How to!!!!

Here is a how to. Sorry i haven't done this for a while.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF A PET HERMIT CRAB ( The tide-pool variety )

1. Find a nice container. A jar works well for viewing, but it's hard to clean the jar, feed them, ect.
A plastic critter keeper works well. Even the smallest one will be big enough. If you get a medium-large one you can hold several.

2. Catch you crabs. Go to the beach. Look in tidal pools, under rocks and seaweed. Take home home 1-2. Don't take more than 4. Bring back a jar of salt water too.

3. Set up the habitat. Fill the critter keeper two thirds full with water. Put a layer of sand from the beach, about one inch thick, on the bottom. Put in some rocks and plants to your taste.

4. Give them some shells you found at the beach. Find ones of all sizes.

5. Feed them. They are scavengers. They will eat a small amount of plant material in the tank, but mainly they will like meat foods. Next time your parents get plain uncooked shrimp or mussels, set aside 4 or so in a plastic bag in the freezer. Every other day, thaw a tiny piece of shrimp and drop it in the tank. Your crab will only eat a very little amount, so don't be alarmed if he doesn't finish it. Take the shrimp out after 20 minutes or so.

6. Separate them if they fight. If you have more than one they will likely fight. Have lots of hiding places. You can use a tank divider to keep them separate.

7. Clean the tank every now and then. The food gets the water dirtier than the crabs themselves. You can replace the evaporated water with clean, spring water. Every month or so change all the water.

8. Let them go. Every fall, let your precious crabbys go so they can spend the winter under the sea. Get a new one next spring!

 Hope you enjoyed that. I have never done that, so that is all based on research. Have fun!