Caring For Your Pet Land Hermit Crab

By Joan Fox

Caring for pet land hermit crab may be easier than you think. A ten-gallon aquarium, some sand and water is about all you will need. Even so, it is wise that you are researching the needs of this exotic animal, before you decide to purchase one as a pet. Being proactive in developing your knowledge will ensure you provide a safe and healthy environment that will make your pet happy.
 
You may not be aware but there are differences between a hermit crab and a land crab. While they basically have the same food, temperature and humidity requirements they need a little different setup in their homes.

Hermit crabs need sand or substrate that is 3-4 inches deep and a land crab requires one that is a little deeper. Land crabs also need more of an aqua-aquarium where as hermit crabs just require a terrarium type environment. Land crabs need an "island" of sand or substrate with a body of water, which could be provided in a dish that is deep enough for him to completely submerge himself into. Hermit crabs just require a shallow dish of water that is easy enough for them to climb out from.

So, you have decided on with exotic pet hermit crab you wish to own and have set up your aquarium with his needs in mind. Now what else do you want to put in the tank with them? Well, first you might consider other land crabs! Pet land hermit crabs are very social animals and enjoy the company of others. Many owners purchase a dozen at a time! You also need to provide an ample supply of shells.

Hermit land crabs do not create their shells and have to use abandoned shells of other creatures. You need to supply a variety of shells of different shapes and sizes and with different aperture size and shapes as well. If you have several of these exotic crabs, then you may witness a crab fight over a prize shell. If one of your pets is injured in such a fight, just remove him to a safe secluded area for him to recover.

Water is a key element in your pet crab's healthy life. Your pet crab require water to drink, bathe and breathe. These crabs breathe through gills and require water and humidity to be able to breathe. You should provide humidity levels between 70 and 80 percent and temperatures between 72 and 79 degrees. Temperatures below 72 degrees on a regular basis will cause stress or even death of your pet.

What do you feed your pet land hermit crab you ask? Well they prefer a healthy diet and you may find everything you need to feed him right in your kitchen! They love fruits, vegetables and even will eat fish and meats. Other options would be to feed them baby foods with fruits in them or dog and cat foods. Some things they eat in the wild are shredded leaf material and bits of bark - you can provide that as well, just be sure to wash and dry thoroughly before offering it to your pet. He is a messy eater! So, be sure to clear his tank of leftover food after he has eaten.

You might wonder why your pet is not very active during the day. That is because hermit land crabs are nocturnal and are more active during evening hours. With the use of moonlight bulbs in a dark area of your home you could adapt your pet to be active in the times you are awake to enjoy him.

Hermit land crabs have been known to live over 20 years in captivity. However, the average lifespan of your exotic pet is on average three to four years. You will be rewarded with years of enjoyment and entertainment from your pet crab if you provide him with his basic needs to keep him happy and healthy.

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Hermit Crabs and Care - What to Do and How!

By Joan Fox

In order to give your hermit crabs the best care, it is necessary to know what you need their home to be like. The environment that you keep your crabs in has to be appreciated by them. To give your crabs the best care, they will need either a glass or plastic enclosure. You will want to put a wire top on the enclosure so they do not escape, they are great climbers.
 
Just like you, your new pet crab will get bored if he doesn't have plenty of room and things to do. To care for your pet, it is always nice to have a rather large enclosure and tons of things they can climb on. You can get sticks and logs for them climb all over. In the wild they climb trees and big logs.

Temperature is vital in the care of your crabs. The temperature has to stay just right because hermit crabs need a lot of humidity. The temperature needs to stay right around 72 degrees F. If it gets too much hotter than 72 degrees or too much lower than 72 degrees, there is a good chance that you may kill your hermit crab. For proper care of your crabs you need to make sure the temperature stays where it needs to be.

Try to make their home as much like the wild as you can. I would suggest putting some sea shells in their tank with them, definitely logs and things to climb on. Sand is always a great way to care for your crabs, it makes them feel like they are in the wild again. You can go to just about any pet store around and find sand to use for your crabs habitat, or crabitat if you will.

These exotic crabs need company. They love having friends to play with and socialize with just like you. You would be bored too, if stuck in a cage by yourself all the time. Well keep that in mind when you are trying to provide the best care for your crabs. Make sure you get friends. Just remember though, the more friends you have the more toys, hiding places, hermit crab shells, and food you will need. You will also need a larger tank for them and extra food. With all of these things you will be giving the best care for your crabs. A great way to care for your these crabs is to give them lots of places to hide. In the wild they like to hide under rocks and logs. So get them some little things they can hide under. It can be logs, rocks, little hideaway toys from a pet store, or something you make yourself. Your pet crabs will love it no matter what it is.

