All pets / Insects and invertebrates

What a land hermit crab really costs

The crabs are the cheap part: about $6–$15 each, so roughly $20–$45 for a group of three. A setup that keeps them alive (20-gallon glass tank and lid, under-tank heater with a thermostat, 6 in of sand and coir, fresh and marine-salt water and spare shells) costs about $220–$420 (typically about $300), many times the price of the crabs. After that, food, salt, substrate and shell top-ups run about $115 a year before any surprises.

Life expectancy
10–20 years
Size
Usually 2–3 in; can grow to 6 in
Care level
Moderate
Price
$19–$45
Setup
About $310
Insurance
Not offered

Estimate for: A group of three small Caribbean land hermit crabs (purple pinchers, Coenobita clypeatus) in a heated, humid 20-gallon long glass tank with 6 in of sand-and-coir substrate, fresh and salt water, and spare shells. Space needed: 20-gallon long (30×12 in) glass tank for three small crabs, with a lid that holds humidity; 10 gallons per 2–3 small crabs.

Land hermit crab
Lifetime cost$2,400 First year $480Then about $140 a year
Photo: ZooFari, CC BY-SA 3.0

Where the money goes each year

A typical year for a land hermit crab, with typical spending in an average-cost area.

  • Food (fresh produce, protein, calcium, commercial crab food)$50
  • Marine salt mix and water conditioner$31
  • Illness and injury (average)$20
  • Electricity for the heater$13
  • Larger shells as the crabs grow$12
  • Substrate top-up and spot replacement$11
  • Typical year$140

Most years land between $70 and $250. Items replaced on a cycle are spread across the years.

Setup and the first year

For land hermit crabs, the equipment usually costs far more than the animal.

Getting set up

  • Price (pet store (three crabs))$32
  • 20-gallon long glass tank (30×12 in)$70
  • Glass lid (holds in humidity)$26
  • Under-tank heater (mounted on the back wall) + thermostat$61
  • Digital thermometer and humidity gauge$13
  • Substrate, 6 in deep (play sand + coconut fiber)$40
  • Two deep water dishes (fresh and salt)$18
  • Spare shells (3–5 per crab)$30
  • Hides and climbing (cork bark, coco hut)$17
  • Marine salt mix and water conditioner (first supply)$31
  • Upfront$340

Running costs in year one

  • Food (fresh produce, protein, calcium, commercial crab food)$50
  • Marine salt mix and water conditioner$31
  • Larger shells as the crabs grow$12
  • Substrate top-up and spot replacement$11
  • Electricity for the heater$13
  • Illness and injury (average)$20
  • Year-one running costs$140

First-year total: $480.

Make it your estimate

Change the choices that move the price most. Totals update as you go.

Setup

20-gallon long glass tank (30×12 in), Glass lid (holds in humidity), Under-tank heater (mounted on the back wall) + thermostat, Digital thermometer and humidity gauge and more.

Day-to-day spending

Food, marine salt mix and water conditioner, larger shells as the crabs grow and other supplies.

Where you live

Changes vet prices.

Your lifetime estimate$2,400 First year $480Then about $140 a yearOver 15 years

$11 a month in a typical year.

  • Food (fresh produce, protein, calcium, commercial crab food)$50
  • Marine salt mix and water conditioner$31
  • Illness and injury (average)$20
  • Electricity for the heater$13
  • Larger shells as the crabs grow$12
  • Substrate top-up and spot replacement$11
  • Typical year$140

What to buy

The gear and supplies in this estimate, matched to a land hermit crab. Each link searches Amazon for the right type and size.

  • 20-gallon long glass tank (30×12 in)Setup, typically about $70
    See on Amazon
  • Glass lid (holds in humidity)Setup, typically about $26
    See on Amazon
  • Under-tank heater (mounted on the back wall) + thermostatSetup, typically about $61
    See on Amazon
  • Digital thermometer and humidity gaugeSetup, typically about $13
    See on Amazon
  • Substrate, 6 in deep (play sand + coconut fiber)Setup, typically about $40
    See on Amazon
  • Two deep water dishes (fresh and salt)Setup, typically about $18
    See on Amazon
  • Spare shells (3–5 per crab)Setup, typically about $30
    See on Amazon
  • Hides and climbing (cork bark, coco hut)Setup, typically about $17
    See on Amazon
  • Marine salt mix and water conditioner (first supply)Setup, typically about $31
    See on Amazon
  • Food (fresh produce, protein, calcium, commercial crab food)Ongoing, typically about $50 a year
    See on Amazon
  • Larger shells as the crabs growOngoing, typically about $12 a year
    See on Amazon
  • Substrate top-up and spot replacementOngoing, typically about $11 a year
    See on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, PetPriceTag earns from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra and never changes our cost figures.

