5 Reasons You Should Never Buy a Hermit Crab

Hermit crabs are not "starter pets" or trinkets. Crabs are complex, sensitive animals who want to live in the wild, not in a cage. (But never release a captive crab back into the wild.) Even the most well-meaning person who purchases crabs will never be able to give them the life that they deserve.

[Backyardgoldies]

My hermit crabs can molt, climb, explore, socialize, and they have no toxic things and I think they are great pets but I agree that it's sad that they get taken from the wild

[racheltrue]

Just saying I had hermit crabs from the pet store for 10 years...

[hollyTM]

What about those people who take excellent care of them, like the people who have giant gallon tanks with like 7inch deep bedding, salt and fresh water dishes/pools, and they spray the tank every few hours? Cause my friend's mom spends like $100 every month or two on supplies. She's had one hermit crab for like 10 years, it's name is Pablo the jumbo crab btw.

[vVvCuhRazy]

I have hermit crabs in my marine tank that have been alive for years.

[HummingLantern]

I completely agree with the message and most people should follow it, however I believe that experienced people who actually are knowledgable on how to care for them should be able to keep them without ethical issues. I've talked to people who've had their crabs still going strong after purchasing them 8-10 years ago. I'd be willing to support an initiative for a captive breeding program as most people can't breed them in captivity due to issues with water chemistry and the lack of a biological filter (mechanical filters can kill the plankton). I'm only aware of captive breeding in scientific facilities, so hopefully we'll have captive breds soon! Especially with the issue of the syndromes that come with newly caught crabs (sometimes noted as purple pincher syndrome, but is not limited to Coenobita clypeatus.

[xxmoonpasta]

Actually ive had my hermit crabs longer than a year, they dont have any paint, we have a huge container for them, and we usually get 2-3

[goofysillybonkers]

I have 5 hermit crabs in a 30 gallon tank... I provide them with as much care as I can. I bought them from these little shops in a amusement park, and replaced them with non painted shells. :D

[insertnamehere]

I have a simple setup and mine are still living after 3 years there are no painted shells and I take care of them well make a five reasons to own hermit crabs lol

[mikisi]

Correction not nearly every crab sold in pet stores is wild caught, every single one of them is wild caught they have never before been bred in captivity

[noahg]

I have a 10ft enclosure with 200 crabs 10ftx10ft. Is this ok? Sand + salt water too

[andif]

I should really show this to my friend. She has a hermit crab and it has its shell painted. She probably doesn't even know it dangerous.

[javilim]

OH WAIT I GET U WE SHOULD ADOPT THEM RATHER THAN BUYING THEM!!! I FINALLY GET IT

[biggiecampbell]

lol idk why out of nowhere hermit crabs appears everywhere in my backyard

[insertnamehere]

Only get them if you plan to take care of them the right way they aren't bad pets

[beardiegaming]

I had hermit crabs for more than 5 years -_-

[tremainenb]

I say you should, but only if you take proper care for them. Boycotting hermit crabs won't help them. keeping them in proper enclosures is way better than letting them die

[spartancccoach]

Omg! I owned 3 different hermit crabs in the past! If I had known, I would never buy them!

[pepemegently]

I was eating duck while I watched this, am I bad person?

[FreedomVengeance]

What if you take good care of them and have a great place for them? There's a guy on youtube who has a 500 gallon tank for some hermit crab he's raking care of.

[kbmoka]

I completely agree that hermit crabs should not be held captive as pets.   It is almost
impossible for most people to keep them alive, let along create an environment in which they can thrive in.  It takes a lot of time, knowledge and money and even then it is not the life that these intelligent creatures deserve.  But,   I have 8 hermit crabs at the moment.  Had I known that they were taken from the wild(along with all the other horrible things that happen to pet hermit crabs), I would have NEVER even considered purchasing them.   I feel horrible that I helped support  this industry.  I know that I can never give them the life that they had in the wild, but I try my hardest to keep them happy.  I bought a 40 gallon tank with 125 pounds of moist sanitized play sand, a few  large cholla cactus skeletons, plenty hiding spots, a heat lamp and  two deep water dishes (one for salt and one for fresh).  I give them a large variety of organic food and bottled water to avoid chemicals that could harm them. I have done what I can to make their lives in captivity as decent as possible.  I have had my 2 jumbos for 7 years now so I guess I am doing something right.  I have no intention of buying any new hermit crabs, but I do keep a look out for crabs up for adoption from people who realized that they were in over their heads or even worse people who have become "bored" with their crabs. Unfortunately,  when I  look online I most often find only used hermit crab "kits" (major joke) up for sale AFTER the crabs have died.  There really should be a hermit crab sanctuary program to save them from the pet industry, get them back to health and reintroduce them back into the wild!  I know that is just not realistic though.