Hermit crabs are inexpensive pets that can live up to 10 years under human care. They are about 6 inches long when fully grown, and they are land dwellers that require water to keep their shells moist. Hermit crabs are generally easygoing, but they do pinch if they feel threatened. They can make great pets, especially for those looking to care for a hands-off animal. Many pet stores always have hermit crabs in stock. So, how much would a hermit crab cost if you were to buy one from PetSmart? You can expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $15 for one hermit crab at PetSmart. Here is what you need to know.
Hermit Crabs Don’t Cost Much at PetSmart
Hermit crabs are affordable at PetSmart. You can expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $15 for one, depending on which store you are shopping at and the size of the hermit crab that you want to buy. Small crabs are typically less expensive than large ones.
Of course, the cost of a hermit crab does not include any supplies or accessories that are necessary to properly care for them. Therefore, you will have to budget for more than the cost of the animal itself. These are the things that you’ll need in order to care for your hermit crab and the average cost of these items at PetSmart:
| Terrarium: | $20–$70 |
| Heat Lamp: | $7–$15 |
| Light Lamp: | $5–$15 |
| Food: | $7–$20 |
| Water Pond: | $10–$25 |
PetSmart does stock start kits for hermit crabs that include everything necessary to keep this animal happy and healthy as time goes on.
Here’s How Many Hermit Crabs You Can House
A 5-gallon tank or terrarium can easily accommodate up to five hermit crabs at the same time. One hermit crab can live alone, but cohabitation makes watching your pets more interesting. Aside from more food, you will not require any extra supplies to take care of multiple hermit crabs. Something to consider is that the more hermit crabs in a habitat, the bigger chance that one will pinch you when you put your hands in there to clean up or refill the food dish.
What You Should Know About Hermit Crab Shells
Hermit crabs have no hard shells to protect the bottom half of their bodies. Instead, they must rely on seashells to keep themselves safe. However, they typically molt and grow too big for their shell about once every 18 months. They then look for a new, bigger shell to replace it with. Therefore, you should make sure that at least two new shells are available for each of your hermit crabs when they start to show signs of molting:
- Cloudy eyes
- Sluggish actions
- Excessive digging
- Increased food and water consumption
There is no need to remove the crab’s molted skin, as the animal will consume it to recover essential minerals after the molting process takes place.
In Conclusion
Hermit crabs are fun to watch and easy to take care of and require little space to live. They are readily available at PetSmart stores across the United States and Canada, so you should be able to walk right in the front door and pick one up on a whim. But take the time to determine whether you are ready for the commitment of caring for such an animal. They are small and independent, but they’re living creatures that deserve plenty of love and attention.
See also:
- How Much Does It Cost to Put a Pet to Sleep at Petsmart
- How Much Are Sugar Gliders at Petsmart?
- PetSmart vs Pet Supermarket: Differences and Price Comparisons
Featured Image Credit: Zuzha, Shutterstock
