Hermit crabs make fun and easy pets for people of all ages. Their small size, minimal care requirements, and quirky behaviors endear them to many. However, hermit crab tanks can look a little sparse or boring with just the crabs inside. This leads many owners to wonder – what can live with a hermit crab?
While hermit crabs are social creatures that enjoy living in groups, their habitat requirements limit the number of potential tank mates. Certain animals may prey on, compete with, or otherwise stress the crabs. However, with proper research and planning, you can find some suitable friends for your hermit crabs.
Choosing Tank Mates for Your Hermit Crabs
Before picking tank mates, review the habitat needs of hermit crabs:
- Warm, humid environment around 75-80°F
- Salt water and fresh water for land crabs, salt water only for marine crabs
- 5-10 gallons of space per crab
- Sand substrate, rocks, shells, and plants
- 12-14 hours of light per day
Any animal you put in the tank must thrive in these same conditions Conflicts often arise when an animal has different habitat needs than the crabs
Hermit crabs also need lots of climbing space and hiding spots. Make sure the tank decor doesn’t crowd potential tank mates.
Finally, research the temperament of any animal before introducing it. Even if their environments match, an aggressive or predatory creature may harm your crabs.
Best Tank Mates for Hermit Crabs
Here are some animals that can make good tank mates
Other Hermit Crabs
Obviously, hermit crabs do well with others of their own kind. The more crabs, the merrier – just make sure the tank is large enough. Supply extra shells so they don’t fight over them.
You can mix different color varieties as long as their habitat needs align. For example, Ecuadorian crabs prefer slightly cooler and drier conditions than other species.
Cleaner Crews
“Cleaner crews” are invertebrates like isopods, springtails, and amphipods that eat waste and algae. They help keep the tank clean and won’t bother the crabs. Introduce them cautiously, as they can overrun the tank if populations explode.
Small Reef Fish
Saltwater hermit crabs can live with small, peaceful reef fish like clownfish, gobies, blennies, and damselfish. Make sure to meet the fish’s habitat needs as well.
Fish that may eat crabs, like lionfish, puffers, and triggers, should be avoided. Always research fish compatibility before purchasing.
Plants
Hermit crabs love climbing and hiding in tank plants. Options like air plants, bromeliads, moss, and spider plants thrive in tropical conditions.
Avoid plants with abrasive textures or toxic sap, as these can harm crabs. Only use aquarium-safe plants for marine setups.
Animals to Avoid as Tank Mates
On the other hand, here are some animals that don’t make good tank mates:
- Predatory fish: lionfish, triggers, eels, puffers
- Crabs/lobsters: they compete for food and may eat molting crabs
- Terrestrial herps: lizards, frogs, snakes need different habitat
- Insects: may overrun tank, venomous kinds dangerous
- Snails: crabs will eat them and take their shells
- Shrimp: likely to become food for crabs
- Crayfish: too aggressive, may kill crabs
Even if an animal can live in a crab tank doesn’t mean it should. Do extensive research before introducing any new inhabitants.
Tips for Introducing Tank Mates
Here are some best practices when adding new animals to your crab tank:
- Quarantine for 4-6 weeks to prevent introducing disease
- Add peaceful animals first, predators/scavengers later
- Go slowly – only add 1-2 new animals per month
- Provide plenty of hiding spots for vulnerable animals
- Remove immediately if aggression arises
Observe all animals closely following introductions. Be prepared to separate them if issues come up. With time and luck, you’ll curate a thriving community of fascinating creatures in your crab habitat!
The Bottom Line
Finding suitable tank mates for hermit crabs takes patience and planning. While their options are limited, some animals can safely cohabitate and add interest to the tank. Focus on picks that share the same habitat needs as your crabs. With ample space and research, you can find some fun new friends for your busy hermit crabs!
