Growing up, I lived with two adopted cats who were considered members of the family. Because of this, I felt alone in the college dorms my first year because I didn’t have an animal friend. One weekend, I was in a mall and saw a store selling hermit crabs. I thought that one of these cute little animals would be great in my dorm room, and the rest is history! I took my crab home, named him Herman, and vowed to give him a great life. I got a plastic tank for Herman, some gravel, and some branches for him to climb on based on the store’s “care instructions.” I fed Herman every day and took him out of his tank to explore. I also bought a brightly colored spare shell in case he grew larger and needed to switch shells. But Herman never grew. In fact, he lived for only a few months.
I thought I was making Herman’s life better, but I was really just helping a cruel business that took him from his home in the wild and put him in a mall to sell for money. Here are seven reasons why you should never buy a hermit crab:
1. Almost every land hermit crab you see in a mall or souvenir shop was caught from the wild. Hermit crabs don’t usually have babies when they are kept as pets.
2. Hermit crabs need lots of friends! They thrive in large colonies, where they often sleep piled up together. They enjoy climbing, foraging, and exploring, and they even collaborate in teams to find food.
3. In the wild, hermit crabs can live for more than 30 years on tropical beaches. However, most of them only live for a few months to a year after being bought.
4. Hermit crabs kept as pets may seem normal to the people who take care of them, but over time, many of them die slowly from suffocation because their modified gills need high humidity to breathe.
5. Hermit crabs also are often slowly poisoned by tap water and/or the toxic paint adorning their shells. Crabs don’t care if they are orange or purple, but they pay with their lives because humans do!.
6. Crabs need space in which to molt (or shed their skin) and grow. The skin of a crab doesn’t stretch and grow like ours does, so they need to dig very deep into wet sand to molt. If a crab doesn’t have enough room to molt, the body will stop the process until the crab dies.
7. The hermit crab trade hurts wild crabs, too. Working people take thousands of shells from the ocean every year to paint and sell them with “pet” crabs. This takes homes away from wild hermit crabs, which has been called a “hermit crab housing crisis.” Thirty percent of wild crabs live in shells that are too small for them at any given time. This number can rise to sixty percent after their growth phase in the spring.
Hermit crabs are fascinating creatures that have captured the hearts of many pet owners. With their inquisitive nature and ability to inhabit discarded shells, hermit crabs have evolved to thrive both on land and in water. But how long do these captivating crustaceans actually live? Here’s an in-depth look at the life expectancy of hermit crabs, both in the wild and in captivity.
Life Expectancy of Hermit Crabs in the Wild
In their natural habitats, hermit crabs can live very long lives of 20-30 years or more. Their lifespan is dependent on their ability to find food, locate new shells as they grow, and avoid predators.
Some of the factors impacting wild hermit crabs include
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Predators Fish, birds, octopuses and other crabs prey on hermit crabs, especially young and vulnerable specimens Staying in large groups offers safety in numbers
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Shell Availability: Hermit crabs need to find bigger shells as they grow, so a shortage can leave them exposed. Plastic pollution can also trap crabs.
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Water Access: Land hermit crabs require daily soaks in saltwater, so limited tidal access threatens survival. Meanwhile, aquatic species risk drowning if they wander too deep.
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Food Limitations: Hermit crabs are scavengers and eat a diverse diet. Restricted food access leads to malnutrition.
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Extreme Weather: Exposure to intense sun, storms, or temperature fluctuations can kill crabs.
The oldest known hermit crab in the wild was a marine Electric Blue Hermit Crab that lived for a remarkable 32 years in a Florida aquarium after being captured from the ocean
Life Expectancy of Pet Hermit Crabs
The average lifespan of a pet hermit crab is sadly much shorter, often only 1-2 years. But with proper care, hermit crabs can live 10-15 years or longer in captivity.
Some key factors impacting pet hermit crabs include:
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Stress: Being captured and sold as a pet is traumatic. Ensuring a period of adjustment in a suitable habitat is crucial.
