Many people completely misunderstand hermit crabs. In a lot of cases, they are viewed as useless creations of Mother Nature that are just born to die. However, so much has now been documented about hermit crabs and their unpredictable life span that more and more hobbyists are becoming interested in having them as pets. In this article, we will explore just how hermit crabs are bred and how much control we have over their success at breeding in a controlled environment.
Most professional breeders will tell you that breeding your hermit
crab in a restricted, naturalistic environment is not an easy process. In fact, they contend that it is next to impossible. However, next to impossible leaves room for that minute chance that you will actually be successful at breeding your hermit crab. Well, crabs that is.
Your first order of business is to ensure that you have a male and a female hermit crab. If you already owned one, you may not know what sex it is as it is very difficult to tell the difference between a male and a female hermit crab. So, your best bet would be to start from scratch and get a pair from the pet shop.
Next on the list is to ensure that the created environment successfully simulates the hermit crab's natural breeding habitat. You will definitely need a saltwater tank and saltwater with the desired salinity, preferably set up outdoors. That way, you will have enough space to create the matching environment for breeding. Make sure that the temperature in the tank is 72-80F degrees as too low or high temperatures can easily make the hermit crabs weak and sick.
Also important for replicating the natural outdoor environment for hermit crabs is lighting. Because hermit crabs usually breed and mate at night, you will need to purchase enough moonlight bulbs to completely line the sides of the tank so there is always the feeling of nighttime. Hermit crabs are also accustomed to the motion in the ocean, so it is recommended that you purchase a wave-making device that can generate ocean-like waves in the tank.
Female hermit crabs lays eggs in shallow sand, and once they are hatched, the young crabs run off into the ocean, or in your case, the salt water body! Just ensure that you have enough space for all the eggs that your female hermit crab will lay - which will be a lot! The bigger the female, the larger the number of eggs she will lay. We doubt that the naturalistic environment will cause her to produce less than normal.
Once everything is in place, prepare to be entertained for the next 3 to 4 weeks as the pair of hermit crabs will mate and breed. Mating involves a lot of dancing movement, which is quite funny to observe. The female will usually lay eggs after a month, so ensure that you have calcium-rich food, brine shrimp for the new babies and several small shells that they can crawl into as soon as the come back to shore.
Although the steps highlighted are tedious and difficult, breeding your hermit crab will be a successful project as long as you have a clean environment, the right temperature, salty water and good lighting. Once the conditions are ideal, the pair of hermit crabs will behave as naturally as they would in their natural habitat.
To learn more about hermit crabs facts please visit: http://www.HermitCrabHelp.com
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