The hermit crabs most of the time spend their life burrowing under the substrate and hiding in the wood. When they come out and become active it is during the night as they are nocturnal. So the tank looks like a humid desert as there is no sign of animals. Or you don’t want to set up another tank for another species. So you want to keep hermit crab with other mates to make the tank livelier. Here will discuss what you can keep and what you can’t in detail.
Land hermit crab tank mates
Whenever we discuss hermit crabs, we need clarity about both land and marine types. They both look similar but way different in behavior. Hermit crabs are social animals, they live with friends by gathering in a colony. So a hermit crab will not mind other mates in the tank.
But there is a “but.” Though both hermit crabs love companions, land hermit crabs do not accept any other animals. They accept and need only another species or their own species of hermit crabs. For example, a purple pincher hermit crab will gladly accept another male or female purple pincher, also it can accept blueberry hermit crabs and strawberry hermit crabs (you have to be careful about species selection, there shouldn’t be much difference in their size. But will not accept a fiddler crab, a Halloween crab, a frog, or a reptile. Because other crabs love to eat molting crabs.
Introducing other animals to the enclosure will only stress them. There can arise disputes between them. If they think the other mate is a predator and stronger than them, they will live life in fear and will not much show up on the surface.
If you mean mates about Isopods, Springtails, millipedes, and brine shrimp then it is okay they are harmless and beneficial, and will work as diet and tank cleaners. But mites are a big no as they can stress the crab badly and infect them.
If you want to give your old crabitat a new look by creating a saltwater pool (they’ll still need fresh water) that will be great. In the pool, you can place other marine hermit crabs and fish; also hermit crabs will love to swim. So read further what you can put in that pool.
Marine hermit crab tank mates
In the wild aquatic hermit crabs live with other fishes and aquatic creatures like anemones, clownfish, royal gramma, etc. Usually, they stay at the bottom and can survive by eating dropped food at the bottom, can work as tank cleaners by eating algae and other stuff like any kind of poop and dead plants as they are omnivorous. So putting other animals will not be any problem. You just have to be careful that the tank mate is not a predator and does not disturb the crab.
Animals that can live with hermit crabs
Anemones
Hermit crabs have a symbiotic relationship with anemones. They somehow convince them and put on their shells. The anemones also benefit from free shipping and the scrap of food. Because of their biological relationship, the sea anemones fit perfectly in the hermit crab enclosure.
Snails
As hermit crabs use leftover shells of sea snails, hermit crabs somehow have a relationship with snails. So sea snails can be great tank mates. Be mindful about keeping the peaceful ones like nerite snails (Neritina Natalensis), Mystery Snails (Pomacea bridgesii), ramshorn snails (Planorbidae), Malaysian trumpet snails (Melanoides tuberculata), etc. Don’t pick aggressive and bigger species than hermit crabs.
Live plants
Live plants are good options for both land and marine crabs. They give a lot of hiding spaces as well as keep the tank humid, enhance the habitat, and become a source of food. For aquatic hermit crabs plants like Caulerpa, Halimeda, and Chaetomorpha works best. Plants like Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum), Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae), Ficus pumila (Creeping Fig), and Sphagnum moss (Sphagnum) are best. Choose non-toxic and smaller plans.
Small fish
Some small and peaceful fish can coexist with hermit crabs. Guppies, clownfish, mollies, tetras, and small shrimps are examples of fish that can make great ecosystems living with hermit crabs.
Fish that can live with hermit crabs
You have to be cautious that the fish you are bringing requires the same environmental conditions as hermit crabs. If you choose a species that loves to swim at the top of the water that will be better than a fish that lives at the bottom.
- Clownfish: Clownfish are naturally peaceful fish that do not like to disturb others. If you see any aggressiveness when changing gender consider isolating them. Because any kind of disturbance can stress hermit crabs.
- Royal Gramma: Royal grammas are also a nice companion for hermit crabs. Not in the sense of interacting with hermit crabs, in that sense they do not interact with hermit crabs.
- Guppy: Guppy is easy care fish with a peaceful instinct that makes a great combination with hermit crabs. Guppies vary in color so you will look livelier. Guppies can survive in crowded and smaller tanks.
- Mollies: Mollies are known for adapting to different water conditions and other fish that can coexist in harmony with hermit crabs.
- Tetra: Small tetras will add vibrancy to the aquarium. They are small and non-disturbance fish that can go along with hermit crabs.
- Pajama Cardinalfish: They are very peaceful and should coexist with hermit crabs.
- Platies: Platies are relatively hardy and easy to care for, making them suitable for a hermit crab tank.
Animals that can’t coexist with hermit crabs
Be careful that no species become aggressive and bully hermit crabs. Damselfish, betta fish, and Cichlid fish can be territorial and aggressive in front of any fish or crabs, so you shouldn’t put this kind of fish. It is advisable that you have a backup pot where you can isolate any aggressive fish.
If see any mites in the crabitate take instant steps to get rid of them because they can kill the crab.
Live Earthworms, beetles, and crickets can stress the crab so they are a big no. Remember that any species in the enclosure is not overpopulating.