Health costs to plan for

ConditionWhat it isTypical treatmentCost
Dehydration and gill damage from low humidityMader lists dehydration among the most common hermit crab problems. Furry Critter Network says humidity below about 70% damages the gills and causes slow suffocation over weeks or months, and the Crab Street Journal names dehydration among the reasons boardwalk crabs die early. SourceFix the habitat: a glass lid ($25.99), deep enough fresh and salt water dishes and a humidity gauge ($12.99); a vet can do little once gills are damaged$13–$90
Molting stress and deaths (dug up or too-shallow substrate)Crabs bury themselves for about 3 weeks to 3 months to molt; the Hermit Crab Association warns digging up a molting crab may kill it, and Carolina says crabs need sand 8 cm (3 in) or deeper to burrow. Molting also needs moisture and a range of shell sizes (Mader). SourcePrevention only: keep 6 in of moist sand/coir and spare shells; cost is extra substrate ($10.98–$28 per top-up) and shells ($3.49–$3.99)$10–$60
MitesThe Hermit Crab Association says to bathe new crabs once to check for mites and notes many tank mites are harmless; Carolina says to clean the habitat, boil accessories for at least 20 minutes and bathe crabs in dechlorinated water, with a vet-prescribed treatment for persistent infestations. SourceFull substrate replacement and boiling decor ($11–$40), plus an exotic consultation (about $118) if it keeps coming back$11–$120
Shell fights and leaving the shellCarolina says stress (high heat, dirty tanks, cracked shells) can drive a crab out of its shell, and a larger crab may bully or eat a smaller one; Furry Critter Network says plenty of shell options reduce shell fights. SourceAdd spare unpainted shells one size up ($3.49–$3.99 each) and separate bullies$4–$20

The yearly estimate includes an average of $20 for illness and injury. No mainstream US insurer covers hermit crabs. Nationwide's exotic plan lists birds, rabbits, mini pigs and goats, lizards/reptiles/frogs, guinea pigs, and ferrets and small mammals, and excludes any species not listed and species kept in groups or on display.

What drives the cost

  • The boardwalk-souvenir idea of a hermit crab that lives a few months is a care failure, not a lifespan: PetSmart says 10–20 years is typical and more than 40 has been documented, and the Crab Street Journal cites a Caribbean hermit crab that lived 45½ years with one keeper. Budget for a pet that may outlast a child's school years.
  • Pet-trade land hermit crabs are wild-caught: a Myrtle Beach supplier told the Sun News every crab sold there was caught in the wild, and a breeder said they are very hard to breed in captivity.
  • Humidity is the expensive requirement: the Hermit Crab Association says 70–85% and warns against below 65% for long, and PetSmart wants 80–85% and 80–85°F, which means a glass lid, a heater and a hygrometer, not the wire-topped 10-gallon starter kits often sold with them.
  • They are social: PetSmart says to keep at least three, at about 10 gallons per 2–3 small crabs, so the 20-gallon tank here suits three small crabs; one jumbo crab alone needs 20 gallons.
  • Spare shells are a recurring cost: PetSmart says 3–5 empty shells per crab in varied sizes, never painted, and Zoo Med growth shells cost about $1.20–$4 each.

Is it legal where you live?

Legal to keep in most of the US and sold by national chains. Hawaii lists Coenobita clypeatus, this species, on its prohibited-animals list, so it cannot be brought into the state. All US pet-trade land hermit crabs are wild-caught, so never release one.

Restricted or banned in: Hawaii.

Cities and counties can have their own rules. Check locally before you buy.

Pet store (three crabs)
$19–$45
Lifetime
$2,400

How this estimate is built

Every line, with the typical, thrifty and generous figures and where each comes from.

