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Categories
Pets and Animals
Crustaceans
Crabs
How to Breed Hermit Crabs Download Article Co-authored by Craig Morton
Last Updated: October 13, 2025
Download Article
Setting up The Mating Tank
|
Mating The Crabs
|
Raising the Larvae
|
Q&A
|
Tips
|
Warnings
|
Things You'll Need
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Craig Morton. Craig Morton is the CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc. based in Huntington Beach California and servicing Orange County, Los Angeles County, and the Inland Empire. With over 30 years of aquarium experience, Craig specializes in creating custom aquarium designs along with aquarium installation, service, and maintenance. This article has been viewed 142,129 times.
If you are hoping to breed hermit crabs, you could try setting up a blind date in a mating tank! Although it is very difficult to breed hermit crabs in captivity, you can give it a try by creating a nice environment for mating. It may take a few tries but your persistence could pay off with some young hermit crabs for your “crabitat.”
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 3:
Setting up The Mating Tank
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1 Set up a ten-gallon tank for mating. Although it is very difficult to breed hermit crabs in captivity, you can possibly do it in an indoor saltwater tank. In addition to the tank where you currently keep your hermit crabs, you can set up a separate tank that is devoted to mating. The minimum tank size is ten gallons.[1]X Expert Source Craig MortonAquarium Specialist, CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc.Expert Interview
2 Simulate a beach by adding two inches of sand. You’ll need to recreate the natural conditions for mating, which includes a beach and sea in your ten-gallon tank. At the bottom of your tank, add two inches of sand. Advertisement
3 Make an ocean area by adding a saltwater container. Since the Mother crab will need to deposit her eggs in the sea, you’ll need to recreate a little ocean in the tank. Add a saltwater container in a low area of the tank. It should contain a mix of de-chlorinated water and an aquarium salt mix.
Don’t use regular table salt for the saltwater container.
4 Keep the temperature in the ideal range. Add a heat rock to maintain a temperature of between 24 and 28 Celsius (75-82 Fahrenheit). You should also locate the tank away from direct sunlight and drafts, since you want to maintain a consistent temperature during the mating process.[2]XResearch source
The water in the tank should be between 72 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (22-26 Celsius).
5 Maintain 70% humidity with a garden sprayer. Because hermit crabs are very sensitive to humidity levels, you’ll want to maintain adequate levels of humidity throughout the breeding process. You can use a garden sprayer to mist the tank. You should also keep the sand substrate moist.
Use a hygrometer to measure humidity levels.
6 Create a relaxing atmosphere by adding nice scenery. You’ll need to create a relaxing atmosphere to get your hermit crabs into the mating mood! For instance, you could add some nice scenery to your mating tank. Adding some branches and vines to the tank will give your crabs a place to hide and something to climb around.[3]X Expert Source Craig MortonAquarium Specialist, CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc.Expert Interview This touch of nature will help create the right atmosphere.
7 Make a ramp leading down from the saltwater tank to ten-gallon tank. You can make it easy for the hermit crabs to move back and forth between the two tanks by making a ramp. In this way, the hermit crabs can crawl between their home and mating tanks.
Advertisement Part 2 Part 2 of 3:
Mating The Crabs
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1 Breed hermit crabs in the spring or summer. In captivity, hermit crabs breed between February and August. They typically breed in June and July, so try breeding your hermit crabs in the spring or summer.[4]XResearch source
2 Find a mature female in your crabitat. Look in your main hermit crab tank or “crabitat” for a mature female, which should be medium sized. Wait until the hermit crab comes most of the way out of her shell before checking to see if you have the right sex. Inspect her body for genitalia called gonophores, which are located close to the abdomen on the back of her legs. You should see two tiny holes.
If you can’t see the two tiny holes, it is a male.
3 Pick a male from the crabitat. Pick a mature male crab from your main tank. You’ll need to wait for one of them to crawl out of its shell. At this time, you can inspect its body for genitalia called gonophores. If you can’t see two tiny holes at the back of the body, you have a male.[5]XResearch source
4 Place the crabs together. Put the two crabs in your newly created enclosure. If they don't mate, try a different combination of crabs.[6]XResearch source
Be aware that it is very uncommon for breeding in captivity to actually happen, so don't be discouraged if nothing happens.
