beetlejuice
New member
I just returned from Belize with a small conch shell, which I thought was empty until I pulled it out of my bag and a hermit crab was hanging out. This is a saltwater hermit crab. What do I need to do to keep it alive?
Belizean Hermit Crab
- Thread starter beetlejuice
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donya
New member
Get it in clean saltwater immediately if you haven't already, particularly if it's been dry for a long time. It needs the same basic things as any other marine invert: clean water in the right sg range, sufficient O2, and food. Hermits are usually pretty undemanding compared to other inverts but when dessicated they are more fragile.
If you have a marine tank right now, I would advise against adding the animal to the tank right now. Depending on how long it has been out of the water, it may be beyond recovery and could die (unnecessary pollution) or may be attacked before it recovers. It should be isolated with frequent water changes until it demonstrates normal mobility and eats well. Depending on its condition, this could be days to weeks.
If you don't have a source of saltwater currently (wasn't clear on your profile whether you currently have a marine tank, so this may be irrelevant), take it to a pet store with a marine department immediately. Call in advance to make sure they take inverts from individuals - some large chains I've been to have policies against taking in animals.
Unfortunately this is an example of why collecting random nice-looking snail shells off of the beach is not advisible. Even if place the animal in a suitable environment right now, it may not survive depending on how long it has been away from water. I have had to handle a few dessicated hermits in my time in marine keeping - one passed on to me after a couple came frantically running into a store because a shell they grabbed from the Bahamas sprouted hairy legs. Dessicated hermits can be mostly paralyzed depending on how serious the dessication was. During that time when they can only wiggle a bit, they will look rather tastey to scavengers, hence the need for isolation.
If you have a marine tank right now, I would advise against adding the animal to the tank right now. Depending on how long it has been out of the water, it may be beyond recovery and could die (unnecessary pollution) or may be attacked before it recovers. It should be isolated with frequent water changes until it demonstrates normal mobility and eats well. Depending on its condition, this could be days to weeks.
If you don't have a source of saltwater currently (wasn't clear on your profile whether you currently have a marine tank, so this may be irrelevant), take it to a pet store with a marine department immediately. Call in advance to make sure they take inverts from individuals - some large chains I've been to have policies against taking in animals.
Unfortunately this is an example of why collecting random nice-looking snail shells off of the beach is not advisible. Even if place the animal in a suitable environment right now, it may not survive depending on how long it has been away from water. I have had to handle a few dessicated hermits in my time in marine keeping - one passed on to me after a couple came frantically running into a store because a shell they grabbed from the Bahamas sprouted hairy legs. Dessicated hermits can be mostly paralyzed depending on how serious the dessication was. During that time when they can only wiggle a bit, they will look rather tastey to scavengers, hence the need for isolation.
