Hermit crabs are fascinating, low-maintenance pets that are often chosen for their unique personalities and quirky behaviours. However, one of the most common mistakes new hermit crab owners make is housing them in small plastic cages or critter keepers. While these enclosures are often sold as “starter homes,” they don’t meet the environmental or social needs of hermit crabs. If you want your hermit crabs to live long, healthy lives, creating the right habitat is essential. Here’s everything you need to know about setting up the perfect home.
Understanding Hermit Crab Needs
Hermit crabs are social, semi-terrestrial crustaceans that thrive in warm, humid environments. In the wild, they live along tropical coastlines where they can burrow, scavenge for food, and find new shells as they grow. To replicate these conditions in captivity, you’ll need to provide an enclosure that maintains consistent heat, humidity, and plenty of space for exploration. A basic plastic container simply can’t provide the right humidity or ventilation balance that hermit crabs need. Without these conditions, hermit crabs can become stressed, dehydrated, or even die prematurely.
Choosing the Right Enclosure
A glass tank (often called a “crabitat”) is the best choice for housing hermit crabs. The size of the tank depends on how many crabs you plan to keep, but a 40–60 litre tank is a good starting point for two to three small crabs.
A great option is the Reptile One Glass Hinged Door Terrarium RTF600HL, which provides maximum functionality for terrestrial and arboreal reptiles, and works beautifully as a crabitat. This terrarium features a waterproof, sealed glass base, making it suitable for both semi-aquatic and terrestrial setups. It includes a completely removable mesh lid and hinged glass doors with locks for easy access and maintenance.
Features:
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High-quality wire mesh top for ventilation
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Cable outlet dial to enable electrical items
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Pre-cut holes for heating and lighting accessories
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Black background for psychological security
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Lockable doors for convenience and safety
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Watertight sealed glass base to hold water
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Durable 5mm glass thickness
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Matching Reptile One cabinets available
This terrarium measures 60cm x 45cm x 30cm, providing ample room for multiple hermit crabs to dig, climb, and explore. Its sturdy design, ventilation, and functionality make it a perfect upgrade from a plastic cage.
Substrate: The Foundation of a Healthy Crabitat
The substrate in your hermit crab tank isn’t just for decoration, it’s where your crabs will dig, moult, and regulate their body moisture. The ideal substrate should hold its shape when squeezed but not be waterlogged.
A combination of sand and coconut fibre works best. Sand provides structure for burrowing, while coconut fibre helps retain moisture and humidity. Mixing the two in roughly equal parts creates a soft, natural environment that encourages digging and mimics a tropical shoreline.
For high-quality coconut substrate, two great options available at Woonona Petfoods include:
Pet One Critters Comfort Bedding 20L – Made from 100% organic coconut coir, this bedding is non-toxic, dust-free, and completely chemical and fragrance-free, giving you peace of mind that it’s safe for your hermit crabs. Available in coarse and fine textures, it’s ideal for creating a clean, comfortable base that maintains humidity and supports natural burrowing.
Eco Tech Jungle Coco Peat – A compressed tropical terrarium substrate made from 100% coconut shell peat fibre. This eco-friendly option is free from salt, chemicals, oils, and parasites. Each 650g block expands to 10L of bedding once soaked in water, helping to increase humidity and stimulate natural digging and moulting behaviour in hermit crabs.
Whichever option you choose, ensure the substrate is deep enough for your largest hermit crab to completely bury itself. Moulting is a vulnerable time for crabs, and a proper substrate depth allows them to stay hidden, safe, and stress-free for several weeks.
Temperature and Humidity
Hermit crabs are tropical creatures that need warmth and humidity to survive. The ideal temperature range is between 24–28°C, with humidity around 70–80%. To achieve this, you should use a low-wattage heat mat such as the Krabooz Heat Pad attached to the outside of the tank. Avoid placing it underneath the substrate, as this can dry it out. Install a digital thermometer and hygrometer to monitor conditions, and lightly mist the tank daily to maintain humidity, and make sure your lid helps retain moisture without creating condensation.
Lighting and Day-Night Cycle
While hermit crabs don’t need strong UVB lighting like reptiles, they do benefit from a regular day-night cycle. Providing 10–12 hours of light daily helps regulate their natural behaviour and encourages activity. A simple LED or low-heat light can be placed on a timer to ensure consistency. Avoid bright, direct lights that can overheat the tank.
Decor and Enrichment
Hermit crabs are curious and active, so enrich their enclosure with plenty of opportunities to climb, explore, and hide. Good enrichment options include driftwood or cork bark for climbing, coconut huts, logs, or rock caves for hiding, shells of various sizes and shapes and smooth rocks or coral for texture and decoration. Avoid metal or painted decorations, which can leach toxins into the tank.
Water and Food Bowls
Hermit crabs need both fresh and saltwater available at all times. Use dechlorinated water for the fresh bowl and marine-grade salt mix for the saltwater bowl, never table salt. Choose shallow dishes that are easy for crabs to climb in and out of but deep enough for them to submerge their bodies. Adding natural sea sponges can help maintain humidity and make it easier for smaller crabs to drink. Provide a small, sturdy food dish for their diet of pellets, dried seaweed, and fresh fruit or vegetables. Avoid plastic dishes that may leach chemicals; use ceramic or natural materials instead.
Why Plastic Cages Don’t Work
Plastic cages, though marketed for hermit crabs, fail to provide the necessary environment for them to thrive. These enclosures often have:
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Poor humidity control, leading to dehydration and respiratory stress
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Insufficient substrate depth, preventing proper burrowing and moulting
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Inadequate ventilation, causing mould or stale air
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Temperature fluctuations, as plastic traps heat unevenly
In short, plastic cages may work temporarily for transport but are not suitable for long-term housing. A proper glass tank setup like the Reptile One Terrarium ensures your hermit crabs have the space and stability they need to stay healthy.
Creating a Thriving Crabitat
A well-set-up hermit crab habitat can last for years with minimal maintenance. Regularly check humidity and temperature, clean the tank as needed, and replace substrate every few months. With the right setup, your hermit crabs will be active, social, and healthy, and you’ll enjoy watching their fascinating behaviours up close. At Woonona Petfoods, we stock a range of supplies to help you create the perfect crabitat, including safe substrates, marine salt mixes, natural décor, and high-quality foods. Visit us in-store or online to get everything you need for a healthy, happy hermit crab habitat, beyond the plastic cage.