ItemTypicalRangeBasis and sources
Setup
20-gallon long glass tank (30×12 in)$70$70–$80PetSmart: about 10 gallons per 2–3 small crabs, so 20 gallons gives three crabs room to grow. Aqueon 20-gallon horizontal glass aquarium (30.25 × 12.5 × 12.75 in) at PetSmart: $69.99 on sale, $79.99 regular. Used tanks and store sales can cost less, but no current price could be checked. A 10-gallon starter kit ($44.99 on sale at PetSmart) is too small for three crabs to grow. PetSmart: Aqueon Standard Glass Rectangle Aquarium (20 gal horizontal $69.99); PetSmart: Hermit Crab care guide (tank size per crab); PetSmart: Zoo Med ReptiHabitat Hermit Crab Terrarium Kit, 10 gal ($44.99 sale)
Glass lid (holds in humidity)$26$26–$26A solid lid is needed to keep humidity at 70–85%; Furry Critter Network recommends a sealed glass top. Top Fin hinged glass lid for 20-gallon long/29-gallon tanks $25.99 at PetSmart. PetSmart: Top Fin Aquarium Hinged Glass Lid ($25.99); Furry Critter Network: Purple Pincher (Feb 2026)
Under-tank heater (mounted on the back wall) + thermostat$61$28–$78PetSmart: 80–85°F; Carolina says below 50°F is fatal and crabs stop moving below 65°F. The Hermit Crab Association says mount under-tank heaters on the side or back, never under deep substrate. Zoo Med ReptiTherm for 10–20 gal (8 W) $27.95 at The Bio Dude, which says a thermostat is required. Typical adds a Zoo Med ReptiTemp rheostat ($32.99); high adds the 30–40 gal size ($34.95) plus Exo Terra 100 W thermostat ($45.99) instead. Low: heater alone, in a warm house. The Bio Dude: Zoo Med ReptiTherm Under Tank Heater ($27.95 / $34.95); Dubia.com: Thermostats (ReptiTemp rheostat $32.99, Exo Terra 100 W $45.99); Hermit Crab Association: Basic Hermit Crab Care (PDF)
Digital thermometer and humidity gauge$13$13–$26Humidity has to be measured, not guessed. Zoo Med Digital Combo thermometer/humidity gauge $12.99 at Chewy; high = two, one per end of the tank. Chewy: Zoo Med Digital Combo Thermometer Humidity Gauge ($12.99)
Substrate, 6 in deep (play sand + coconut fiber)$40$20–$60PetSmart: a 3–5 to 1 mix of sand and coconut coir at least 6 in deep. A 30×12 in tank filled 6 in = 2,160 cu in (about 1.25 cu ft, roughly 120 lb of sand at that ratio). Typical: two 50 lb bags of Quikrete play sand (Tractor Supply lists Quikrete sand at $8.99; Home Depot shows $28.23 online) plus a 3-brick Eco Earth pack ($10.98). Low: two $8.99 bags + Eco Earth. High: Home Depot's online price for two bags + Eco Earth. Chewy's 5 lb bags of hermit-crab sand ($11.99) would cost far more at this depth, and reviewers report it hardening. PetSmart: Hermit Crab care guide (substrate); Tractor Supply: Quikrete sand, 50 lb ($8.99); Home Depot: Quikrete 50 lb Premium Play Sand ($28.23); PetSmart: Zoo Med Eco Earth Expandable Substrate, 3 bricks ($10.98); Chewy: Zoo Med Hermit Crab Sand, 5 lb ($11.99)
Two deep water dishes (fresh and salt)$18$16–$38PetSmart: two bowls deep enough for the crabs to submerge, non-metal. Zoo Med Repti Rock dish small $7.99 or medium $8.99 at Chewy (2 × medium = $18); high: two Repti Rock large at $18.75. Chewy: Zoo Med Repti Rock Food & Water Dishes; PetSmart: Hermit Crab care guide (water bowls)
Spare shells (3–5 per crab)$30$15–$45PetSmart: at least 3–5 empty shells per crab in varied sizes, never painted. Three crabs × 4 shells = 12. Dubia.com sells Zoo Med growth shells at $3.49 for 3 small, $3.99 for 2 medium, $3.49 for 1 large. Typical: 12 small/medium shells ≈ $20 plus a few larger ones ≈ $30. Low: 12 small shells ($14). High: 15 shells across sizes. Dubia.com: Hermit crab products (Zoo Med growth shells); PetSmart: Hermit Crab care guide (shells)
Hides and climbing (cork bark, coco hut)$17$3–$33Furry Critter Network recommends cork bark and cholla for climbing. Typical: Zoo Med cork flat medium $13.99 (Chewy) + Pangea CocoHut $3.29 (Dubia.com). Low: one CocoHut. High: large cork flat $19.99 + medium $13.99. Never cedar or evergreen wood (PetSmart). Chewy: Zoo Med Natural Cork Flats Reptile Hideout; Dubia.com: Hermit crab products, page 2 (Pangea CocoHut $3.29)
