Coenobita perlatus also known as strawberry hermit crab is one of the popular pet hermit crab. Strawberry hermit crab is a land hermit species known for the strawberry-like texture in their body. Here you will know care and everything you have ever wanted to know about the strawberry hermit crab.
Classification and Natural habitat
Strawberry hermit crabs belong to the genus Coenobita from the Coenobitidae family with the scientific name Coenobita perlatus. This crab can be found in a wide area of the Indo-Pacific region like Mauritius, Seychelles, and Indonesia.
Physical Characteristics
| Length | 3-6 inches (7 to 15 cm) |
| Weight | 0.12 to 0.25 lb (50 to 110 grams) |
| Lifespan | 25+ years in their natural habitat, 5y+ in captivity |
| Color | Reddish orange resembling the texture of strawberry |
| Social | Yes |
| Playful | Yes |
Care guide of strawberry hermit crab
Here you will learn the care of how you can set up the tank and all other needs. The care of this hermit crab may seem easy (which is true if you know how to) but there are some common mistakes if you do the crab will die. So the strawberry hermit crab care should not be taken lightly and you have to do everything carefully.
Tank size
Strawberry hermit crabs including all of the hermit crabs are social and need to be kept in pairs or more. They’re not used to living alone so you need at least 20 gallon tank for 2 crabs if you want to add more crabs increase the size of the tank with 1 crab= +5 =25 gallons meaning 3 crabs require 25 gallons and 30 for four crabs. Try to keep the male and female ratio equal.
Ensure the tank has a lid or else you may find your strawberry hermit crab exploring your room.
What substrate do strawberry hermit crabs need?
Substrate plays an important role in the crabitat. You may find many suggestions about the best substrate mixing but none of them worked really well. When making substrate you should consider these things.
- It should be deep enough minimum of 6 inches, a general rule is the substrate should be 3 times as deep as the largest crab in your enclosure. Because strawberry hermit crabs love to burrow into the substrate.
- It is not harmful to the crab.
- The substrate doesn’t contain calcium sand, calcium gets hardened over time sticking to the crab’s body, making movement difficult for the crab.
- Gravel/pebble will stop the way of burrowing under the substrate and scratch the crab. So it should not contain these elements too.
- Fungi shouldn’t easily grow on the substrate. It is easy to grow fungi on the substrate if it contains wood shaving or peat moss.
- Raw salt on the substrate can burn your strawberry crab’s gills.
The best substrate material is eco earth and play sand. You can use eco earth alone, half eco earth, and half play sand. The best mixing ratio is 5 parts of play sand and 1 part of eco earth (coco fiber). You will need to moisten the substrate with dechlorinated saltwater.
Hiding places and climbing
Strawberry hermit crabs need to hide themselves and climbing materials as they love to climb. You can use anything for this, you just have to be creative. You will need a couple of mandatory things like a wooden half log and cholla wood to create hiding places and playing materials. To improve climbing you can use climbing ladder rope and coco fiber carpet.
You will use whatever you find best but you can’t skip this because hiding and climbing is their instinct and they sleep during the day.
Water recommendation for strawberry hermit crabs
These crabs need two types of water with two bowls. One for fresh water and another for saltwater. But both water needs to be dechlorinated because chlorine also can burn their gills. You can keep the water at room temperature for 24 hours to remove chlorine naturally or you can use prime to do that.
You have to reef salt or sea salt. Normal salt contains iodine which is another harmful chemical to hermit crabs. Change the water every day and if the water is spilled pour the bowls again.
Diet of the strawberry hermit crab
By being omnivorous, strawberry hermit crabs can eat anything you give. But always keep consideration for fresh fruits and vegetables such as carrots, spinach, kale, broccoli, strawberries, coconut, cucumber, etc. Don’t forget about dried coconut and strawberries.
For protein and calcium crushed eggshells, sliced shrimp, tuna, mealworms, cricket, etc. They love to eat krills, fish flakes, and brine shrimps. You just have to give balanced food. When the crabs are sick or molting you have to give more calcium it helps to develop new exoskeleton.
Remove all the leftover food or you will unknowingly invite mites and never don’t feed commercial food unless you are forced to like when you go on vacation leaving the crabs home.
Temperature, humidity, and light requirements for strawberry hermit crabs
- Temperature – Temperature needs to be kept between 75° to 85°F at day (23° to 29° C) with the slightest fall of 65° to 75°F (18 to 24° C) at night. If the temperature goes below that level the strawberry hermit crab will get lethargic. You can use a thermometer to monitor the temperature. It is safe to use a heating mat to control the temperature and you should have it.
- Humidity – 70% to 80% humidity is required for strawberry hermit crabs. High humidity needs to moisten their body and substrate. If the enclosure is dry they will not survive for long that’s why you should not keep the tank in an air-conditioned room because it dries the environment. You have to mist regularly your crab enclosure to keep the environment moist and humid and use a hygrometer to monitor the humidity.
- Light – Avoid any heat lamp because it zaps the humidity. Strawberry hermit crabs do not benefit from light but they need a regular day-night cycle, a normal LED bulb will do the job.
What shells do strawberry hermit crabs need?
There are two types of shell openings – round and D-shaped. Strawberry hermit crabs require round-opening shells. Give 3-5 different shells for each of the crabs they will possess whichever they like.
