Hermit Crabs

I just re-did my tank today. I went out to the pet store to take a look at the "crabby" things they had, and found their crab tank in a state of mortal peril. I went up to the front, determined to gripe about the conditions but expecting to be brushed off. However, to my wonderful surprise, the assistant manager was in and she was actually INTERESTED in what I had to say. She made me write down my suggestions, and had me go over to the tank with her and discuss some simple changes that could be made. She even took notes as I spoke! She said she'd give the notes to the manager tomorrow, and hopefully get things resolved. The conditions in that tank were GOD AWFUL, so I'm really hoping she took everything to heart as she seems to have done. I'll go back in a few days and let you guys know. ;)

Anyway, here's my tank - two Purple Pincher crabbies live here. One is missing his big pincher after a bad molt. But a bad molt is better than a failed molt (death), and he has only been with me for two months. He's still de-stressing from his terrible pet-store life.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...taketwo005.jpg

Here's the poor guy hiding:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...tset-up008.jpg

He's really shy since he can't defend himself. He did change shells after his molt, though. That's a good sign! :D

If anyone needs help with hermits, btw - I'd be glad to help. I've done more research than any normal human being should... :P

Your tank looks great!! Molting time is scary. I'll be interested to see how the pincher will look after the next molt - if it's full sized. My kids' crabs arrived with all of the points broken off their legs. Amazing how after molting they look so perfect - pointy & hairy! :) They are such fun animals.

Aww, glad there's a fellow crabber here. :D I have a handful of animals that I get OBSESSED about - snakes (of course), rabbits, and hermit crabs. I just adore them, I honestly don't know why. I've had them ever since I was a little kid. I love staying up late and watching them move around the tank. :)

Why don't you post some pictures of your tank here? I'd love to see them!

nice setup...we used to have hermit crabs. Them little buggers are crazy.

Doubt anyone cares, but I wanted to post a new picture. :P My bigger crab came back up from a "quicky" molt today. His big pincher is growing back. It's smaller than it should be, but it's coming in. I bought them a 20 gal long and moved the two little guys in. They seem to really like the eco earth substrate. Supposedly it holds heat better.

:D:D:D

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...rabitat018.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...rabitat012.jpg

Am I seriously the only person interested in hermit crabs? :O

Well poo on everyone else. :P I adopted four crabs yesterday from a "hermit crab rescue" of sorts. I got them from a woman who takes in crabs from people who don't want them anymore. Most come from terrible set-ups. :(

I just wanted to share the pictures. My camera is in DESPERATE need of a cleaning, so the photos are a little blurry. But the cuteness comes through, nonetheless. :D

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...itCrabs007.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...itCrabs016.jpg

Awww, cute pics.

I'd actually considered getting some hermit crabs for my kids. What type of temps do you provide for yours?

You're setups look wonderful. :gj:

hermit crabs are on my list of critters I'd like when I have more space. My room is pretty much full until my tortoise gets big enough to live outside. They are really adorable, I love their little eyes. I have only really seen them at pet stores, and they are pretty boring there, but I know they have much more potential when given the proper conditions. I really love those pics, mindibun! Very soulful eyes!

awww i love crabbys i used to have a alot of freshwater crab when i was like 10

i had a few hermit crabs as a kid, after a while they umm croaked and i made a pet cemetary out back for them, after that I had hamsters, then they joined the crabs in the cemetary

starts singing " I dont wanna be buried in a pet cemetary"


ok im just really bored tonight and off the wall

I get really tired of seeing hermit crabs thought of as "throw-away pets". :( They can live for like 20 years if taken care of properly. They really shouldn't even be taken out of the tank for more than a few minutes because the humidity and temperature changes from inside the tank to outside of it are so drastic. I provide 80%+ humidity and temps are 75 at night, and go up to 80 during the day. That's achieved by a combination of four different light bulbs that rotate between two of those reptile lamps. I have a *just* UV bulb - no heat, just UV. I have a basking lamp, I have a black light and I have an infrared light. If one bulb isn't keeping it hot enough, I turn on a second. Or vice versa. The humidity is kept up by using the "foil on the lid" technique, as well as sprinkling 1 cup of salt water all over the soil (small amounts at a time so as not to drown anybody sleeping under there) whenever the humidty gets to 75%. :)

That's really cool! I am ashamed to admit I drowned my hermit crabs when I was a child. My best friend and I got hermit crabs as pets, and the lady at the pet store told her that hermit crabs like to swim.

So, we took them swimming in the sink. My mother found out and scolded me, but I KNEW my best friend was right, so we continued to let them swim.

They died eventually after a couple months of childhood hell from me, my brother and my best friend.

Kids really shouldn't have small pets. :(

Oh my gosh, that's absolutely terrible! It's funny, but in a very morbid way. I'm not sure if it's good or bad that I can find humor in that. :oops:

There is a lot of very wrong information out there about hermit crabs. I make it a point to say something whenever I see them in bad conditions, but so often my comments (which could save companies quite a bit of money, and attract more customers once people realize they know what they're doing) fall on deaf ears. :rolleyes:

I have to admit, I am guilty of my fair share of hermit crab deaths over the years, mostly to ignorance. But I'm trying to make up for it now, and I still enjoy keeping them just as much. :)

Nice set up!
Quick question about molting/shedding...how long does it usually take? I've got a buried crab and don't want to disturb it but, well, how long should it stay buried? Not sure if it's dead or alive frankly. ??