5 Wait for a month for the eggs to hatch. It takes one month for the hermit crab eggs to hatch. Let the mother put the eggs in the saltwater container. The eggs should hatch when they touch the water.[7]XResearch source
Advertisement Part 3 Part 3 of 3:
Raising the Larvae
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1 Use the cup method. Place the larvae in aerated cups. Put some small shells in the cups, which the larvae can use. Put the cups into a sand substrate. Feed the larvae brine shrimp and spirulina.[8]XResearch source
You can feed them three drops of live plankton per day.
2 Put young hermit crabs in a transition tank. Your transition tank should be half beach and half marine water. Put in a couple of containers with salt and fresh water. Put a coconut in the tank, as well as some nice shells. Make sure the young hermit crabs have a ramp going from the sand to the water containers.[9]XResearch source
Young hermit crabs like to eat their siblings.
Use regular marine salt water for the transition tank. You can purchase it at most pet stores.
3 Feed young hermit crabs a high-protein diet. You can give them marine copepods, which are available at the pet store. You could also give them frozen krill, marine crayfish or shrimp granules and a couple drops of live plankton.[10]XResearch source
For fourteen days, try feeding them a mixture of brine shrimp, marine infusoria, and powdered spirulina.
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Community Q&A
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Question Why do the babies need to be separated from their parents for 40 days? Community Answer So they don't eat them or kill them. Don't take any risks. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 18 Helpful 129
Question Is it hard to pull the eggs off? Will the mother claw at me? Community Answer You shouldn't be pulling them off of her, this can damage the eggs. Try dipping her in the water upside down and flushing the eggs out. If that doesn't work let her try again herself. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 16 Helpful 102
Question Every where I look it says you can not breed hermit crabs in captivity. Does this really work? Community Answer It's possible. The most common problem is the two crabs don't want to mate, they are not sexually mature, or they aren't interested in each other. Some successful attempts have been done with many crabs and multiple tries. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 17 Helpful 94
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Tips
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
Using another tank for mating can end up stressing out your crabs and cause them to not breed. They may do better in their main tank where conditions are perfect and they can choose who they breed with, which can be multiple females at once.
You can breed hermit crabs but it is extremely hard. The environment must be just right. It must be the perfect temperature, perfect set up—if anything’s wrong or they don’t like anything they won’t breed.
Do not use heat lamps for your crabs, as it can cause burns. Instead, attach a heat pad to the back of the tank.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Warnings
It is very difficult but not quite impossible to breed hermit crabs in captivity, so don’t get your hopes up too much! Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
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Things You'll Need
Ten-gallon tank
Sand
Heat rock
Branches and vines
Salt
Filter for saltwater tank
Ramp
Brine shrimp
Marine infusoria
Powdered spirulina
Shells
Dishes
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References
↑ Craig Morton. Aquarium Specialist, CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc.. Expert Interview
Co-authored by: Craig Morton Fish & Aquarium Specialist This article was co-authored by Craig Morton. Craig Morton is the CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc. based in Huntington Beach California and servicing Orange County, Los Angeles County, and the Inland Empire. With over 30 years of aquarium experience, Craig specializes in creating custom aquarium designs along with aquarium installation, service, and maintenance. This article has been viewed 142,129 times. 6 votes - 100% Co-authors: 17Updated: October 13, 2025 Views: 142,129 Categories: CrabsArticle SummaryX
To breed hermit crabs, start by setting up a 10-gallon tank filled with 2 inches of sand, a bowl of aquarium saltwater, and some decorations like branches and vines. Keep the tank between 75 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, and mist the tank with water regularly so it maintains 70 percent humidity. Once you've set up the tank, place a mature male and female hermit crab inside and wait for them to mate. Keep in mind that breeding hermit crabs in captivity can be tricky, so you may need to try multiple pairs of crabs before anything happens. To learn how to take care of hermit crab larvae, scroll down!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Jul 16, 2019
"The information helped keep my crab happy and healthy."
