Hermit Crab Water Dish Options for Smaller Crabitats
Hermit crab water dish options for smaller crabitats can be a challenge to find the best ones in both shape and size. For 10 gallon tanks, there is very limited space for all 8 essential elements, two of which need to be water dishes.
What size and shape works best, how deep should they be, what are other options aside from the dishes made for hermit crab pets?
We’ve got answers for saving money, adding ramps for easy access, determining best dishes for your particular enclosure and more!
Top Picks for Medium/Large Hermit Crab Pet Enclosures
Remember to measure before buying water bowls! You don’t want to take up all surface area with water bowls… your hermit crabs need plenty of room to crawl, explore and burrow into.
But you also want water bowls large enough for your hermit crabs to easily climb in and out of, crawl and submerge.
Corner bowls work GREAT and are my favorite, a smart use of space. However, there aren’t many corner water bowls made in enough different sizes to choose from. Pet stores don’t stock enough options. I’ve found Amazon to have the best variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Many of the sellers on Amazon are small businesses.
Tip about colors: yellows and oranges are very popular colors for reptile terrariums. However, hermit crabs come from tropical environments where blue and green are the prominent colors, alongside light sandy beaches. I was excited to (finally) find a water bowl that’s blue inside (instead of yellow!) – see below.
Large water bowl for freshwater, also has an air stone to for aerated moving water (which hermit crabs love!)
Corner water bowl is medium sized and used for saltwater. Aquarium plants with weighted bottoms and a lobster added.
Pet Stores Don't Understand Hermit Crabs
Pet stores sell products that aren’t the best options for hermit crabs. Most all of them simply sell what manufacturers name “for hermit crabs” without knowing if the products are good.
I suggest looking in the reptile section for water bowls instead of the hermit crab section. There are lots more water dish options for reptiles and other small pets.
Some Products that are named "Hermit Crab Water Bowls" Should NOT be used for water!
Be careful buying hermit crab products. Often, manufacturers simply repurpose items and say they are good for hermit crabs… when they may not be!
These are inexpensive and very popular in pet stores and online.
They are NOT GOOD for water bowls!
Use them as a food dish!
They are too shallow and water will TOO QUICKLY EVAPORATE!
Basic Water Dish Requirements
What are the basic requirements for a hermit crab water dish?
1) TWO WATER DISHES
One water dish for freshwater, one water dish for salt (ocean) water
2) NO METAL
Metal and water aren’t a good combination, especially if you aren’t 100% what type of metal the product is made from. Best to stay far away from using any metals for water or food inside a hermit crabitat.
3) DEEP ENOUGH TO SUBMERGE
Water needs to cover at least 3/4 of your largest hermit crab’s shell when he sits in his water dish. He needs to store water inside his shell, and submerging is necessary for gathering water and for keeping his soft abdomen (inside the shell), moist. Also, too shallow and the water will evaporate too quickly!!
3) EASY IN AND OUT ACCESS (YES HERMIT CRABS CAN DROWN!!!)
Use dishes that are easy to climb in and out of. Hermit crabs, in the wild, live at the ocean’s edge… they wade carefully down into very shallow water or water pools, easily in and easily out without danger of drowning. If the dishes you choose don’t have a ramp of some sort, you’ll need to create one (ideas and options, below).
Top Picks for Small Crabitats
Made for Hermit Crab Dishes
There are some water dishes marketed for hermit crabs that are NOT suitable.
We tried this “lagoon” made by Fluker’s, and we love it! It’s a smart design, and it’s size works great for smaller enclosures. The tank pictured is a 10 gallon hermit crab starter enclosure. The price is great too!
Tip: because the bottom isn’t flat, press the lagoon into the sand substrate to make the right size base. Soak some sheet moss in water then press into the lagoon shaped hole in the sand substrate. This space will now be formed perfectly to fit under and around the lagoon, so it’s easy and clean to lift out and put back.
Remember, the smaller the water bowl the more important it is to clean it well every single day.
Other Water Bowl, Pool, Lagoon Options?
The hermit crab section of most pet stores is very small. Look in the reptile and small animal sections for better options for water bowls, especially as your hermit crabs grow to medium and large sizes. Reptile bowls often have built in ramps and are larger and deep enough.
Here are some great options for larger enclosures. You won’t find any of these in the hermit crab section of any pet shop, but they ARE good for medium and large hermit crabs. Also, these have built in ramps so small hermit crabs can climb out without risk of drowning.
Other Creative Options NOT from a Pet Shop!
You don’t NEED to buy a water bowl, dish or lagoon from the pet store! There are great options already in your home, or look to Target for great options under $5!
Just remember… you’ll need a ramp to make it easy for your hermit crabs to climb in and out.
The depth of the bowl should be enough to cover 3/4 of your largest hermit crab’s shell (minimally). To make an easy natural looking ramp, see below!
No Ramp? Add One, Easily!
Every hermit crab habitat is different. Different size enclosure, different elements inside, different size hermit crabs, etc. As long as you choose safe water dishes that adhere to the basic requirements of your particular hermit crab species, get creative!
Instead of spending $10-20 on a water bowl made for hermit crabs or reptiles, use a $2 plastic container from target!
Note: we prefer keeping our hermit crab habitats as natural looking as possible. But there are OTHER WAYS to create ramps, and other products that you can use to make a ramp.
DIY Water Ramp for Hermit Crabs
- Water container
- Aquarium sealer
- Rocks
This is a 10 gallon tank in a home office. This project is about halfway done with 6 of the 8 essentials:
1- Sand substrate
2- fresh water dish
3- saltwater dish
4- food dish
5- thermometer/hygrometer
6- climbing element
Next up? We’re going to build a cool DIY hiding spot using vertical space, add extra shells, and secure the thermometer/hygrometer in place.
Once the set-up is complete, we’re going to add some lighting and landscaping to make it look more natural, tropical and attractive!
This habitat will be for 2 very small Caribbean hermit crabs, used as a quarantine tank before adding them to our large Ikea Milsbo Hermit Crab Habitat Hack (shown below).
Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API