Hermit Crabs Love to Climb!
Hermit crabs love to climb and explore, and it’s very important to their health and happiness! In the wild, hermit crabs have no fear and will climb up trees, and way out on branches. They love climbing around rocks, exploring caves and caverns. They’ll climb on rock cliffs far above crashing waves of the ocean below.
Climbing and exploring is a big part of their nature.
Keep them stimulated and active by providing lots of opportunities to climb and explore.
If space is limited, it’s important to be strategic in using as much vertical space as possible so they can climb up as high as the enclosure will allow (without being able to crawl out, because they will if they can!). Adding levels is important, but can be done by adding different types of elements in the habitat.
Climbing element ideas!
Adding climbing elements in your hermit crab habitat is important. Here are some ideas and suggestions on where to find them:
- tree branches (backyards, parks, forests)
- driftwood (rivers, beaches)
- hanging coconut hideaways (bird section of the pet store)
- wooden rope ladders (bird section of the pet store)
- wood platforms (hamster section of the pet store)
- wood docks and buildings (DIY project!)
- fake rock mountains and cliffs (DIY project!)
Got extra vertical space?
If your hermit crab habitat is a tall terrarium or enclosure with extra vertical space, consider adding a hanging coconut hideaway with rope swing! Hang it on a larger climbing branch and your hermit crabs will be so happy.
Even your smallest hermit crab pets will successfully climb the rope ladder and want to hang out inside the coconut (though it will probably already be occupied by the time they reach the top)!
In larger habitats, secure climbing branches with Great Stuff Pond and Stone. It is an expanding foam spray that expands and adheres to most anything including glass. See more on using Great Stuff Pond and Stone in our Adding Levels post here.
Vertical Terrariums for more climbing space... up!
Terrariums sold in the reptile section of your local pet store can make great hermit crab habitats. Many of them are built with more vertical space. There is front door access making it super easy to access everything inside. It’s easy to set-up, move around and keep clean.
Most reptile terrariums have a built-in substrate section on the bottom, under where the front door opens (usually 6-8″ deep).
They usually come with a screen top and you can easily add lighting and/or heat as well as airline tubing for a water bubbler or other interior feature.
For hermit crab tanks that are smaller and horizontal, the limited vertical space can make it challenging to add climbing elements.
Climbing branches and driftwood laying horizontally or corner to corner tend to be the easiest ways to add more climbing opportunities for that type of space.
One trick to keeping your hermit crabs stimulated and more active in smaller spaces is changing things around a little, every few weeks. Rearrange the driftwood, move the food and water bowls. They like to explore and discover things, it makes them happy! When their habitat is exactly the same all the time, they WILL get bored and can become listless and inactive.
Note about driftwood: don’t use anything that’s been painted or varnished or chemically treated in any way. When buying driftwood, it should be natural wood and say aquarium or reptile safe.
The alternative to natural driftwood is resin, found in the aquarium section of the pet store. It will be safe for your hermit crabs BUT won’t be as easy or desirable to climb.
Because the hermit crab supply section of most local pet shops is extremely small, check out the reptile, bird and aquarium sections for ideas and products that can make good additions to your hermit crab habitat.
Check out the “small animal” section of your local pet store also, because there are structures like platforms and wood buildings that your hermies would LOVE to climb. Some examples:
Wood structures
Hamsters, chinchillas and other small animals sometimes have cool wooden structures that are also appropriately sized for small hermit crabs.
Wood platforms which are 6-9″ tall are a great addition for hermit crab habitats. They allow for substrate to remain underneath, giving your hermit crabs the much-needed molting space they need. But they can also climb onto the platform where you might put food or a water bowl or a wood structure for them to crawl into.
The openings of hamster houses won’t be big enough for medium sized hermit crabs and larger, but this could be a good thing if you have tiny hermies that may need or want their space away from any large hermit crabs in the same enclosure.
Before buying anything to add to your hermit crab habitat, remember to measure… twice! It’s better NOT to overcrowd the habitat.
DIY Hermit Crab Structures
There are lots of fun projects you can do to create climbing and exploring elements for your hermit crab pets. It’s pretty easy to create a wood dock (platform) to rise about the substrate. Place the food or water bowl on top, or make a DIY Crab Shack building!
Making fake rock mountains, cliffs and caves is pretty easy also, and fun! Customize the size and shape of these DIY elements to your enclosure and make it fun! Click for step-by-steps and more photos and ideas.
Keep in mind, whatever you put in your the habitat should be waterproof and not susceptible to mold, mildew or warping. Don’t use cardboard, paper or particle board because it won’t stand up to the humidity and water it will be exposed to inside the enclosure. You want to be able to spray water in the enclosure periodically to increase humidity and give a natural “mist” or “light rain” to your hermit crabs (which they LOVE).
More ideas…
Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API