If they do need a bath here is what you need to do:

It is important to give your crabs a bath upon arrival. They have had a long trip and need to replace the water they have stored in their shell with clean water. Crabs need a bath twice a week for around 30 minutes to stay healthy.

Hermit crabs require exposure to salt water to keep them healthy and happy, but you may not want to keep a salt water bowl in their tank in addition to their freshwater drinking bowl. In that case, you should give your hermit crab regular baths to keep it clean and free from mites.

1. Fill a bowl with enough water to cover your hermit crab’s shell completely.
2. Place your crab upside down, into the water.
3. Remove your crab from the water.
4. Check the water.
5. Place your crab in it’s nice warm habitat and let it readjust to it’s new clean shell.

All hermit crabs require salt water to regulate the saline content of their bodies. Hermit crabs that you just purchase from a pet store should be bathed, if to only get the grime off them and make them “smell the same” to the other hermit crabs.

Hermit crabs need access to fresh and, depending on the species, salt water. Chlorinated tap water can kill them, and the iodine in table salt, if used to make salt water, is harmful to crabs. Furthermore, if the water is too deep, the crabs could drown.

Does it hurt when a hermit crab pinches you? Not just the hermits, crabs, in general, do not pinch unless they feel threatened. The reason why they pinch is not to hurt rather they pinch to get a good grip when they fear they are going to fall.

A hermit crab pinching you is rarely a form of aggressive behavior. Most hermit crabs are docile and only pinch when feeling afraid or acting in self-defense. Hermit crabs also pinch if they fear losing their footing. They use claws to grab something to hold onto.

Re: Leaving on Vacation I’ve left my crabs for up to two weeks before. No issues. As long as your tank conditions are stable, they’ll be fine.