Size

First and foremost, you need to think about size when setting up a habitat for a hermit crab.  They need a lot of room to move around.  So, whether you choose to house him in a cage or an aquarium, just make sure that it provides enough room.  A 10 gallon aquarium is an inexpensive solution.

Substrate

One of the next things you need to consider when constructing a hermit crab habitat is the substrate.  This is used to line the bottom of the cage or aquarium.  Since they’re used to it in the wild, sand is most commonly used.  Two other options include coconut fiber and specially made fine gravel.  It’s important that the type of substrate you use is safe and allows them to dig easily.  Never use wood chips or rough gravel.  Although coconut fiber is fine, it can give you problems with fungus gnats, so you need to be careful.

Temperature

Temperature is also important in a habitat for a hermit crab.  If your crab is kept in a temperature below 72 degrees Fahrenheit, he will die.  Therefore, you’ll need an undertank heater to provide an appropriate temperature level.  However, you need to make sure you don’t make it hot enough to cause overheating.  Doing so will cause irreversible damage and possibly death.

Decorations

You should also put a few decorations in your hermit crab habitat.  You can lay some shells around so that your crab can move into a new one if he wants.  Also, you can give him a little taste of his natural habitat by providing driftwood, rough rocks, and fake plants.  Crabs will especially enjoy fake plants and vines because they love to climb.

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