The best way you could possibly care for your crabs would be to think of what you would want if you were them. For proper care of hermit crabs you will need to make sure they have all of the following: Places to hide, toys or things they can climb on, logs, sticks, rocks, and even lego's work. Hermit crabs will need friends, sand, and shells to feel at home. The best care for your hermit crabs will be if you have all of this and the proper food, heating, and habitat. If you have all of this, then you are on the right track to giving the best care for your crabs that you can.

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A Hermit Crab Primer - Information on the Basics of Caring For Your Crustacean

By Joan Fox

So you want a crustacean? You do. Well, you are making a good choice. You will learn a lot, and laugh a lot with this strange little friend. He is exotic and conversational, and you've heard that they are very good pets. Right now you might be sitting, looking at your new found friend, and wondering what you should do first. This little creature has needs, and this article will answer many of the needs in a nutshell.
 
TEMPERATURE

There are strict guidelines about the water you have in your tank. Your crab is quite sensitive to temperature changes. Specifically, he likes to be at 72 degrees Fahrenheit, he could easily die if left in water that's too cold. On the other hand you do not want to cause him sunburn. You will need to spray him with water now and then so that he doesn't become dehydrated. You'd do best to keep him/them in bright light but not direct light. Stay far, far away from chlorine. There is also the problem of chemicals in the environment such as metal dishes that possibly have soap on them. Most of all, do not stress these poor little creatures out. He's already dealt with quite a lot of change in his life. If there is a musty, unpleasant odor coming from his tank, he's overheated. He can also discharge a brown liquid, which is most unattractive. Oh, I almost forgot. He does need a heater, as well.

HUMIDITY

Coupled with the correct temperature there is the matter of humidity. Crustaceans love it when the humidity is at least 70%. You needn't get overly upset about it and measure every day, but just try to keep his environment nice and tropical. You might want to spring for a hygrometer and thermometer so that you always know if the environment in healthy or not.

In a kind of funny way, your crabs love to bury themselves in the sand at the bottom of the tank. It's what they do when they are particularly overwhelmed, sort of like pulling the covers over your head in bed when you're scared. So, keep enough bottom material (can be sand or some other similar bottom material to let him feel covered but not buried completely). You should clean the tank monthly. Clean out the ground material and the tank itself. Use no soap. This makes it fresh from old food from that has dropped down into the water while he ate.

ADJUSTMENTS

After you bring your new pet home there some adjustments to make. First he needs so be bathed. I know, so strange for a water creature. Anyway keep rinsing him off until the water and shell appear clear. Lots of unwanted creatures can be crawling up in that shell. Do NOT use soap.

This is a high stress time for the crabs. When you bring them home to others, keep him alone for awhile - at least a week and maybe two. Crabs are used to being with other hermit crabs. In fact, in the wild they may hang out in their own 100 crab colony. They play and fight and bully the smaller ones.

This is the time you need to pick out a new shell for him (about 1/3 bigger than the shell he presently inhabits) and feed him a feast and clean water in his new crabarian. The substrate in the tank ought to be 2-3X the height of the largest crab in the bunch. Remember stress is the worst thing for everyone, including your new pet. When he does come out to check things out he will appear to be overeating. That is because, like burrowing mammals they never think they'll find good food again so they overindulge while the going is good. They will calm down as soon as they have somewhat of a routine.

If, by chance your new pet friend drops a leg or two, it's a signal that his well-being is compromised. Unfortunately, he is not molting, which is natural. He will drop appendages when he doesn't feel well. One claw dropping is not life threatening, but if the other claw drops off there is little you can do to save him.

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Making The Hermit Crab Habitat - Setting Up His Tank

By Joan Fox

Hermit crabs aren't overly fussy about their surroundings except to have the environment clean and warm. Unless you live in a tropical environment, you will need a heater. Crabs don't need elaborate surroundings, but you should make what surroundings she has into something familiar and comforting - we're looking for a simple tropical paradise here. Read on to learn about the essentials.
 
So you have your glass or plastic tank that's pretty tall. Our crab friends really like to escape so you'll need a cover over the top. Plexiglas is a good choice.

