As a hermit crab owner you’ve probably wondered what your pet’s poop looks like. After all knowing what normal hermit crab feces looks like can help you keep their habitat clean and make sure your pet is healthy. In this article, I’ll give you a detailed overview of hermit crab poop so you know what to look for.
Typical Appearance
Hermit crab poop is small and log-shaped. The feces are very dark brown or black in color. Each poop is thin, ranging from a grain of rice to as wide as an earthworm. Hermit crab poop tends to be straight rather than coiled.
You’ll usually find small piles of hermit crab feces scattered across the substrate. The poops don’t clump together in one spot. Instead you’ll see individual tiny logs spread out. This is because hermit crabs poop inside their shells as they walk around their habitat.
Texture
The texture of hermit crab poop can vary slightly. Most commonly, it is firm and dry with a smooth surface. However, poop that has been sitting in water may have a mushier texture. Fresh feces directly from the crab will be moist.
In all cases hermit crab poop holds its log shape when removed from the habitat. It does not smear or crush easily between your fingers. The feces keep their form unless exposed to water over time.
Location in the Habitat
You’ll often find hermit crab droppings located near:
- Their food and water dishes since they frequent these areas.
- Hiding spots and climbing areas where they spend a lot of time.
- Pools and ponds where they soak to exit old shells.
Hermit crabs poop as they walk around their enclosure. So you may find poop scattered randomly across the substrate as well. Pay close attention to the corners and perimeter of the tank. Feces can collect in these areas over time.
Amount and Frequency
The amount of poop a hermit crab produces depends on its size. Larger crabs will poop more than smaller crabs. Adult crabs poop every 1-3 days. You’ll find small amounts of feces in the habitat each day.
If you suddenly see a large increase in poop volume, it could signal a health problem. Make sure your crab is acting normal otherwise. Consult an exotics veterinarian if abnormalities continue.
When to Worry
Normal hermit crab poop is dark, log shaped, and firm. Here are some abnormal varieties that can indicate illness:
- Unusually light brown or gray feces
- Runny, mushy, or liquid poop
- Poop with a strange odor
- Blood or unexplained color in the poop
- Drastic change in poop volume
If your hermit crab’s feces looks abnormal, review your husbandry practices. Issues like incorrect temperature, diet, or substrate moisture can cause poop changes. If all parameters are correct, take your crab to the vet.
What does hermit crab poop look like?
If you have coconut substrate like I do, it can be really hard to spot hermit crab poop. Lucky for you, one of my crabs left a unmistakeable blob of hermit crab poop in their saltwater bowl. They were probably using the saltwater to wash out their shell, which is the whole point of a saltwater bowl.
Hermit crab poop is a black or very dark brown squiggly strand. It looks like a thick, curly hair. This is because it bunches up in the back of a hermit crab’s shell, and falls out when a hermit crab decides to clean out its shell.
Hermit crabs defecate through their anus, which is found at the very end of their tail. If you have ever seen a hermit crab before, their tail is usually safely tucked away in their shell.
Being that is where their anus is, their poop subsequently stays in their shell as they go about living their crabby life. They don’t mind going to the bathroom where they sleep, it’s only their natural instinct.
In the wild, hermit crabs cannot leave their shell to their business. They would most likely get scooped up by a seagull or other predator. So, they resort to doing their business in their shell.
You might think it’s unsanitary, and it is. Eventually, the crab will scrape the poop drops out of its shell with their abdomen as they crawl around the tank or take a swim.
If you don’t have a dark brown substrate, which makes born hermit crab poop blend in, you’ll eventually see a few droppings layn across your tank.
I call them “logs” because they tend to lay flat across the bedding, without piling up in beehive shapes like other pets such as cats and dogs.
I think this is because hermit crabs intentionally do not crawl over already scattered poop. If they avoid spots with poop already, the new poop in their shells will fall on their own in different areas.
They’re no larger than a penny and as thin as a blade of grass. They’re more noticeable if you have a more brightly-colored substrate.
Well, needless to say, this makes for a nasty hermit crab tank. Let’s talk about cleaning up after your hermit crabs.
