placed a shallow bowl of fresh water for it to drink and bath, and a piece of driftwood for it to climb on as they like to do so and as a final touch, spray some water on everything to moist the "crabitat",
I've did research and found a lot on them, they're semi terrestrial, meaning that they live on the ground but breed and their larvae grow in the sea, they are scavengers eating whatever they find addible, they need moist and humid condition, "in Malta humidity isn't a problem at all!", and if one see that the coconut fibre is getting very dry just spray some water on it. When the crab grows and one can see that it's getting tight in his shell, offer it another bigger one so that it can change its tight home, also make sure that uneaten foods is thrown away as this can rot, make smell and attracts a lot flies and mosquitoes especially if it's given meat of fruits, every 6 months just change the bedding and place new one and of course check that the water dish doesn't dry out!.
These critters are considered the simplest pets to keep, even by children who can be responsible for their pet. These gentle crustaceans want pinch you unless they're going to slip and fall from your hand, so that they can hold tight and fast to whatever they can grab and this might be your finger
!
If kept correctly, they can live for the ripe age of 25 years. And here are some photos of my hermit crab
The Crabitat, and there's him, enjoying a strowberry!