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Craig Morton Fish & Aquarium Specialist Co-authors: 17Updated: October 13, 2025 Views: 142,129100% of readers found this article helpful. 6 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote
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Co-authored by: Craig Morton Fish & Aquarium Specialist This article was co-authored by Craig Morton. Craig Morton is the CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc. based in Huntington Beach California and servicing Orange County, Los Angeles County, and the Inland Empire. With over 30 years of aquarium experience, Craig specializes in creating custom aquarium designs along with aquarium installation, service, and maintenance. This article has been viewed 142,129 times. 6 votes - 100% Co-authors: 17 Updated: October 13, 2025 Views: 142,129 Categories: Crabs Article SummaryX
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1 Set up a ten-gallon tank for mating. Although it is very difficult to breed hermit crabs in captivity, you can possibly do it in an indoor saltwater tank. In addition to the tank where you currently keep your hermit crabs, you can set up a separate tank that is devoted to mating. The minimum tank size is ten gallons.[1] 
2 Simulate a beach by adding two inches of sand. You’ll need to recreate the natural conditions for mating, which includes a beach and sea in your ten-gallon tank. At the bottom of your tank, add two inches of sand. Advertisement 
3 Make an ocean area by adding a saltwater container. Since the Mother crab will need to deposit her eggs in the sea, you’ll need to recreate a little ocean in the tank. Add a saltwater container in a low area of the tank. It should contain a mix of de-chlorinated water and an aquarium salt mix. 
4 Keep the temperature in the ideal range. Add a heat rock to maintain a temperature of between 24 and 28 Celsius (75-82 Fahrenheit). You should also locate the tank away from direct sunlight and drafts, since you want to maintain a consistent temperature during the mating process.[2] 
5 Maintain 70% humidity with a garden sprayer. Because hermit crabs are very sensitive to humidity levels, you’ll want to maintain adequate levels of humidity throughout the breeding process. You can use a garden sprayer to mist the tank. You should also keep the sand substrate moist. 
6 Create a relaxing atmosphere by adding nice scenery. You’ll need to create a relaxing atmosphere to get your hermit crabs into the mating mood! For instance, you could add some nice scenery to your mating tank. Adding some branches and vines to the tank will give your crabs a place to hide and something to climb around.[3] This touch of nature will help create the right atmosphere. 
7 Make a ramp leading down from the saltwater tank to ten-gallon tank. You can make it easy for the hermit crabs to move back and forth between the two tanks by making a ramp. In this way, the hermit crabs can crawl between their home and mating tanks. Advertisement 
1 Breed hermit crabs in the spring or summer. In captivity, hermit crabs breed between February and August. They typically breed in June and July, so try breeding your hermit crabs in the spring or summer.[4] 
2 Find a mature female in your crabitat. Look in your main hermit crab tank or “crabitat” for a mature female, which should be medium sized. Wait until the hermit crab comes most of the way out of her shell before checking to see if you have the right sex. Inspect her body for genitalia called gonophores, which are located close to the abdomen on the back of her legs. You should see two tiny holes. 
3 Pick a male from the crabitat. Pick a mature male crab from your main tank. You’ll need to wait for one of them to crawl out of its shell. At this time, you can inspect its body for genitalia called gonophores. If you can’t see two tiny holes at the back of the body, you have a male.[5] 
4 Place the crabs together. Put the two crabs in your newly created enclosure. If they don't mate, try a different combination of crabs.[6] 
5 Wait for a month for the eggs to hatch. It takes one month for the hermit crab eggs to hatch. Let the mother put the eggs in the saltwater container. The eggs should hatch when they touch the water.[7] Advertisement 
1 Use the cup method. Place the larvae in aerated cups. Put some small shells in the cups, which the larvae can use. Put the cups into a sand substrate. Feed the larvae brine shrimp and spirulina.[8] 
2 Put young hermit crabs in a transition tank. Your transition tank should be half beach and half marine water. Put in a couple of containers with salt and fresh water. Put a coconut in the tank, as well as some nice shells. Make sure the young hermit crabs have a ramp going from the sand to the water containers.[9] 
3 Feed young hermit crabs a high-protein diet. You can give them marine copepods, which are available at the pet store. You could also give them frozen krill, marine crayfish or shrimp granules and a couple drops of live plankton.[10] 
Community Answer So they don't eat them or kill them. Don't take any risks. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 18 Helpful 129 
Community Answer You shouldn't be pulling them off of her, this can damage the eggs. Try dipping her in the water upside down and flushing the eggs out. If that doesn't work let her try again herself. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 16 Helpful 102 
Community Answer It's possible. The most common problem is the two crabs don't want to mate, they are not sexually mature, or they aren't interested in each other. Some successful attempts have been done with many crabs and multiple tries. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 17 Helpful 94 
