Hermit Crab
Hermit Crab
Hermit Crab Care Lesson 6 - Why is Substrate so Vital?
What is a Substrate and Why is it so Vital? We will now discuss why a substrate is essential to the health of your crab. If you've never been a parent to a hermit crab before you may not even realize what a substrate is. It's the sand you place at the bottom of your crab's cage. And it's important to him because your pet is an instinctual digger.
That's right! He loves to dig and often spends many of his waking hours digging around the cage - at least those hours he isn't climbing around his cage. But you need to provide your crab with a deep substrate because he uses this for more than just "recreational digging." He'll probably need it to molt. If you recall from the last lesson, one of the pre-molting signs is constant, incessant digging.
That's because as he realizes he's going to shed his exoskeleton, he burrows down deeply into the substrate (if he were in the "wild" this would be the equivalent of the ocean shore). When he feels safe enough the old exoskeleton will drop off and a new exoskeleton grows in its place. But that's not all. If your hermit crab has lost a limb through a climbing accident or a fight with another crab, he'll regenerate it at this time.
Without a doubt, your little friend's body is going through many changes at this time. And some of these changes leave him extremely vulnerable to attacks from other crabs.
In our next lesson you will learn what to feed your hermit crab.
About the Author
For great tips and information on hermit crabs supplies please visit: http://www.HermitCrabHelp.com
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 75 Gallon Salt water Aquarium lion fish and trigger with hermit crabs  US $799.99
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 200 Blue Leg Legged hermit crab live coral invert reef safe US $75.00
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 Assorted Hermit Crab Shells 1 Gallon Bag US $67.99
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 blue legged hermit crab US $65.00
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 Zoo Med HC 50 Hermit Crab Sponges 36pc Counter Display US $58.27
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 Hermit Crab Sponge Natural US $53.95
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 Zoo Med Laboratories SZMHC50 Hermit Crab Sponges 36 Pieces Counter Display US $52.86
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 Zoo Med HC 41 Hermit Crab Neon Shell 36pc Display Assorted Colors US $52.65
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 Zoo Med Laboratories SZMHC41 Hermit Crab Neon Shells US $51.96
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 Hermit Crab Neon Shells Assorted US $50.95
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 100 BLUE LEG HERMIT CRAB SOFT CORAL LIVE CORAL SAFE US $44.99
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 Hermit Crab Shells Counter Display 33 Neon Shells US $43.99
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 Florida Marine Research SFM22432 Hermit Crab Deluxe Wire Cage Kit US $41.21
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 Hermit Crab Shells Counter Display 24 Fancy Mix Shells US $39.95
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 Zoo Med Hermit Crab Heater 4 Watts US $39.44
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 Brand New ZOO MED LABORATORIES 6 PACK HERMIT CRAB SCOOPER Color May Vary Ra US $39.18
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 Brand New ZOO MED LABORATORIES 6 PACK HERMIT CRAB WATER CONDITIONER US $38.95
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 105 blue leg legged hermit crab live coral invert reef safe US $36.95 |
 Super Pet Giant Little Crab Shack Habitat Hermit Crab US $36.95
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 Brand New ZOO MED LABORATORIES 6 PACK HERMIT CRAB SPONGE US $36.05
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 New Hermit Crab Calci Sand Purple 6 2 lbs Bags US $35.00
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 Penn Plax Nickelodeon Dora the Explorer Hermit Crab Adventure Kit DRHCK1 US $34.99
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 Florida Marine Research SFM34335 X Large Hermit Crab Shell 6 Pieces Bulk Bag US $34.56
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 Brand New ZOO MED LABORATORIES 3 PACK HERMIT CRAB CLIMBING BRANCH ASSORTMENT C US $34.37
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 Florida Marine Research SFM22425 Hermit Crab Cage US $32.64
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 Zoo Med Laboratories SZMHC70 Hermit Crab Soil US $32.59
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Hermit Crab Shell Change
