3 Critical Steps to Create Hermit Crab Humidity
It seems as of lately that hermit crabs have become a more popular exotic pet, requiring a bit less care and demand than other traditional household pets like the dog or cat. While these little crabs are relatively easy to care for, they do require certain critical elements to maintain proper health. One of the most important things hermit crabs require aside from proper temperature is proper humidity.
To understand better why humidity is so important to these crabs, it is important to understand their original habitat in the wild so we as pet owners can duplicate as best as possible their natural living conditions. Hermit crabs are hatched out of eggs by the water and find their way into the ocean for a short period of time before coming back out on the shore for the remainder of their life.
You will notice they were able to survive both on land and in the water since they have gills similar to a fish. Hermit crabs can breathe through gills by using the moisture or humidity in the air and taking the oxygen out of the water particles. Their gills also need to be kept moist to breathe properly, which is another reason why humidity is so important.
If you have been adventurous enough to visit the beach in the evening time, you may have seen groups of crabs congregate by the water, where there is a higher amount of humidity by the ground.
When you make the decision to bring home a new cute crab, hopefully a few of them since they are such social creatures, it is imperative to give your crabs the proper humid environment in their cage or terrarium so they can be as healthy as possible and thrive by allowing them to breathe easier. Proper humidity levels for your crabs to thrive are approximately 70 percent. You can accomplish this using the following steps.
Keep Full Water Dishes. Your habitat or cage should have two water dishes, one containing properly treated ocean salt water, which can be purchased at your local pet store, and dechlorinated fresh water in your crabs other dish. Additionally, adding a sea sponge to each bowl will not only protect your crabs from potential drowning, but the added surface area of water in the bowl and sponge will create a higher amount of evaporation, thereby creating a more humid environment.
Spray The Tank Daily. Make it a habit every day when you refill their water or add food to mist the tank daily using an inexpensive spray bottle. It is very important to use fresh water without chlorine. The water that mists in the tank will quickly evaporate also increasing the humidity levels in your hermit crab cage.
Regulate Proper Tank Temperature. Naturally when keeping water bowls filled or misting the tank daily, if the inside of the tank is not at proper temperatures, between 70 and 80 degrees, the water in the bowl will not evaporate and the mist will just absorb in the substrate, possibly contributing to mold over time due to excessive moisture. Use either a heating pad or heat lamp to regulate your crabs cage so that you can maintain proper humidity levels.
Following these simple steps will keep your hermit crabs happy, healthy, and breathing easy which is most important.
About the Author:
Jessica Peloski is a hermit crab enthusiast and author of hermit crab care books. For more information on hermit crab humidity, visit http://www.hermitcrablovers.com/hermit-crab-humidity
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