Much of what people believe about land hermit crab care is incorrect. These myths persist because hermit crabs often suffer slowly, making the connection between poor care and harm easy to miss.
This page addresses the most common myths and mistakes that lead to injury, failed molts, and premature death.
Myth: Hermit Crabs Are Easy, Low-Maintenance Pets
Reality:
Land hermit crabs have complex environmental, dietary, and social needs. They require carefully controlled temperature, humidity, nutrition, and space.
The belief that they are “easy” leads to shortcuts that cause long-term suffering.
Myth: Small Plastic Habitats Are Good Enough
Reality:
Small plastic carriers and novelty tanks cannot maintain stable temperature or humidity and do not allow for proper molting depth.
Crabs kept in these enclosures experience chronic stress, failed molts, and dehydration.
Temporary housing is not appropriate for long-term care.
Myth: Hermit Crabs Don’t Need Much Humidity
Reality:
Hermit crabs breathe through modified gills that must remain moist to function properly.
Low humidity leads to:
- breathing difficulties
- stress
- failed molts
- shortened lifespans
Humidity is a survival requirement, not a preference.
Myth: Pellet Food Is Always Safe and Complete
Reality:
Commercial pellet foods may not meet the full nutritional needs of land hermit crabs when relied on as a primary or exclusive diet.
Beyond nutritional adequacy, ingredient safety is a significant concern. Some pellet foods contain substances that are toxic to invertebrates, including:
• Copper sulfate, which is proven lethal to invertebrates
• Ethoxyquin, a synthetic preservative that is also toxic to invertebrates
Ethoxyquin may not appear as a standalone ingredient on labels. It can be present within fish meal or other stabilized ingredients without being listed separately.
Marketing terms such as “complete,” “balanced,” or “non-toxic” do not guarantee that a product is safe or appropriate for hermit crabs.
Ethical care requires ingredient awareness, dietary variety, and avoidance of known invertebrate toxins.
Myth: Painted Shells Are Harmless or Just Cosmetic
Reality:
The primary harm associated with painted shells is not cosmetic — it is the process used to force hermit crabs into them.
Documented footage from a Brelean Corporation facility, published by PETA, shows hermit crabs being forcibly removed from their natural shells and dropped into bins containing only painted shells. Crabs are not offered natural shell alternatives during this process.
The natural shells removed from the crabs are often cracked or broken open to extract the animal, rendering those shells unusable. This destroys viable natural shells that could otherwise support additional hermit crabs.
Painted shells cannot be safely stripped or restored to a natural state. During painting, paint may drip or pool inside the shell. If a hermit crab moves into a shell before the paint has fully cured, the crab can become trapped inside.
Over time, paint may peel or flake into the habitat, food, or water. The toxicity of this material varies depending on the paint used. Claims of “non-toxic paint” do not address the forced shell removal process, shell destruction, curing risks, or environmental contamination.
For these reasons, painted shells are incompatible with ethical hermit crab care.
Myth: Hermit Crabs Are Solitary
Reality:
Hermit crabs are social animals and rely on interaction with other crabs for normal behavior.
However, improper group housing in inadequate conditions increases stress rather than reducing it.
Social needs must be met responsibly.
Myth: A Crab That Isn’t Moving Is Dead
Reality:
Hermit crabs often bury themselves to molt. Molting crabs may be inactive for weeks or longer.
Digging up a molting crab frequently results in injury or death.
A lack of movement is not a reason to interfere.
Myth: Molting Happens Above Ground
Reality:
Most healthy molts occur underground where crabs are protected.
Crabs that molt on the surface are often doing so because they lack adequate substrate depth or conditions.
Surface molting is a warning sign, not a success.
Myth: Hermit Crabs Only Live a Few Years
Reality:
In the wild and under proper care, land hermit crabs can live for decades.
Short lifespans in captivity are almost always the result of improper care, not natural limits.
Common Care Mistakes
Even well-intentioned keepers make mistakes that cause harm. The most common include:
- prioritizing appearance over function
- following pet store advice without verification
- upgrading conditions slowly instead of immediately
- assuming survival means success
- treating hermit crabs as disposable or temporary pets
These mistakes are preventable with accurate information.
Why These Myths Persist
Many harmful practices persist because their effects are not immediate or obvious. Hermit crabs suffer quietly, and poor outcomes often occur weeks or months after the initial mistake.
Correcting these myths requires addressing process, ingredients, and long-term impact — not just surface-level appearances or marketing claims.
Moving Forward Responsibly
Correcting these myths is not about blame — it is about reducing harm.
Ethical care requires:
- rejecting outdated advice
- meeting environmental and nutritional standards
- understanding natural behavior
- committing to long-term welfare
Where to Go Next
If you are ready to move beyond myths and shortcuts:
- Review Habitat Standards LINK PENDING
- Learn About Proper Nutrition LINK PENDING
- Understand Molting and Growth LINK PENDING
- Explore Ethical Care Overview LINK PENDING
Each step builds toward responsible, ethical care.
Why This Page Matters
Most hermit crab suffering is caused by misinformation — not malice.
Replacing myths with accurate knowledge saves lives.