Marine salt mix and water conditioner (first supply)$31$27–$31The Hermit Crab Association: always use a marine salt mix, never table salt, and dechlorinate all water. Instant Ocean sea salt 50-gal box $22.37 at Chewy + API Stress Coat 8 oz $8.99 (low: 4 oz at $5.18). Chewy: Instant Ocean Sea Salt (50 gal $22.37); Chewy: API Stress Coat water conditioner; Hermit Crab Association: Basic Hermit Crab Care (PDF)
Every year
Food (fresh produce, protein, calcium, commercial crab food)$50$25–$90The Hermit Crab Association says to offer fruit and protein daily and calcium at all times, and to avoid foods with preservatives such as ethoxyquin. Most food is scraps of what the household already eats; the cash cost is extras. Typical: a 4 oz jar of Fluker's Variety Diet ($3.99) and a 1.2 oz can of Fluker's freeze-dried river shrimp ($5.79) about every two months, plus a 4-pack of cuttlebones ($9.95) a year ≈ $68, less overlap with household produce ≈ $50. Low: half that. High: monthly shrimp and pellets plus dedicated produce. Chewy: Fluker's Premium Variety Diet Hermit Crab Food, 4 oz ($3.99); Chewy: Fluker's Rivershrimp Hermit Crab Food, 1.2 oz ($5.79); Chewy: Sungrow cuttlebones, 4 count ($9.95); Hermit Crab Association: Basic Hermit Crab Care (PDF)
Marine salt mix and water conditioner$31$15–$45PetSmart's salt mix is 35 g per liter. Two small dishes changed every few days use only a few gallons of salt water a month, so one 50-gal box of Instant Ocean ($22.37) lasts a year or more; plus an 8 oz API Stress Coat ($8.99). Low: half a box and a 4 oz bottle. High: a 16 oz conditioner ($10.98) and salt replaced more often with daily water changes. Chewy: Instant Ocean Sea Salt (50 gal $22.37); Chewy: API Stress Coat water conditioner; PetSmart: Hermit Crab care guide (salt water mix)
Larger shells as the crabs grow$12$7–$20Growing crabs need the next size up. About 3 larger Zoo Med growth shells a year at $3.49–$3.99 each (Dubia.com) ≈ $12; high: 5 XL shells at $3.99. Dubia.com: Hermit crab products (Zoo Med growth shells, LG $3.49, XL $3.99)
Substrate top-up and spot replacement$11$0–$40Crabs bury themselves to molt for weeks to months and the Hermit Crab Association warns never to dig up a molting crab, so the substrate is spot-cleaned rather than fully changed. Typical: one 3-brick Eco Earth pack ($10.98) a year to top up coir. High: replace a third of the sand and coir each year. PetSmart: Zoo Med Eco Earth Expandable Substrate, 3 bricks ($10.98); Hermit Crab Association: Basic Hermit Crab Care (PDF)
Electricity for the heater$13$6–$25An 8 W under-tank heater running around the clock = 70 kWh a year × $0.1799/kWh (EIA US residential average, 12 months to July 2026) = $13. Low: a thermostat cycling it half the time ($6). High: the 16 W (30–40 gal) size in a cool house, 140 kWh = $25. EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.3 (residential, rolling 12 months to July 2026 = 17.99¢/kWh); The Bio Dude: Zoo Med ReptiTherm Under Tank Heater (8 W / 16 W)
Illness and injury, per year
Unexpected costs (mite clean-outs, replacement crabs, rare vet visit)$20$0–$120LOW CONFIDENCE: no data on hermit crab health spending exists. Veterinarian Douglas Mader says trauma, dehydration and poor husbandry are the most common problems, and the usual fixes are supplies (fresh substrate, cleaning, a new heater) rather than vet care. PetSmart points owners to aquatic vets (fishvets.org) because general practices rarely see crabs. Typical: about $20 a year, e.g. a substrate replacement or a replacement heater every couple of years. High: one exotic consultation ($118.39 at The Gentle Vets, WI). Veterinary Practice News: Got spiders? An overview of potential invertebrate patients (Douglas Mader, DVM, 2022); PetSmart: Hermit Crab care guide (when to see a vet); The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI): Exotics pricing (consultation $118.39)

