A lot of people are a little leary of adding a Jumbo Hermit Crab to their tank. For some, it's just because their current crabitat is too small, for others, it's the fear of those great big pinchers. Truly a jumbo hermit crab has the capability of doing some serious damage, however, in the time I've spent crabbing I've never met a jumbo hermit crab that was aggressive to either other crabs or people.

There are somethings you should keep in mind before getting a jumbo though. As with any pet, different sizes of animal have different requirements.

For a jumbo hermit crab the first thing is size of environment. A jumbo should really have around 20 gallons all to themselves. They really need to have space to move around, climb, and tunnel. Hermit crabs are built to travel across beaches and therefore, exercise becomes very important.

Hiding areas. The majority of commmercial hiding items are not large enough to house a jumbo crabs. It is your responsibility to find something that the crab will feel comfortable in. This means either buying something larger or making it. a custom built cocohut is a great place to start.

But probably the most expensive need with Jumbos is shells. For a crab that is going to need turbos with a 1 1/2 to 2 inch opening, shells can quickly become a major investment. They also take up a lot of room in your tank. Though jumbos change shells and molt less often, it is still important to have a good variety of jumbo shells.

All of this being said, Jumbo Hermit Crabs are really very special and a personal favorite of mine. They are rarely shy and often seem interested in what you are doing, especially if it involves the food dish. If you choose to get a jumbo take the time to make sure you've got everything ready to add this new big guy to your tank.

This Indo was busted in the middle of trying to take down my hemp bridge!