There often are "Hermit Crab Kits" in some pet stores. Steer clear of them as they are not large enough for a suitable home. A proper figure for the size of a tank is about 10 gallons, but in this case, the bigger the better. Your crab will want you to supply him some friendly company. They are very social beings. And it is not unusual to find them all piled on top of each other in the wild.

If you decide that you want the bottom to have common sand, then you might want to dry and bake it, which will sterilize it for a nice fresh substrate. Aside from sand, you might like something more unusual. Some of these are made for reptiles, but work well for crabs, as well. The first is coconut fiber-based bedding. The fiber is ground so finely it looks like soil. It's a great burrowing medium. You can also consider crushed coral. What you want to avoid are gravel and wood shavings.

Again, let me emphasize how important proper humidity is. Remember they do breathe through gills. If the humidity is too low, the crab will surely die of suffocation. What you can do is just give her the water dish which can increase the humidity in her tank. You can also put a natural sea sponge in the dish as well. The sponge alone holds a lot of water. It also has a large surface area to create humidity. It may or may not be a great idea as the sponge can promote bacterial issues that smell likes sulphur - very unpleasant. If that happens I'm certain you will want to take another route and put marbles in the water dish. If you decide to do that and a small crab falls into the water dish, he will have something to fall on and grab onto.

As important as humidity and temperature are toys to keep your pets busy climbing. In the wild they climb up on rocks to eat. You don't have to be fancy with this either. If you have broken pottery that is not painted, clam shells, rocks, anything that hasn't been treated can serve as a hiding place. Make sure your pet friend can get out of any of her toys. They do have a sense of humor, and they play a great deal of the time. Remember to keep that top on because if they have these toys they will climb up and out of the tank. Those plastic plants you put in your fish tank? Well, they work well, too. Just make certain that the crab is not eating the plastic as it will kill him.

There should be variety in their diet. They adore coconut shavings, and also eat peanut butter, hard-boiled eggs and egg shells. Be aware of giving them anything that may have been sprayed with a pesticide. Buy organic fruits and vegetables just to be sure that you are not poisoning your friend. Remember, too, that salt water is where they bathe. Fresh water is what they drink.

A very good rule of thumb is that if you are not positively sure that what you are giving your pet is healthy, ask someone who knows. Hermit crabs are very sensitive to additives of any kind. Things you wouldn't even imagine. If you want to give her some meat, make sure that meat hasn't been marinated. It's a better bet to give her raw meat, and not worry about what condiments have been added.
Just like nearly all pets, try to avoid buying or using anything from the pet store. They are usually fairly toxic and the crab specimens are usually sluggish and dirty. You can order good, healthy crabs and stick to the organic regimen, and all will be well.

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What to Know Before Buying a Chinchilla House

By Lindsey Perkins

Are you planning to get a pet chinchilla? If yes then let me tell you that before you go ahead and buy a pet for yourself you need to do a thorough research about their behavior and what are their basic needs because only if you understand them you will be able to take care of them and build a house for them.
 
You might not be aware but houses are really important for animals because they feel comfortable and relaxed when they are in their houses. If you are going to pet a chinchilla you should build or buy a chinchilla house where your pet will stay.

A chinchilla house is very different from houses for other pets because such houses are made as per the requirements and characteristics of the animal.

Chinchillas are native of South America and found in Andes. Since they are rodents from mountainous region they are expert jumpers and move quickly from one place to another. Hence, you need to understand that chinchilla house has to be big in size because it should have ample space for the chinchilla to move inside freely. If you buy smaller house than your pet will not lead a happy life and soon you will start hearing cries of your pet indicating that he or she is not happy.

It is a good idea to have some playing accessories inside chinchilla house because these rodents are very active and they are constantly on the move. Playing items like wheels, swings and ramps will give them something to remain busy and they will enjoy jumping on the wheels and swings that you have installed for them. Additionally, you need to make sure that the house does not have wire mesh flooring as that can injure your chinchilla and it will be tough for you to clean up the floor on regular basis.

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Benefits of the Timed Cat Food Dispenser

By Thad Evans

If you are an avid pet lover, then one of the best things that you can purchase is a timed cat food dispenser as these really handy to have around the home. Raising a cat can really be a rewarding experience but you also need to ensure that they are well taken care of. This means that they will need to have regular meals so that they can grow up to become healthy.
 
Sometimes life can be rather unpredictable as you simply never know when your boss might call you in to stay extra late or when they might surprise you with a business meeting.

No matter what gets thrown your way, your cat will still need to be fed as the last thing you want is for them to go hungry. This is where using an automatic cat feeder is so beneficial as this device can automate this task.

