Because of their small size and fragile bodies, it is often assumed that hermit crabs have a very short lifespan. This misconception has caused people to think that they are simply child pets that live for mere days or weeks before they are thrown into the trash. However, with the right care and proper conditions, the hermit crab lifespan is longer than you might expect!
How Long Can A Hermit Crab Live?
It is true that most pet hermit crabs live less than a year. Numerous factors such as improper care, injuries, disease, and stress contribute to the shorter lifespan. But did you know that hermit crabs in captivity can live to up to 20 years? There have been reports of hermit crabs living past 40 years old! It is absolutely amazing to think that such a delicate animal can have such a long life in captivity.
In the wild, their life expectancy is even longer. The hermit crab lifespan outside of captivity is up to 30 years! This is the result of living in their natural habitat and having the perfect conditions in which to live.
Does this mean that having a pet hermit crab is wrong? Not all all! It just shows that with proper care, your hermit crab can have a long life even when taking out of its natural habitat. So what are some causes for death and what are some tips for keeping your hermit crab alive for years to come?
Causes of Death
While never intentional, there are several factors that can contribute to the death of your pet hermit crab.
Poor Diet
Hermit crabs need the right foods in order to stay healthy. In the wild they are scavengers and eat whatever they need to survive. While in captivity, they need variety, as well as calcium and protein rich food. This contributes to healthy growth and bodies. It also keeps them interested in eating.
Poor Water Conditions
Hermit crabs need dechlorinated water. A common mistake is to give her it crabs spring or tab water. Unbeknownst to the most owners, this is detrimental to them and contributes to a shorter lifespan.
Stress
While we think animals are carefree, they do suffer from the stress of new surroundings. Being removed from their natural habitat or other crab mates does affect them. In fact, in the first few days of coming into a new habitat, they might bury themselves for days at a time.
Bad Environment
Hermit crabs need the right environment to live. This includes the right humidity levels, the right amount of substrate, places to hide and climb, and the right tank size. Sadly, new owners don’t understand how important this is for a hermit crab and, as a result, causes great stress on the them.
Injury and Sickness
Because of their delicate nature, hermit crabs are prone to injury. This can be related to a fall or even fighting. Crabs might even fight to the death! Another thing is sickness. Bacteria and fungi is fatal to the hermit crab if allowed to grow in the tank and if feces are not properly removed.
How to Improve your Hermit Crab Lifespan
There are several things you can do to improve the lifespan of your hermit crab. Here are some tips:
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Proper Food and Diet
Like an animal, hermit crabs need proper food and diet. There are different food options available for purchase. However, these should be supplemented with fresh fruits and vegetables such as apples and kale. They also loved dead insects like crickets. These provide an excellent source of calcium and can also be purchased at your local pet store.
Proper Water Conditions
It is important that hermit crabs have both drinking and salt water. Buying a drinking water and salt water conditioner will ensure that the water does not have chlorine, which is a leading cause of death for hermit crabs. It is also important that you place a sponge inside the water dish to prevent drowning.
Suitable Habitat for the Crabs
Hermit crabs come from the wild where there are dry woods, sand, shells, hideaways, and rocks. In order for them to thrive as natural as possible in captivity, it is important that they have these kind of things in their habitat.
Additionally, hermit crabs need the right conditions. Having a proper heat source will ensure that the humidity levels stay above 80%.
Regularly Clean the Tank
Hermit crabs poop! As a result, their habitat can get nasty and this will result in fungi and bacteria. Therefore, cleaning the tank regularly is a must!
Keep Multiple Hermit Crabs
Hermit crabs are social animals and they do better in groups. While you want to make sure your tank is a suitable size for hermit crabs, it is also preferable that you have more at least two. In our observations, our crabs did remarkably better when the more crabs we added.
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To learn more about hermit crabs, please continue to browse this website where we cover everything from essential items to frequently asked questions.
