What Do Hermit Crabs Like? (Food, Fun, and Favorites)
Hermit crabs like climbing, digging, exploring at night, warm humid air, soaking in water, swapping shells, eating sweet fruits and coconut, and hanging out with other crabs. They are curious, social, and surprisingly full of personality once you give them the right environment. Most people think hermit crabs are boring pets, but that is only because their tank is set up wrong. Give them what they actually enjoy and you will see a completely different animal. Here is everything hermit crabs love – from their favorite foods to their favorite activities.
Foods They Love
Hermit crabs are natural scavengers and they enjoy a huge variety of foods. One study even found that they prefer a different food every time they eat – so variety is key. Here are their favorites:
Coconut:
This is the number one favorite for most hermit crabs. Fresh coconut meat, dried coconut flakes, and even coconut oil are all big hits.
Sweet fruits:
Mango, banana, watermelon, strawberries, grapes, and papaya. They have a real sweet tooth and will go for fruit before almost anything else.
Honey:
A tiny dab of natural honey on a leaf or piece of wood drives most crabs wild. Use it as an occasional treat.
Protein:
Dried shrimp, bloodworms, boiled egg, and meat on the bone. Many owners report that their crabs love picking meat off chicken bones at night.
Nuts:
Walnuts, almonds, and unsalted peanut butter. These are high-energy treats that crabs enjoy.
Oak and maple leaves:
Dried leaves from untreated trees are a natural favorite. In the wild, leaf litter makes up a big part of their diet. Some crabs will eat nothing else for days.
Cuttlebone:
They gnaw on it for calcium. It helps them build a strong exoskeleton after every molt.
Every crab has its own taste. Some go crazy for shrimp and ignore fruit. Others are all about the coconut. Part of the fun is learning what your crabs love most.
Bonus: What Eats Hermit Crabs?
Activities They Enjoy
Hermit crabs are not the lazy pets most people think. At night, they are busy, active, and full of energy. Here is what they love to do:
Climbing:
This is their number one hobby. Hermit crabs will climb anything they can grip – tank walls, driftwood, coconut hides, rope nets, cork bark, and each other. Caribbean hermit crabs are actually called tree crabs because in the wild they climb 20 to 30 feet up into trees and sleep there during the day. The more climbing options you give them, the happier they will be.
Digging:
Give a hermit crab deep, damp sand and it will spend hours tunneling. They dig to sleep, to molt, and just because it is fun. Watching them disappear into the substrate at night is one of the most entertaining things about keeping them.
Exploring:
Hermit crabs are naturally curious. They will investigate every new thing you put in the tank – new shells, new food, new decorations. Rearranging the tank every few weeks keeps things interesting for them and gives them new territory to explore.
Soaking in water:
Hermit crabs enjoy dipping into their water pools, sometimes for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. They soak in both the fresh and salt water dishes. Some crabs will sit in the water and just relax, almost like a bath.
Shell shopping:
One of the most fun things to watch is a hermit crab inspecting new shells. They pick them up, turn them over, stick a claw inside, and try them on. Sometimes a group will trade shells in a chain, one after another, in just a few seconds. Keep 3 to 5 extra shells per crab in the tank and you will see this happen regularly.
Bonus: What Do Hermit Crabs Need to Survive?
The Environment They Prefer
Hermit crabs are tropical animals, and they thrive when their tank feels like a warm beach. Here is what makes them happiest:
- Warm air. They love temperatures between 75°F and 85°F. The sweet spot is around 78°F to 82°F.
- Humid air. 70% to 80% humidity keeps their gills happy. A glass tank with a solid lid holds this perfectly.
- Deep, damp sand. At least 6 inches of play sand and coconut fiber mix. Deep substrate makes them feel safe and gives them room to dig and molt.
- Darkness at night. They are nocturnal and come alive in the dark. A normal 12-hour light and dark cycle is ideal.
- Quiet during the day. Loud noises and vibrations stress them out. A calm, steady environment helps them relax and sleep.
Being Around Other Crabs
Hermit crabs are social animals and they genuinely enjoy being in a group. In the wild, they live in colonies of dozens to hundreds. In a home tank, a group of at least 3 crabs makes a real difference. They eat together, sleep in piles, groom each other’s shells, and even make a chirping sound called stridulation when they communicate. A single crab kept alone is usually quiet and inactive. Add two more and the whole tank comes alive. It is one of the quickest ways to make your crabs happier.
Things They Do NOT Like
Just as helpful to know – here are things that stress hermit crabs out:
- Being handled too often. A little gentle handling is fine, but too much stresses them. Let them come to you on their own terms.
- Loud noises and vibrations. Music, TV, and foot traffic near the tank can bother them. Keep the tank in a calm spot.
- Bright lights at night. White light at night disrupts their schedule. If you want to watch them, use a dim red light.
- Dry air. Low humidity makes it hard for them to breathe. Keep that lid sealed.
- Loneliness. A single crab with no companions will become stressed and inactive over time.
Citrus fruits. Oranges, lemons, and limes are too acidic. Stick to sweeter fruits like mango and banana.
Bonus: How Long Does a Hermit Crab Sleep?
Conclusion:
Hermit crabs like climbing, digging, exploring, soaking, eating sweet foods, trying on new shells, and being around other crabs. They are curious, social, and surprisingly playful when their tank is set up right. Give them warmth, humidity, deep sand, climbing structures, fresh food, spare shells, and a few friends – and you will have a tank full of happy, active little personalities that are endlessly fun to watch.
FAQs:
Q1: What is a hermit crab’s favorite food?
A: Coconut is the most popular overall, but every crab has its own taste. Sweet fruits, honey, dried shrimp, and oak leaves are other top favorites.
Q2: Do hermit crabs like to be held?
A: Some tolerate it, but most prefer to be left alone. They enjoy exploring your hand on their own terms rather than being picked up. Short, gentle handling is best.
Q3: What toys do hermit crabs like?
A: Climbing structures are the best “toys” – driftwood, rope nets, cork bark, coconut shells, and cholla wood. They also enjoy new shells to try on and rearranged tank decorations to explore.