Depending on which model you purchase, all you need to do is program it accordingly so that it dispenses food at certain intervals throughout the day. This means that even if no one is at home to feed your cat, these feeders will take care of it for you. However, keep in mind that these still need to be regularly maintained as the container will need to have sufficient food.

Another added benefit to these cat feeders is that they can even help to prevent animal obesity which is a growing concern these days. Just like in humans, being overweight can cause serious health problems for cats which is something that you definitely probably do not want. Therefore, purchasing one of these devices for yourself is probably the best investment that you can make.

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Cat Panting and Mouth Issues

By Chris Weber

My cat panting issues really worried me to an extreme level. Some say I worry too much about my cats, but I am always looking into their safety and health. I could not live with myself if one of my cats got sick and passed away under my watch. I believe we all have a certain level of demands put on us as pet owners.
 
It all started the day I just got back from my four day vacation. I was away and out of the house for four days straight, so my cat was left alone. I hate leaving my cat alone, but I understand cats are descent with being left alone. I got home and started to relax and start to watch the television.

I looked down at my cat and noticed that she was sniffing the floor in sort of a funny matter. She would smell the carpet and when she looked back up, her mouth was hanging open. When her mouth was hanging open it seemed as if the cat was unable to close the mouth on her own. This was not only happening once, but around every ten minutes. She would hold her mouth open and pant in such a weird manner.

I wondered to myself what the heck to do. I searched online and of course there was no information. I kept searching for information and was unable to find anything. My husband talked me into just forgetting about it because she was eating and drinking just fine. To this exact day, she still does this and we still wonder what the answer is for this situation she enacts.

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The Purrfect Pet - RagDoll Cats and Kittens

By Susie Smyth

The RagDoll Cat breed came about from the offspring of a semi-feral white Persian female whom was injured when hit by a car and bred to a male Birman Cat. The controversy is that the "breed" relaxes completely when picked up or held. The resulting floppy "RagDoll" appearance gives the breed its name.
 
Some believe that this trait was passed on from the injured female, whom may have suffered nerve damage, others disagree stating that it is not genetically possible. Little is known as to why these felines are unique in so many ways.

The RagDoll is similar in appearance to the Birman, except for the heavier body build and lack of tell tale white "gloves".

Varieties include the Bicolor RagDoll, with a pale body, dark markings on the mask, ears, and tails (seal, chocolate, blue or lilac), and a white underside. Points refers to points of their features such as ears, nose, paws and tail. Colorpoints have points in the same colors and Mitted RagDolls are the same as Colorpoint but with white front paws. Colors include chocolate, seal with varying shades of brown, blue (which is shades of grey) and lilac which is more a rosy shade of beige. Some can be cream, blue/cream or flame (cream that is more reddish). The rare Mink RagDolls have their coloring at birth, whereas the others are usually born white

The cats fur is full and long, plush, but is not as long as many of the long haired breeds. They do not have an undercoat which makes for less shedding as well as easy maintenance and grooming. Their bodies are long and solid, although they go limp when picked up. They have medium legs, large round paws, and a long, medium tail. The head is a rounded wedge shape with a medium nose, fully developed cheeks, and small, round, mostly blue eyes, although green, green/blue and aqua are common in the mink RagDolls and the straight colored RagDolls can often have nonmatching eye colors. Ears are medium, rounded at the tips and tufted. These are large cats, with males often exceeding 20 plus pounds.

These Cats have an extremely docile temperament, slow to mature and don't reach full maturity until 3 to 4 years of age. Perhaps that is why they remain quite playful well beyond the kitten stages. They are "lovers", not fighters and very trusting of others that they may not recognize danger. Best suited to the indoors, the RagDoll has an extremely high tolerance to pain so that injuries can go unnoticed. These big fluffy cats are calm and like tranquility. They also like dogs, particularly large dogs. They get along well with other household pets and make wonderful pets for children. They are often described as the "puppy cat" in that they will follow one around much like a puppy. They are also very trainable.

RagDolls are big, sweet tempered, family oriented cats, making them the purrfect pet for many homes.

Cats "pawsitively" have enriched my life. Owning an Equestrian Center allows me to have more cats than what would be the norm for homes, as I claim some are "working barn cats", giving me the excuse to take a few more in and keeping the many that are "drop offs". However, as responsible pet owners we should strive to learn as much about the animals whom well being and lives are dependent on us.

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