QUOTE(cartographer @ May 2 2009, 04:43 PM)
hi everyone... im also very interested in hermit crabs as pet and hoping to get some... but is it true that it lives only 4 years in tank compared to in nature 40 years? is it possible that i release it on its 3rd year so tht it may live for another 36 years?
When I started keeping hermit crab, I bought them from shops. I have been reading a lot and researching about them since age of 12 although I never had chance to keep them since then due no one selling and just catch them from the beach and releases them back before I leave the beach. So I started comparing the land hermit crab that I bought and those that I caught, it shows remarkably resemblance and its adaptive nature to the captive environment due to its diet varies from forms of vegetation and fruits that are normally available at the local grocery. Since this personal discovery I experienced, I no longer buy hermit crabs unless for specific species like strawberry hermit crab, not a local species. Instead I drive down to the beach and catch them. Wild caught hermit crab are far more active, and aggressive than those in pet stores. If you can create a terrarium that mimics to the best & closest possible to its natural habitat the hermit crab will thrive and will remain as active. It really works, but cost high, and a lot of maintenance work to keep clean and tidy.
I have more than 4 years experience in keeping land hermit crabs. During my early years, I lived in a rented place and move around every year or 2 due to job related reasons. Everytime when I move, I always decide that it would be easier for me to empty the entire tank and clean up before moving out. I will dispose off the sand, gravel, the drift wood, clean up the whole tank, and clean the accessories and pack them in a box. So what I do to the life hermit crab?
I place them in a bucket and drive to a beach and release them. I choose to do it at night and I brought proper lighting equipment and safety boots. I know of a location which is a natural habitat for a very huge land hermit crab colony, in which i have to walk for a few kilometers, and climbing rocks. It is very dangerous, believe me. When I arrive I set up the lighting and I saw lot's of land hermit crabs all over the place!!!!
I am very familiar to the geographical landscape of the area.
You Have to be very careful as you may kill one or two if you step on them by accident. watch your step. I carried the bucket full of my captive hermit crab and releases them one at a time. I observed that a colony of land hermit crab is a combination of different species from purple claw to Equadorian. I observe the crabs that I released will walk around and identify its surround and soon getting along with the rest of the colony. Soon all of my hermit crabs disappears from visible range blending among the rest of the colony. I can no longer tell which is mine and which was from the colony.
The night was silent, with only the sound of waves, sea breeze, crickets and sound of chirping hermit crabs, hermit crabs also makes noise when they walk on the sand, it can be obvious in such a huge colony.
To answer your question, in such ideal natural environment the hermit crab will surely live longer !!! The above experience is unforgettable. I was sitting on a rock, drinking water from my bottle, watching the stars and also enjoying the moon lit beach with some lighted up area using my flash lights.
Even I will live longer given that I had a chance to live near there. According to a survey, human living by the sea tend to live longer, over a 100 years old !!!This post has been edited by blitzboy: May 3 2009, 12:55 AM 
Mar 10 2009, 05:51 PM
Quote
look interesting 
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