Cleaning the empty shells
Often times I will see a crab take a risk and move from its shell to one of the vacant ones that line my tank to do its business. From there it will either claim that shell as its own, leaving its old one behind, or go back in its shell.
It’s pretty amusing to see but requires more work on your part. To keep your tank clean and not as smelly, you should clean your extra shells of any hermit crab feces every few weeks.
You can shake them out over a trash can and clean out the poop just fine. To more thoroughly clean the shells, try boiling them.
Plopping them in boiling water for 5 minutes or so will do the trick. You’ll see any dirt, poop, or other remnants from the tank float to the surface leaving the clean shell at the bottom. Just make sure you thoroughly check the insides of your shells to make sure none of your hermit crabs are inside!
You should replace the substrate of your hermit crab tanks every 3 months, or as needed. I find a nice mixture of play sand and Eco Earth (ground coconut husk) do a great job at keeping humidity.
I use mainly Eco Earth, which is completely fine. Eco Earth is great for dealing with poop because it does a great job breaking it down. The only issue is that it’s hard to spot crab poop since they blend in with the coconut husk.
Play sand, another popular substrate, isn’t as effective toward breaking down feces, but make it much easier to spot clean.
Replacing the substrate will take a few hours time, so plan ahead. You’ll need to move your hermit crabs to a new spot for a bit as you do your work.
Empty the old substrate outside and spray the inside of your tank with a hose. This will remove the old substrate and make room for the new one.
Meanwhile, boil any shells left in your tank for 5ish minutes and leave all decorations out in the sun.
Once you’ve completed all that, simply re-setup your hermit crab tank with everything your little crabs need.
Now the tank will be free of poop, and your hermit crabs will be thrilled with their clean environment.
Without a proper way for your hermit crabs to clean themselves, the buildup of feces in their shell and environment can lead to sickness or death. Be sure to add well-functioning pools in your hermit crab enclosure to keep them healthy.
Hermit crab pooping
FAQ
Do I need to clean up hermit crab poop?
Where do hermit crabs poop out of?
How do you know if a hermit crab is dehydrated?
- Lack of water in the tank or on a sponge.
- Matte appearance to the skin.
- Excessive burrowing to get at moist spots in the tank.
What does a fiddler crab poop look like?
For hermit crabs, their poop varies between brown and black and usually comes in a small sausage shape between 0.39 to 0.59 inches long. On the other hand, fiddler crabs have very small poop shaped like tiny brown dots, just like their eyes. Like other crabs, they poop through their anus, which is located at the end of their tails.
What does hermit crab poop look like?
They were probably using the saltwater to wash out their shell, which is the whole point of a saltwater bowl. Hermit crab poop is a black or very dark brown squiggly strand. It looks like a thick, curly hair. This is because it bunches up in the back of a hermit crab’s shell, and falls out when a hermit crab decides to clean out its shell.
Do hermit crabs poop?
Now the tank will be free of poop, and your hermit crabs will be thrilled with their clean environment. Without a proper way for your hermit crabs to clean themselves, the buildup of feces in their shell and environment can lead to sickness or death. Be sure to add well-functioning pools in your hermit crab enclosure to keep them healthy.
How do you know if a hermit crab is healthy?
Hermit crabs eat daily and have small stomachs. Hermit crabs poop daily and sometimes several times per day to maintain a healthy digestive tract. Cast a cursory eye over the substrate each morning while they sleep. You should find droppings, which suggest the bowels are functioning normally.
What does crab poop look like?
Regardless of the species of crab in question, crab poop is usually very small, brown, and mostly odorless. However, the size of a crab’s poop is also dependent on the size of the crab in question and the amount of food it eats. It is also worth noting that crabs do not pee the same way they poop.
Does hermit crab poop smell?
Hermit crab poop may not smell to the human nose, but it attracts mold and bacterial microbes due to the humidity. A hermit crab tank can become a thriving ecosystem. Hermit crabs eat insects, which, in turn, eat other smaller insects. Unfortunately, not all visitors to the enclosure are desirable.