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Inappropriate Housing: Tanks should be at least 10 gallons with deep substrate, climbing toys, humidity between 70-80%, and temps around 75°F.
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Lack of Friends: Hermit crabs are social, so they should live in groups of 3 or more. Living solo stresses them out.
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Poor Diet: Hermit crabs need a varied diet with protein, fruits, veggies, calcium and vitamins. Lack of nutrients shortens their lifespan.
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Unsafe Water: Chlorinated tap water can poison them. Use bottled or filtered water with marine-grade salt.
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Accidental Injury: Falls from climbing can cause impact injuries if substrate is too shallow. Make it at least 6 inches deep.
With attentive care focused on reducing stress, providing an enriching habitat, offering a balanced diet, and avoiding toxins, your pet hermit crab can potentially live a decade or longer.
Tips for a Long, Healthy Life
Here are some top tips for giving your hermit crab the best shot at a long, healthy life:
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Purchase crabs from a reputable breeder, not mass-market stores where they are stressed and unhealthy.
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Allow at least a week for adjustment before handling your new pet.
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Get the largest tank possible – 20+ gallons is ideal for 3-5 crabs.
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Keep humidity around 75% and temperature 75-80°F.
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Give them 6+ inches of coconut fiber substrate to tunnel through.
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Provide both fresh and salt water for drinking and soaking.
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Feed a variety of fruits, veggies, proteins, nuts, seeds and calcium sources.
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Clean the tank thoroughly once a month to prevent harmful bacteria.
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Avoid toxin sources like tap water, essential oils, chemicals, citrus, and pesticides.
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Give them lots of shells to change into as they grow.
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Add climbing toys, plants and hides to enrich their habitat.
With their captivating personalities, inquisitive nature and ability to form bonds with their owners, hermit crabs can make fabulous pets for up to 15 years when properly cared for. By providing a safe, enriching home, a balanced diet, and working to reduce stress, your crabby companion can enjoy a long and happy life with you.
How can you help hermit crabs?
Never, ever buy a hermit crab. They are not “starter pets” or trinkets. Crabs are complex, sensitive animals who want to live in the wild, not in a cage. People who buy crabs will never be able to give them the life they deserve, no matter how much they want to.
If you or someone you know already has a hermit crab, check out this hermit crab care guide for helpful tips on keeping crabs happy. Hermit crabs need companionship, plenty of climbing room, substrate to bury themselves in for molting, humidity, warm temperatures, extra shells, fresh and salt water (dechlorinated aquarium salt only), and much, much more! Never release a captive crab back into the wild.
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The Adaptive Nature of the Hermit Crab
FAQ
How long does a hermit crab live in captivity?
What makes hermit crabs happy?
Do hermit crabs like being held?
Can hermit crabs recognize their owners?
How long do hermit crabs live?
In the wild, hermit crabs can live up to 30 years and even more! However, in captivity, they can be expected to live for 3 – 12 years on average. Unfortunately, captive Hermit crabs live much shorter lifespans where the lifespan of a Hermit crab is proportional to the amount of care, attention, and love that is given to them.
What is my life expectancy with hepatitis C?
Today, there is successful treatment for the virus that causes hepatitis C. Therefore, if treatment begins prior to permanent liver damage, a person’s life expectancy is the same as someone without hepatitis C. Even if hepatitis C has caused cirrhosis of the liver, the prognosis improves with antiviral therapy.
How long do strawberry hermit crabs live?
Coenobita perlatus (Strawberry hermit crabs, Candy Cane crab, or Straws). The Strawberry hermit is a widespread Hermit crab across the Indo-Pacific region and is also commonly traded to hobby aquarists. In the wild, animals may live for 25–30 years but only live for 1–4 years in captivity even with the best care.
How long do Ecuadorian hermit crabs live?
Coenobita compressus (Ecuadorian Crab, E-Crab, or the Pacific hermit crab). The Ecuadorian hermit crabs are slightly less common but still easy to find in pet stores. These crabs have been known to live for over 30 years while an average lifespan is anywhere between 10-15 years (under optimal conditions). Related article: 3.