QUESTION.
CAN I KEEP HERMIT CABS AS PETS?
ANSWER.
YES.
There are several species of hermit crabs that are common in the marine aquarium trade. These omnivorous or herbivorous species are useful in the household aquarium as scavengers, eating algae and other debris. They also eat many fruits and vegetables. The scarlet hermit crab, or red reef hermit crab, Paguristes cadenati, is a handsome and interesting species with a bright red body and yellow eyestalks, and stays rather small (about 2–5 cm / 1–2 inches across). Smaller species of a similar passive nature include the zebra hermit crab (brown legs with white bands), the red-tip crab and blue-legged crab.
In Europe, the common hermit crab, Pagurus bernhardus, is popular.
While most species available in pet stores are small like those listed above, and are simply scavengers, others may grow quite large (some on the Pacific coast can grow to 30 cm / 12 inches) and may eat coral, clams and other crustaceans.
Most marine hermit crabs will appreciate a salinity of between 1.023 and 1.025 (measured in specific gravity), and temperatures between 4–14°C (temperate species) and 24–27°C (tropical species), with a good bed, algae to graze on and a variety of shells to change into. They will happily switch shells frequently if given the opportunity - an interesting display to watch.
There are approximately 15 terrestrial species in the world, and, of those, the following are commonly kept as pets: Caribbean hermit crab, Coenobita clypeatus, and the Ecuadorian hermit crab, Coenobita compressus. Other species such as Coenobita brevamanus, Coenobita rugosus, Coenobita perlatus or Coenobita cavipes are less common but growing in availability and popularity as pets.
