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Can saltwater hermit crabs really live without water for long?

Updated On December 4th, 2025

can saltwater hermit crabs live with out water

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 16th, 2018

As saltwater hermit crabs breath through gills they are dependent on extracting oxygen through water, Most can survive briefly out of water as long as their gills stay damp.But they do need to be put back into water shortly in order not to suffocate and die.

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