Have you ever wondered what the life of hermit crab in their natural environment is like? It is natural, while you are gazing into your crabs' home, to imagine that you are watching a wildlife documentary of "Species of hermit crabs in the wild". The more you learn about your pet's natural habitat the more able you will be to provide her with a healthy and happy home.
These crabs are one of the most exotic and fascinating pets you can own today. They are quite social animals despite having the name - hermit, and they are far from "crabby". In fact, it is suggested that you purchase more than one hermit crab so that they will have friends to play with. You might want to purchase a larger tank than you originally planned in order to have room for all his roommates.
In the natural world crabs are found in tropical areas around or near oceans. The main reason for this is that crabs not only crave, they require, humidity! Crabs are only able to breathe in humid environments due to the fact that they use gills to breathe with.
Let's Bury our Heads in the Sand
If you are a crab, you love to borrow in the sand. You love to inspect and examine anything you come in contact with. Instead of going around an object, or even another crab, you are as likely to dig underneath them. That is why they love the sand so much. This inquisitive nature sometimes can create problems especially when it comes in contact with another crab.
Connection to Water
These crabs lay their eggs in the sand by the ocean. When the tide rolls in the eggs are washed out to sea. There they hatch and begin to develop into small crabs. Survival depends on a crab's ability to breathe in water. Hermit crabs have gills similar to fish that allows for them to be able to breathe in water. It is a fascinating tale the life of a hermit crab from birth in the ocean to life on the land.
The shell is where a hermit crab lives. Shells provide them shelter and protection. When these crabs begin their journey to land they are very, very small. When they arrive at the shore they are a mere 5 mm in length. Finding a home, a very tiny shell, is their first job when they reach land.
Humidity, Humidity, Humidity
Again with the water, why the fascination with water? First it is an essential element in all life especially during the early days of life of these crab. Water for drinking as well as moisture in the form of humidity is required to develop his gills to be able to breathe. High humidity is a requirement to the health of your hermit crab. Hermit crabs in the wild will visit the seashore in the evenings to enjoy the dew on the beach and the humidity in the air. His connection to the ocean will remain with him for all his life.
A shell is a crab's home and they are not only uncomfortable when they are out of their home they are at risk to attack from their enemies. Crabs molt to exchange and create a new shell they are very inactive at this time so don't become alarmed and think that something is wrong. They will continue to burrow into the sand but that is about all he will do at this time.
Now you have some of the tools and understand the basic needs of your crab. You will be able to provide the best home to have a healthy, happy crab.