More insects and invertebrates by yearly cost

Common questions

How much does a land hermit crab cost?

Pet store (three crabs): $19–$45. The bigger costs come after: about $310 to set up, about $480 for the whole first year, then about $140 a year.

How much does a land hermit crab cost per year?

About $140 a year ($11 a month) for a typical owner in an average-cost area, ranging from about $70 for a thrifty owner in a lower-cost area to $250 for a generous owner in a big city.

How much does a land hermit crab cost over its lifetime?

About $2,400 over a 15-year life, in 2026 dollars.

Sources

  1. PetSmart: Hermit Crab care guide (when to see a vet)
  2. Hermit Crab Association: Basic Hermit Crab Care (PDF)
  3. Crab Street Journal: How long do hermit crabs live?
  4. Veterinary Practice News: Got spiders? An overview of potential invertebrate patients (Douglas Mader, DVM, 2022)
  5. Myrtle Beach Sun News via AOL: Do gift shop hermit crabs come from the Myrtle Beach area? (July 2024)
  6. Nationwide: Pet insurance for exotic pets (eligible species)
  7. PetSmart: Hermit Crab ($6.39, in store)
  8. The Vet Desk: How Much Are Hermit Crabs at PetSmart? (updated Jan 2026)
  9. Carolina Biological: Care guide, hermit crabs
  10. PetSmart: Aqueon Standard Glass Rectangle Aquarium (20 gal horizontal $69.99)
  11. PetSmart: Zoo Med ReptiHabitat Hermit Crab Terrarium Kit, 10 gal ($44.99 sale)
  12. PetSmart: Top Fin Aquarium Hinged Glass Lid ($25.99)
  13. Furry Critter Network: Purple Pincher (Feb 2026)
  14. The Bio Dude: Zoo Med ReptiTherm Under Tank Heater (8 W / 16 W)
  15. Dubia.com: Thermostats (ReptiTemp rheostat $32.99, Exo Terra 100 W $45.99)
  16. Chewy: Zoo Med Digital Combo Thermometer Humidity Gauge ($12.99)
  17. Tractor Supply: Quikrete sand, 50 lb ($8.99)
  18. Home Depot: Quikrete 50 lb Premium Play Sand ($28.23)
  19. PetSmart: Zoo Med Eco Earth Expandable Substrate, 3 bricks ($10.98)
  20. Chewy: Zoo Med Hermit Crab Sand, 5 lb ($11.99)
  21. Chewy: Zoo Med Repti Rock Food & Water Dishes
  22. Dubia.com: Hermit crab products (Zoo Med growth shells, LG $3.49, XL $3.99)
  23. Chewy: Zoo Med Natural Cork Flats Reptile Hideout
  24. Dubia.com: Hermit crab products, page 2 (Pangea CocoHut $3.29)
  25. Chewy: Instant Ocean Sea Salt (50 gal $22.37)
  26. Chewy: API Stress Coat water conditioner
  27. Chewy: Fluker's Premium Variety Diet Hermit Crab Food, 4 oz ($3.99)
  28. Chewy: Fluker's Rivershrimp Hermit Crab Food, 1.2 oz ($5.79)
  29. Chewy: Sungrow cuttlebones, 4 count ($9.95)
  30. EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.3 (residential, rolling 12 months to July 2026 = 17.99¢/kWh)
  31. The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI): Exotics pricing (consultation $118.39)
  32. Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture: List of Prohibited Animals (Coenobita clypeatus)
  33. Hawaii Administrative Rules ch. 4-71, Non-Domestic Animal Import Rules

Estimates in 2026 US dollars. Vet prices for this pet use the same region adjustment as the rest of the site (methodology). Updated October 14, 2026.