2 New Hermits

Updated Post on 19 February 2009(Night), 21 February 2009


These 2 are my new hermit crabs, Snowy and Bubbles.
All my previous 6 hermits died after keeping for about 9 months only.
I was quite sad then, so I gave up keeping them sometime last August 2008.
Clean up, packed up all the tank stuff and store it away.
But this afternoon, when I was at the aquarium shop, I saw these hermits again.
Wow...it's still as cute, so I brought back 2 hermit crabs.
When I reached home, I immediately bathe them at the kitchen sink with de-chlorinated water.
Leaving them at the sink (above photo), while I set up their tank.



About an hour later, they were both introduced to their new home.
Done a basic setup with 1 fresh water and 1 salt water for them.
Plus put in some empty shells for them.
I'll need to find suitable sand and a coconut husk for them too.
I gave them some fish pellet foods and to my surprise, they ate very fast.
They must be very very hungry at the aquarium shop.

This is Snowy!

This is Bubbles!


Initially, they were quite afraid when I was snapping photos from them!
But after a little while, they eventually got used to this crazy owner never-ending photo taking! Hee...hee...


Taking a shade under the (fake) coconut tree!


Hours later, they both seems to settle down quite well.
When I pick them up, they did come out from their shell to look around.
Just hope they'll be happy and healthy!


Post Additions on 19 February 2009 (Night) :
I went over to the aquarium shop to pick up another little one!
Named this one "Summer" as it is rather active and it's body is slightly orange in colour!


Post Additions on 21 February 2009:
Another 2 hermit crabs are added today.
Now, they are all living together as a family of 5.
Sand and drift wood were also added to the tank.
Hope these 2 will able to settle down soon with their tankmates.
Below is photos of them freshly after bathing!

This hermit crab is call "Cola".


This one is named "Caramel". A very shy little one.






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Surprised Find Today - 6th Hermit

I went out to pet shop to buy rabbit pellet food for my Onyx.
Then, I saw this cute little hermit with a smiling face. Next, it arrive at my house !!!!
5 other hermits are already living in this habitat.
Gave this newbie a little quick bath in a plastic container.
Took some sand from the tank and put into the container.
Afterwhich, I took out all my 5 hermits crabs and put them into the temporary plastic container. To let them introduce themselves to one another.















About half an hour later, all the hermits were returned to their home.
Still thinking of a name for this Hermit.















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Land Hermits Crabs

LAND HERMIT CRABS
Scienific Name : Coenobita Rugosus



















Facts About Land Hermit Crabs
Hermits can live about 20 years in wild.
They cannot breathe underwater and will drown easily. So make sure your water dish for them is not too deep.
Hermit crab have a soft abdomen & exoskeleton, so they need a shell to protect themselves from predators.
Hermits are considered quite a nocturnal animals, most active at night. That includes them eating & drinking most during the night.
Hermit crabs are scavengers & omnivores, they consume both vegetables and meat. Love eating fresh fruits like apples.
Lost limbs can be regenerate in moulting process. Eyes cannot be replaced.
They will eat the exoskeleton that they shed to get extra calcium to help grow a new one
Smaller hermits moult more often than larger hermits.

Identify Boy or Girl
Do not attempt to pull/force your hermit out of their shell to check !!
Female hermit crab will have a 'hole' (looks like a tiny dot) on each of the last pair of their two legs, called gonopores.
Hermits cannot reproduce in tank as they need to deposit the eggs into the sea. So it really doesn't matter which gender you got.















Care for Land Hermit Crabs
They require two types of water - Fresh & Salt. Always provide two water dish for them.
Water given must be de-chlorinated. Change daily.
Use salt mix that is for Marine Aquarium, do not use Table Salt.
Hermits are extremely sensitive to metals. Make sure there is NO METAL contents in your tank.
Bathing them once a week is enough, too much will stress them. Water must be de-chlorinated, add a little salt. Do not immerse them totally into water.
Keeping a variety of empty shells for your hermits to chose from. This also lowers the chances of shell fights between hermits.

This is Silver - Close up.
Say "HELLO" to everyone !






















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Hermit - Junior

This is my 5th Hermit - JUNIOR.
Got him on last Friday 19 October 2007.
I named him Junior because of his similar shell with Checkers.
He has a nice Greyish Blue colour body, which I like.
Junior is also a little too big for his shell from what I observe. He can't squeeze all the way in.
Just wait and see if he does change to other shell.
Below are Junior First few steps in his new home.
Cheers for Junior...


















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My Hermits

This is Silver - The Hermit Crab.
Also my very first Hermit.
Initally, I brought only one.
But the hermit seems lonely and I read the FAQ about hermit that they live better in community.
Best to keep 2 or more.
So 2 hours later, I went back to the aquarium shop to get 1 more. Whom I named "Goblin".
See the pictures - Goblin moving around checking its new enviroment.


















When I introduce a new tankmate.
Silver immediately reacted to Goblin.


The very next day, I decided that 2 more would be merrier, so here comes "Brownie & Checkers."
Picture shown 2 hermits freshly clean after a"Bath" I gave them.
After cleaning, they were both introduce into the tank with Silver & Goblin.
















With four hermits under one roof, I got them a bigger tank.
They need 2 types of water - fresh & saltwater.
Also added a few bigger shells in case they need a bigger home.

















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