Do Hermit Crabs Need A Heat Lamp

Hermit crabs are happiest kept at 72 to 80 degrees fahrenheit 22 to 27 degrees celsius.

Do hermit crabs need a heat lamp.

No this does not have to be a heating pad and could also be a hood light but generally speaking most people prefer heating pads for hermit crabs. Your hermit crab tank should be kept at a daytime temperature between 70 f and 75 f so if you don t live in a very warm climate you may need a light that produces some heat. If the temperature drops below 72 degrees fahrenheit regularly the crabs will likely become weak stressed and ill. They therefore need heat provided to them from their surroundings.

Unless you live in a tropical climate you will need to use a heater at least part of the time to keep the crab tank at optimal temperatures. Provide daytime light and heat. In this case we need a bulb that will do two things. Find that hermit crabs will dig down or hide away to get away from the bright light.

For this you can use either an incandescent white light bulb a reptile daylight heating bulb incandescent or a uvb cfl with a heating element. Additional heat can be supplied with a heat bulb not a heat lamp for reptiles which is dangerous for hermit crabs or a heat mat underneath one side of the tank. Hermit crabs are ectothermic or cold blooded. However if you live in colder place you will need to provide your hermit crabs with a heat source.

Mobile homes as your hermit crabs grow they ll need bigger shells so provide a selection of shells slightly larger than the ones they already have. Since we are aiming for a warm humid environment and active hermit crabs it makes sense that the lamp will overheat the crabs and set them to hide. Regular white light or full spectrum lighting can be used during the day for your hermit crab but red light is recommended for night so it won t affect your crab s activity. If you re worried that a heating pad isn t enough to keep your hermit crabs warm try a heat lamp.

In your home that is best done with a heat lamp or heat mat dependant on the size of your enclosure.