Pet Supplies

Pet stores generally do not provide the optimum environment for hermit crabs, so you should be careful to select a healthy crab to have as a pet. Although, it can sometimes be difficult to judge how healthy a hermit crab truly is while still at the pet store.

Instructions

1 Buy your hermit crab at a store that offers its crabs a clean environment with plenty of food and water. You should be able to tell pretty quickly if the tank is suitable.
2 Choose an active hermit crab, as this is a sign that it may be healthier.
3 Pick up the hermit crab before you buy it. It is usually not a good idea to buy a crab from a pet store that does not let you hold the crab. Do not poke at the crab, just check to see if it comes out of the shell while in your hand. It may be too scared to come out, but as long as you feel movement in the shell, it is probably healthy.
4 Smell the crab to see if he smells musty. This is not a good sign and indicates overheating caused by poor conditions.
5 Avoid hermit crabs that are never scared or rarely retreat into their shells. This may be sign of sickness. Usually, a crab only refuses to curl into the shell if he is dying.
6 Check for mites. White or brown grain on the hermit crab or the shell is not natural--those are mites. If one hermit crab has mites, then the whole tank probably has them. Unless you're prepared to isolate your new pet until it is free of mites, you should try a different pet store.
7 Expect hermit crabs to act differently in a good habitat than he did at the pet store. The tank at the pet store might not have proper humidity or it could be dirty. As long as the crab at least peeks out of the shell, you should have a healthy pet.