So I just got a hermit crab today, pretty excited about that! So far, I think he's awesome. He came with a habitat and everything, but the man I bought him from spoke pretty broken engrish so I don't know if I fully understand how to take care of him. I got home and immediately looked up info on crab care.
I'm hoping someone here has experience that can verify this.
So far for my setup, I have the actual tank, filled with a dish with a sea sponge soaking in salt water (home made as I'm near fresh water), with a fresh water filled bottle cap beside that for drinking. I've got some crab food with some calcium scraped into it for eating with a bit of lettuce beside that. He's got a coconut shell to live in and a little palm tree for shade with some rocks to climb on. I think I have that stuff actually down pat.
However, I'm not sure about the specifics. Such as, how often do I feed him? Are painted shells actually safe (if he decides to live in one). I have a lamp pretty close over the top of the tank right now, so will that provide ample heat and humidity with the sponge?
Any other tips I may not have covered would also be great. Thanks a lot everyone!
And here's a picture of him
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=xcq681&s=5