Purpose of Our Care Guides

The Land Hermit Crab Owners Society (LHCOS) provides care guides to support ethical, informed hermit crab keeping and to reduce harm caused by misinformation, outdated advice, and improper husbandry.

These guides are designed to explain foundational care principles, biological needs, and welfare-focused standards based on best-available knowledge.

What These Guides Are

LHCOS Care Guides are:

  • Educational resources for the general public
  • Grounded in biology, behavior, and welfare science
  • Focused on long-term health and ethical care
  • Intended to reduce preventable suffering and loss

They are written to help keepers understand why certain practices matter, not just what to do.

What These Guides Are Not

LHCOS Care Guides are not:

  • Veterinary or medical advice
  • Emergency care instructions
  • Individualized case assessments
  • A substitute for professional or species-specific consultation

Every animal and environment is different. Readers are responsible for applying guidance thoughtfully and ethically.

Guiding Principles Behind Our Care Standards

Our care guidance is shaped by:

  • Animal welfare and stress reduction
  • Species-appropriate environmental needs
  • Nutritional completeness and balance
  • Conservation awareness and reduction of wild harm
  • Transparency about what is known, evolving, or debated

Where scientific certainty is limited, this is acknowledged.

Scope of Topics Covered

Care Guides may include information on:

  • Species identification and natural history
  • Habitat design and environmental needs
  • Nutrition and dietary balance
  • Molting, growth, and behavioral health
  • Social needs and enrichment
  • Common myths and harmful practices
  • Ethical sourcing and conservation context

Not all topics apply equally to all species or situations.

Source Transparency

LHCOS Care Guides may draw from:

  • Original educational material developed by LHCOS contributors
  • Referenced scientific research and studies
  • Credited educational resources used with permission
  • Community knowledge refined through evidence-based standards

Additional details about content sourcing and relationships are available on our Sources, Relationships & Disclosures page.

Updates & Evolving Knowledge

Hermit crab care knowledge continues to evolve. Care Guides are reviewed periodically and may be updated as new research, field observations, or welfare insights become available.

Older guidance may be revised or retired when it no longer reflects best practices.

Ethical Use of These Guides

Readers may reference and share LHCOS Care Guides for personal, educational, or noncommercial purposes with proper attribution.

Reposting, modifying, or commercial use without permission is not allowed. See our Copyright & Intellectual Property and Acceptable Use policies for details.

Need More Help?

If you are seeking:

  • Species-specific clarification
  • Program-related guidance
  • Educational resources for classrooms or outreach

Please use the appropriate contact or program pages listed on this website. LHCOS does not provide individualized medical or emergency care advice.

Our Commitment

LHCOS remains committed to providing clear, ethical, and welfare-centered education that empowers keepers to make informed choices while supporting the protection of wild hermit crab populations.