Ecuadorian Hermit Crab adorned with colorful shells and clawed feet. It can be found across regions from California to Chile including Mexico, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Peru. Places like densely wooded areas, reefs, and small rock caves can be found.
But do you know how to take care of Ecuadorian Hermit Crab as a pet? If not then this writing is for you. So let’s know about the Ecuadorian Hermit Crab -Pets Care Guide. But first, you should know how the Ecuadorian Hermit Crab looks and their features.
1. Size and Lifespan
Ecuadorian Hermit Crab can be up to 12 m in length and is thought to be one of the smallest species of land hermit crab. This crab has four walking legs, a larger pincer, a small ponder, and an antennae. They are fast walkers and quite active also.
The eyes are oval-shaped. Also, they have big claws which have four to five small ridges on the upper past. Their abdomen is short. When choosing a shell, they tend to give preference to shells with wide and round aperture. The average life of these craves is between 3 to 12 years.
2. Crab care
Choosing an animal as a pet is easy. But maintaining them is tough. By giving good care your pet lives a healthy and comfortable life. Ecuadorian Hermit Crab is easy to maintain. Taking some steps for them as a pet owner is necessary for giving them a good life. So, let’s know about their care to give them a healthy life.
- House Setup
When you consider choosing them as your pet the very first thing is to ensure their home. A tank is good for them as a home. So, a 10-gallon tank is suitable for a small group I hermit. You should ensure that land and water both should be in the tank. Always use a lid which helps to maintain humidity.
2. Land
You can choose to use sand and coconut fiber to stimulate their natural habitat. The depth should be 3-5 inches in the tank which helps facilitate borrowing and moisture retention. Always try to use things that resemble their natural habitat.
3. Temperature
You need to maintain temperature according to their habitat. In the tank, the temperature should be between 77-89.0°F. It’s also important for their healthy life to maintain the temperature. You can use a heater or heat pad to maintain the temperature gradient.
4. Humidity
70-80℅ is needed to maintain the tank. You should use a spray bottle to mist the enclosure regularly to ensure a moist environment.
5 . Lighting
Lighting is also necessary for the hermit crab. Hermit crabs regulate their behaviors such as feeding time based on light.
6 . Filter
A good filtration system will provide good benefits to the tank. It not only helps to clean the rank but also helps the water flow throughout the aquarium. So it is good to add it.
7. decoration
Hermits love to hide. The decorations offer various spots to hide. You should choose driftwood, rock caves, PVC pipe, and artificial plants as decoration. These decorations encourage their natural behavior.
3. Maintenance of the Tank
When you choose your tank you need to maintain it for a healthy habitat for Ecuadorian Hermit Crab.
Regular maintenance
Never waste food. Giving too much food makes the water impure. Regularly you should remove the uneaten food. You also need to remove skeleton molts. Also, clean the water dish to maintain cleanliness. Always spot clean to remove waste when necessary.
Weekly maintenance
For every 4-6 weeks you need to perform a full cleaning of the tank. You should change the substrate, disinfect the chamber, and clean the water and food.
3. Feeding your hermit crab
Ecuadorian Hermit Crab are scavengers and omnivores. They need food which includes protein and calcium. Many pet owners prefer to give them food in the form of pellets which contain most of what your hermit crabs need. You can also give them occasional fruit or vegetables to supplement their diets.
Eventually, Ecuadorian Hermit Crab appreciates something new to try once in a while. You can also find many food options in pet stores. Always try to maintain their natural habitat for food. Give them food twice a day. Always increase or decrease the food as they need. Their ideal diet should be
- Crushed pellet food
- Fruit
- Freshwater(free of chlorine)
- Saltwater
You can also consider giving them eggs, meats, and seafood like freeze-dried shrimp, plankton, brine shrimp, and fish food flakes.
So, give your pet the food they need.
4. Breeding
In captivity, it is never easy to successfully breed, and Ecuadorian hermit crab is not an exception. But if you still want to breed you should know several things. You should try to breed them like Caribbean hermit crabs. After mating it will take approximately 1 month to hatch.
Always look after the egg because it will change color. If the breeding was successful you will see tiny zoea hatching from the eggs in the water. After that, you need to transit the larvae into a separate tank. A 5-10 liters gallon tank will be good.
The larvae need saltwater with a temperature of 78°F. The saltwater ratio should be 1 teaspoon of salt for every cup of water. Always remember to change the water to prevent ammonia.
5. Tankmates
Ecuadorian hermit crabs are social animals and they love to live with social creatures. You can add tank mates with them. So you can include tank mates like Clownfish, Butterflyfish, Damselfish, and Gobies. Species like Pajama Cardinalfish, Wrasses, Royal Gramma, and Firefish are also great options.
Some species eat algae which helps to clean the tank. Aquatic plants will be great. Green Finger algae, Dragon’s Tongue algae, and Halimeda plants are all good. But you should keep in mind you should avoid predatory species like Groupers and also species like Parrotfish, Triggerfish, and Pufferfish.
Wrap up
Ecuadorian Hermit Crab is said to be low maintenance. But they have strict habitats and requirements. Always care for them and try to give them a healthy life. Hope this article will help to find out about hermit crabs.
Read: Caribbean hermit crab…
