Hermit Crab Adoption Program

Welcome to the Land Hermit Crab Owners Society hermit crab adoption program!

Our adoption program is open worldwide and we don’t exclude anyone simply for not being part of our Facebook group or a member of the Land Hermit Crab Owners Society. However, we do encourage you to join so you have access to our care information and guidelines. We will also be able to assist you in an emergency.

Land Hermit Crab Owners Society FB Group

Please be aware that we can not assist with re-homing large quantity ‘rescues’.

Placing hermit crabs for adoption:

New form coming soon!

We will do our best to find an adopter close to you but there is no guarantee. When weather allows, hermit crabs CAN be safely shipped overnight. The owner is expected to pay overnight shipping to the adopter after coordinating shipment details.

Please note we require the adoption to be free.

We are adopters not buyers. If you are attempting to sell your hermit crabs, this is not the place for that.

If you want money for your supplies that should be stated up front and agreed upon prior to arranging pick up. The adopter is not obligated to buy your supplies. Please consider donating your supplies to Claws in the Classroom.

If you fail to follow through on pick up or delivery more than once you may be banned from the program. Wasting someone’s time is not cool and will not be tolerated.

Become a LHCOS approved adopter, a temporary foster home or a transport assistant for adoptions/rescues fill out this form:

New form – https://forms.gle/xrSXyiJvaxJToGBF7

Adopter – All hermit crabs adopted will remain with me.
Foster – Hermit crabs fostered by me will be kept with me until a forever home is located.
Transport assistant – I am willing to drive to meet someone to pick up or deliver hermit crabs involved in an adoption or foster transaction.

We do require adopters to be at least 18 years old. Please use care and caution when arranging in person hand offs and make your own personal safety the top priority.

This is only the first step towards becoming a LHCOS Approved Adopter. Once this initial form has been submitted and reviewed, we will send out a more in-depth questionnaire that will require more specific responses, Crabitat specifics and supporting photographs to ensure you are meeting the required criteria prior to being approved.

Please note, that while we strive to complete the approval process in a timely manner, LHCOS is currently “staffed” by volunteers. There are times, especially after CrabCon when interest seems to peak, that the approval process time may take longer than expected. Please be prepared to wait 4-6 weeks after the final questionnaire is submitted to hear back about approval status.

LHCOS will contact you in the case that criteria is not being met, to provide further instructions and help on how to reach the goal of approval. Time to implement the necessary changes will be provided.

Our minimum requirements:

A glass tank with a lid that holds in humidity.
- A 20 gallon tank is the minimum size for adopters. This can house 2-3 SMALL hermit crabs.
- Totes may be used as TEMPORARY housing but we will not approve adopters who use totes as their permanent housing.
A heat pad placed on the back of the tank.
Thermometer and hygrometer
Consistent temperature between 75F-85F
Consistent humidity between 70%-80%
Substrate that is 5 parts playsand to 1 part coco pith (eco earth) at a minimum of 6 inches deep or 3 times as deep as your largest crab is tall, whichever is deeper.
Fresh water and Ocean water (made with Marine salt), treated to remove chlorine and chloramines, deep enough for submerging.
5-10 gallons of free space per hermit crab you plan to adopt (15 gallons if you plan to adopt an extra large hermit crab).
A normal cycle of 12/12hr day/night is maintained.
Nutritional diet is fed.
- No commercial pellet