Ecuadorian hermit crab setup

[KevinsWither]

I have no idea, but I am wondering about making a nice setup for ecuadorian crabs. Question is how big do they get? Any heating or lighting needed? Would a 10 gallon do for these creatures?

 

[Jacob Ma]

How many are you planning on keeping? From what I've heard, Ecuadorian and Caribbean hermit crabs are very social invertebrates, and even make chirps to communicate with each other! If you look up pretty much any hermit crab care sheet that comes from a reliable source, you can have your hermit crab living for quite a long time (up to 30 years). Here are some I have found:
http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=92454
http://happyhermitcare.tumblr.com/hermitcrabcareguide
http://pethermitcrabs.org/

 

[KevinsWither]

Probably like 5 Ecuadorians as Caribbean ones get really huge and my space doesn't really have that. They seem from what I found small. Plan is to make it almost like a dense jungle beach.

 

[Tenodera]

Five of them would be a lot for a 10-gallon as they get older; even though they do stay small, they are an active species and that would be a crowded enclosure. Three would be just fine there, though! Extra heat is not required as long as your home is warm enough (mid-70s) but they will appreciate a heat mat as for reptiles and may do better with it.

Es chirp a lot, too, which is very interesting and cute unless they're doing it in response to harassment. You'll have plenty of social behavior to watch during the first week or two especially.

 

[KevinsWither]

Anyways, would a 6 inch substrate do for the crabs?

 

[Toxoderidae]

Personally I'd give them a 40 - 50 gallon, as with my limited experience with hermits, (mainly watching wild ones) they are nomadic in nature but still have a "base of operations" if you'd call it. All I can really give, true crabs are more of my forte.

 

[Jacob Ma]

Make sure the enclosure is well ventilated, as mold will likely develop in a hermit crab enclosure.

 

[Ballys inverts]

Where do you buy these guys cuz I can only find purple claw

 

[Ballys inverts]

And I've had hermits for ages so 6 inch of sub is fine but the 10gal would only do for 3 hermits, you also need a heat mat but it need to be on the side of the tank not under it(I use a heat wire as it's easier and you can put it inside the tank