Adoption

Hermit crabs can live 40 years or more. It is hard to determine a crab's age, you can't do it solely on their size. A pet hermit crab is a long term commitment.

Hermit crabs are deceptively expensive! After the initial investment in their crabitat, the cost of quality food and shells over their lifetime may surprise you. 

One of the most disappointing aspects of crab ownership is the frequent periods of "pet sand". This is the time when your crabs are buried beneath the substrate and you don't see them. Crabs can be boring pets much of the time. 

Hermit crabs should not be handled or played with. First, they are prey animals and handling them can be stressful and scary. Additionally, when removed from the humid environment of their crabitiat they are slowly suffocating. They have modified gills and require moisture to breathe. Think of pet crabs like aquarium fish, you look at them, you don't play with them.

"Hermit crab" could be considered a misnomer, they are not anti-social critters that lead solitary lives. In the wild, hermit crabs are found in groups, sometimes hundreds of crabs. It is best to keep multiples of crabs together, be sure to provide an adequately sized enclosure for the number of crabs you keep.

Keeping hermit crabs as pets can be very enjoyable, entertaining, and fulfilling. They are intelligent animals that like to interact with their surroundings. Hermits can recognize their owners, learn their routines, and show excitement at their presence. They thoroughly enjoy the company of other crabs and have a variety of social behaviors that are fascinating and endearing.