Many people worry that if they adopt a pair of land hermit crabs, they will soon have a whole colony of them!
Fortunately, however, land hermit crabs cannot reproduce in captivity. Their eggs hatch only in the ocean. Babies spend their first 26-60 days of life swimming the ocean as plankton before dropping to the ocean bottom in search of a shell. They then migrate onto land where they will live the rest of their lives. Unfortunately most die before this process completes.
Although it is extremely rare, mating CAN occur in captivity and usually takes place shortly after a female has eaten an old exoskeleton that has been shed through a molt. The mating ritual is lengthy and involves croaking sounds and shell rocking.
Pregnant females will carry gray eggs the size of pencil point tips on their pleopod appendages found on the left side of the abdomen. She will desire to visit the warm ocean coastline of the Carribean to deposit her eggs, where they will hatch immediately upon contact with the water.
Should you discover a pregnant crab in captivity, several rhythmic baths over several days should dislodge the eggs. Use synthetic saltwater for the bath if you desire to make an attempt at saving them, and be prepared to dump the bathwater into a saltwater tank with tiny shells for them to move into once they have grown to visible size. Otherwise, simply use freshwater if you do not desire to be so adventuresome at raising them, and discard the water when finished.
Fortunately, however, land hermit crabs cannot reproduce in captivity. Their eggs hatch only in the ocean. Babies spend their first 26-60 days of life swimming the ocean as plankton before dropping to the ocean bottom in search of a shell. They then migrate onto land where they will live the rest of their lives. Unfortunately most die before this process completes.
Although it is extremely rare, mating CAN occur in captivity and usually takes place shortly after a female has eaten an old exoskeleton that has been shed through a molt. The mating ritual is lengthy and involves croaking sounds and shell rocking.
Pregnant females will carry gray eggs the size of pencil point tips on their pleopod appendages found on the left side of the abdomen. She will desire to visit the warm ocean coastline of the Carribean to deposit her eggs, where they will hatch immediately upon contact with the water.
Should you discover a pregnant crab in captivity, several rhythmic baths over several days should dislodge the eggs. Use synthetic saltwater for the bath if you desire to make an attempt at saving them, and be prepared to dump the bathwater into a saltwater tank with tiny shells for them to move into once they have grown to visible size. Otherwise, simply use freshwater if you do not desire to be so adventuresome at raising them, and discard the water when finished.
They don't need their privacy! Mating often takes place during "crab conventions" of 100 or more
crabs on the beach. During this time, mating and shell swaping are rampant!
crabs on the beach. During this time, mating and shell swaping are rampant!
