The best magazine
To begin with they are shy about being out of their shells.
It is difficult to distinguish the girls from the boys.
And, quite frankly, you must have both a boy and girl crab in a cage as the first step in breeding! This is just the beginning of your difficulties in breeding hermit crabs.
In the wild after the female crab lays her eggs in the sand the tide washes the eggs out into the ocean.
Crabs lay a great many eggs at one time.
In the wild predators kill eggs before they have a chance to hatch.
The fact that your hermit crab is protected from predators will not change the amount of eggs she lays.
The amount of eggs she will lay is dependent upon her actual size.
Eggs form a portion of the oceans plankton mass when they are in their natural environment.
Dedication and attention to the special needs will be required if you choose to breed your hermit crabs.
Step One: First thing you will need to do is to provide a saltwater tank.
Your tank could be an outdoor pond or a tank in your home.
Your hermit crabs, and experts agree, that an outdoor pond is the preferred option.
Step Two Fortunately there are machines available that you can purchase, that will create waves for you; you or your significant other will not be required to fan the water attempting to create waves.
"Sea Swirl Aquarium Wavemakers" make one of the best wave making machines available, but it is very costly.
However, there are other options available that may be just as good and at a more reasonable cost.
Step Three Nighttime is when hermit crabs generally breed.
Setting up moonlight bulbs around the saltwater tank, or outside around the pond will aid in the breeding process.
Moonlight bulbs cost around $15 or less and may be found on the Internet or in pet stores.
Moonlight bulbs are not difficult to find.
Step Four Now, here comes the hard part! Do you have a male and female crab? If you are unable to tell then you do have the option of purchasing a "mating pair" from the pet store.
Just go to the pet store and discuss with them that you want to breed hermit crabs and they will be able to assist you.
Step Five Temperature, again, is a very important factor in breeding.
The saltwater tank or pond must stay between 72 and 80 degrees.
Hermit crabs become ill and week if the temperature is consistently below 72 degrees.
This specific range is the temperature they will need to thrive.
Step Six How does this work? Salty water, temperature control, moon lighting, and clean air, all will need to be monitored.
Continue feeding your crabs their regular, healthy diet.
Calcium supplements may be added to their normal feed.
If your crabs are healthy they will be prone to mate.
Step Seven Brine shrimp is what larvae eat.
You will need to have a large supply on hand available to feed.
Place your male and female crab in a tank together, then you will just have to wait.
It may take up to three weeks so don't get discouraged.
You will want to watch the pair as they perform the dance when they mate.
When you notice that they are performing the mating dance you will want to leave them alone.
You may separate them once they begin to act like a "normal" crab again.
Again, feed as normal during the time they are trying to mate.
Remember, extra calcium supplements would be a good idea at this time as well.
You may have to wait more than a month but when you have succeeded you will be rewarded with baby crabs.
Tiny shells are also a necessary purchase and they need to be quite small as baby crabs are only 5 mm in size when they return to land.
Shells may be purchased at the pet store alternative online stores are a good source.
The pet store staff will be able to give you the information you need to purchase the best shells for your needs.
You can begin to relax when you new babies are safe inside their shells.
But not for long, you have the task of raising your newborns.
Source: ...