Hermit Crab Habitat Mates
Despite their names, hermit crabs are social animals that thrive when kept in pairs or groups. Remember: Every pet crab added to the habitat will need 5 additional gallons of tank space. For example, a group of four hermit crabs should be housed in a 20-gallon or larger habitat.
Pet hermit crabs should be introduced to each other gradually and under close supervision to ensure they are compatible. If two crabs fight, separate them. Never keep different species of invertebrates in the same habitat.
The warm end of a pet hermit crab’s habitat should be kept at 80 F, while the cooler end/nighttime temperatures should be around 70 F. Pet parents must check the temperatures of the habitat daily. Two thermometers—one in the warm area and one in the cool area—should be placed in the enclosure so both zones can be checked at once. A digital point-and-shoot thermometer can also be used to instantly read habitat temperatures.
Hermit Crab Feeding Guidelines
Hermit crabs need to be fed once daily.
Food and water bowls must be made of a non-metal and non-porous material, such as hard plastic or ceramic. Hermit crabs are extremely sensitive to metals, and porous materials cannot be disinfected properly.
As hermit crabs are nocturnal, feeding sessions should take place at night. Uneaten food should be removed from the enclosure the following morning.
Hermit crabs take tiny bites and eat very slowly.
A well-balanced diet for a pet hermit crab includes high-quality, commercially available food formulated for hermit crabs, fed once a day. Use the manufacturers instructions to determine how much food should be given daily.
Pelleted foods should be crushed before feeding, especially for small crabs.
Uneaten food should be discarded and replaced before each feeding.
Fruits and vegetables may be offered as occasional treats.
Fruits and vegetables should be washed in purified, distilled, or bottled water before being offered to a hermit crab.
Vegetables naturally high in carotene (including carrots and untreated marigold flower petals) can help hermit crabs maintain their exoskeleton’s red-orange hue.
Vegetables can be offered six to seven days a week and may include:
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Kale
- Romaine lettuce
- Bell peppers
- Cucumbers
Fruits should be offered no more often than one to three times a week. Fruits may include:
- Mangoes
- Coconut
- Papaya
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Bananas
Nuts, seaweed, brine shrimp, and fish flakes can be offered as occasional treats (no more than two to three days a week). Crab-safe nuts include:
- Hazelnuts
- Chestnuts
- Almonds
- Macadamia nuts
- Pecans
- Walnuts
Nuts are high in fat and should be fed sparingly.
Pet hermit crabs need a calcium-rich diet to maintain the health of their exoskeleton, especially during molting. Pet parents can add a powdered calcium supplement to their hermit crab’s food or feed them a crab-safe natural source of calcium, such as crushed cuttlebone.
Pet hermit crabs need constant access to shallow bowls of saltwater and freshwater. The water inside each bowl should be shallow enough for the hermit crab to enter and exit easily.
How to keep hermit crabs ALIVE!!!
FAQ
What can go in a tank with a hermit crab?
Pieces of coral, driftwood, and other types of wood can be used—the reptile section of the pet store is a good place to look for a variety, or check online hermit crab retailers. Artificial plants are also a great addition to the crab tank.
What are good tank mates for hermit crabs?
Crab companions should only be other hermit crabs though; do not place them in the same enclosure as other reptiles, amphibians, or mammals. A healthy crab can be seen walking and waving its antennae happily, either on its own or when you pick it up (hold your hand flat so it can’t pinch!).
What animal has a relationship with a hermit crab?
While none of the Expedition scientists were able to identify the species of these animals, associations between hermit crabs and sea anemones are one of the classic examples of symbiotic relationships between marine organisms. This activity focuses on the hermit crab-sea anemone symbiosis.
Should hermit crabs have a companion?
Hermit crabs don’t actually need friends, they live in groups in the wild mainly for survival advantages and the benefit of shell-changing chains. The longest lived hermit crabs tend to be alone or kept in pairs. As long as the crab has a healthy, enriching environment I wouldn’t worry about getting more.