Hermit Crabs are fascinating to watch. They dig tunnels, climb to perilous heights, make pigs of themselves in the food dish. But do they sleep? Many people refer to hermit crabs as nocturnal and it is true that often the activity level in your tank will increase at night.

Because of this you might be able to catch a napping crabby during the day. Most of the time hermit crabs sneak off to the caves and hidey spots to sleep where they feel relatively secure. The bolder and more comfortable crabs, though, will often sleep right out in the open.


So, how can you tell if a crab is sleeping? Well, they don't have pillows or make little snoring sounds. So you basically have to go based on their appearance. A sleeping crab is very relaxed. The eyes and antennae are pointed down and they are usually part way out of their shell. A sleeping crab will often not move or withdraw when you walk by the tank and they may stay in that one spot for hours.

Below are some pictures of my crabs sleeping. It’s my opinion that crabs that will sleep out in the open are pretty secure and relaxed happy crabs. So check your tank today, see if you can catch any nappers!