| 2/13/2008 4:01:23 PM | Hermit Crabs as pets? | |
pandorazzz_box
Saco, ME
age: 37
| My brother recently left on a trip to Australia, but before he left, he took my youngest son (6) out for the day to spend time together before his departure. He is the best brother a girl could ask for, and a terrific Uncle to my boys, but.....he and my son came home with a ten gallon tank and a Hermit Crab!
I know this was his endearing way of leaving something behind for us to all to think of him by, since he will be gone a few months, but I was quite taken by surprise! My initial reaction was "great...just one more thing I have to be responsible for, and if it dies, my son will be heartbroken..." Then after some thought, I decided to turn it into a fun challenge/project to learn about the little creature with my son.....and try to keep it alive! In fact, after we read online that they are social creatures, we even went out and bought another one...lol. The more the merrier...right?
After three weeks, they are alive and well, but I was wondering if anyone else has Hermit Crabs as pets and if they have any advice or tips on what they like or their habits etc? 
|
| 2/13/2008 4:11:18 PM | Hermit Crabs as pets? | |
newinil
Carlock, IL
age: 36
| One thing is as they grow you will need to have new "Shells" for them. The reason they are called hermit crabs is because they live in discarded items found on the sea floor.
|
| 2/13/2008 4:39:12 PM | Hermit Crabs as pets? | |
pandorazzz_box
Saco, ME
age: 37
| Good 2 know, but one is pretty freaking big already...how big will he get? 
|
| 2/13/2008 5:23:42 PM | Hermit Crabs as pets? | |
newinil
Carlock, IL
age: 36
| While I was waiting dockside at Corpus Christi I saw one that had about a foot long conch shell on its back if that gives you an idea.
|
| 2/13/2008 5:25:36 PM | Hermit Crabs as pets? | |
kycountrygurl
Madisonville, KY
age: 32
| hermit crabs?? my niece had one....I hated those things....
|
| 2/13/2008 6:18:50 PM | Hermit Crabs as pets? | |
iamnumber5
Saint Augustine, FL
age: 48
| My kids (or I) had some a few years ago. I found them to be interesting
its true they need other shells around that is bigger than them now. They
need more than one so they can decide which they prefer also they with molt
thats when they are growing and changing into a new shell but their outer (skin)
will come off and they will look dead. They just might not be dead.
Also make sure you spray them enough they need that moist air. It helps them alot.
Sand too they like to walk on that.
I hope I have helped.
They are cute little buggers. and fun to
|
| 2/13/2008 6:55:25 PM | Hermit Crabs as pets? | |
whiteoak3
Warren, AR
age: 52 online now!
| we got our girls some one year on vacation to florida.they were the neatest!unfortunately,they died because, someone didn't "think" when it came to repainting the girls bedrooms! paint fumes will kill them deader'n a doornail!   (didn't)
|
| 2/13/2008 7:21:21 PM | Hermit Crabs as pets? | |
craftygirl002
Tacoma, WA
age: 40
| Since you've decided to really get into this, you could always go to the craft store and pick up some paint pens. Then to the pet store to pick up some shells. Spend a cold and rainy afternoon decorating "crab condos" for the crabs. Just allow them a few days to dry and air out before putting them in the tank to insure they won't put off any fumes that would be harmful to the crabs.
I'm not sure about hermit crabs, but my ex and I had a saltwater crab who got HUGE. He was cool to watch, but ended up being the most annoying thing in the tank.
We had live rock and live sand in the tank and would frequently acquire new critters when we purchased new rock or sand. Sometimes there were even stow-aways on rocks new annemonies were attached to. One day I noticed a bright yellow spot the size of a dot made by a fine point felt-tip marker in the tank. We speculated over what it was, but agreed that we didn't have a clue. Over the next several weeks our little sponge grew to be about 4" across. We were very proud of our little sponge and loved that it was the easiest thing in the tank to care for. Unfortunately, our crab had finally noticed the sponge. I came home from work to find tiny bits of sponge floating in the water...he SHREDDED it! Mr. Crab found a new home at the pet store that night!
For those who think my reaction may have been a bit harsh, I should give you a bit of background. Mr. Crab wasn't the type of crab to move into the next size up when choosing his next shell. Oh no, he had to choose the largest shell he could put on and still get around in. This usually resulted in him being very "clunky". He routinely knocked rocks against the side of the plexiglass tank, causing us to have to rearrange the tank in a way that would prevent doing that.  Every once in awhile we would come home and find him stuck somewhere because his shell was to big and he'd clumsily fallen somewhere and couldn't get up.  And, more than once we had to rescue other fish he'd trapped because he'd either dropped something that trapped them or gotten himself stuck in a way that trapped them.  Most of the time he left the fish alone and lived peacefully with them, but every now and then one would pass by him and he'd reach out and pinch it. 
Good luck with your little guys. 
[Edited 2/13/2008 7:42:42 PM]
|
| 2/13/2008 7:32:37 PM | Hermit Crabs as pets? | |
dyezah
North Little Rock, AR
age: 36
| Another moisure idea is a wet sponge. They can hydrate themselves w/ it. Good luck
|
| 2/13/2008 7:51:13 PM | Hermit Crabs as pets? | |
craftygirl002
Tacoma, WA
age: 40
| or shred it, lol
|
| 2/13/2008 7:52:54 PM | Hermit Crabs as pets? | |
mindyb
Park Rapids, MN
age: 43
| I lived with a hermitt crab in the house,sign of cancer rarely came out of his shell except to snap on every one....lots of Pot 24/7,Jim beam,wine,vodka,the romote control, too much food and asleep by 8 pm ohhhh sorry.....
( naaa sometimes he was a nice little crab and put his claws away)
|
| 2/13/2008 8:22:21 PM | Hermit Crabs as pets? | |
pandorazzz_box
Saco, ME
age: 37
| Thanks everyone for you input/advice. They've been interesting so far....I always catch them creeping around in the middle of the night....they must be nocturnal.
Oh, and Mindy...that was hysterical...lmao
|
| 2/13/2008 9:35:16 PM | Hermit Crabs as pets? | |
luvinlifetothem
Biddeford, ME
age: 41
| Oh fine...Im the last one to know?!?!?
|
| 2/13/2008 9:47:19 PM | Hermit Crabs as pets? | |
nwiowa
Cherokee, IA
age: 53
| I don't have any pets.
But when providing new shells for the hermit crabs, I would choose odd ball items like tennis balls cut open, wiffle balls cut open, small tin cans, anything that would humiliate the crab if caught wearing it!
They don't care, they're crabs! lol!
|
| 2/14/2008 10:27:04 AM | Hermit Crabs as pets? | |
pandorazzz_box
Saco, ME
age: 37
| Yes, Luvin, you are the last one to know....lol. Oh, and btw, would you
babysit for my crabs while I go to Puerto Rico? ROTFLMAO
|