Hermit Crabitats!

I went to check on the boys and I saw Rame and Pax sitting next to each other. It was so cute. Kinda weird though since they kinda don't like each other. I guess it's a love-hate relationship like I have with my brother. Duke was ok. He was wondering around the tank.

So how is everyone?

Hello. I have 3 boy hermit crabs. Duke, Rame, and Pax. I've read some books about this but I would like to ask other hermit owners.

Pax is the smallest of the hermit crabs and he gets picked on by Rame alot. This event has happened twice since I have moved. Sometimes I see him without his shell on. I'm scared that this might happen again that he may not make it. What do I do? I love my boys and I don't want them to die so young like my first one (PPS) and the only girl one that I had(Clawdie, molting).

Just to let you know, I did find a nice home for our hermit crabs before we moved... I was starting to get a little worried. But at the last minute one of our friends decided to take them. it's a relief to know that they are with nice people.

My boyfriend and I are moving on the 18th and our landlord said it will be an extra monthly charge to keep pets, which sadly we can't afford at the moment.

The pet stores wont take them back and we are just trying to find them a good home before we leave.

So If anyone in the MA or NH area is interested in hermit crabs Comment me as soon as possible. We have about a week to find them a home.

All together there are 8 crabs. The crabs will also come with a 10 gallon tank (which we will fill with fresh sand), small carrying cases, crab water and feeding bowls/shells, crab huts and toys, extra shells, spray bottles, crab tank heater, and a "Hermit crab for dummies" book.

(If you dont need any of the extra stuff then just let me know and I can just give you the Hermit crabs)

I'm so glad I found this community! About a month ago, I took a trip to the beach and decided to bring my BF home a "cool" souvenir. I got two little hermit crabs. I also got a mesh-wire cage instead of the plastic box. I thought this was a step in the right direction, but now that I know better, I realize the cage is still pitifully small, even for small hermies. One is about as big as a nickel (including shell), now named Roosevelt, and one about as big as a quarter, now named Churchill. The names were my BF's idea. Now as I get to know my new pets, I see that we might have the names backwards. Oddly enough Roosevelt is extremely active and is always climbing the walls of the cage. Meanwhile, Churchill can climb up a few inches, but then he falls. I'm worried he's going to break a leg or a shell since there isn't much sand in the bottom.

Ok, make a long story short. I have an empty fish tank I'm planning to move them into. It won't have the fun climbing walls that they have now, but it will have a ton more space, a great layer of substrate in the bottom, better food, more humidity (yay!), a humidity gauge, and plenty of toys to climb on to make up for the lack of wall climbing.

I've spent a couple of hours already on Hermit-Crabs.com. I feel a lot more informed. (I also feel like a horrible person for not investigating hermie care sooner.) At least I know better now.

I did have a couple of questions though. What kind of heater do most of you use? Does it have to go under the substrate, or are there some that can attach to the side? And, should I look into getting some more hermit crabs, or will two be ok together?

Tomorrow I'll come with pictures.

I managed to get a picture of Gigantor crawling around in a box yesterday while I cleaned the crab tank. He's very camera shy, so I was lucky I got to sneak this one in!

( two pics under the cut )

I'm so excited! My largest crab just had a successful molt!

I got him over two months ago. He was the last jumbo they had left, and he was in sorry shape. The ends of most of his legs were missing, and he definitely needed to destress and molt.

The first week I brought him home, he ate quite a bit and tore up the tank on a nightly basis. Then he went under. For another week I'd hear him rutting around underneath and would wake up to the tank being destroyed yet again.

Then nothing for two months.

Tonight I heard some commotion in the tank, and there was Gigantor! He's freshly molted, all his leg parts are back, and he's eating along with a friend. I'm so glad he's doing ok, and that he looks so much better. His colors are really vibrant now.

This past Saturday my husband and I went to the local reptile show to get feeders for the snake, food for the geckos, and just browse around. We ended up bringing home two Purple Pinchers as well.

I hadn't had hermit crabs in years and to be honest, I wasn't a great hermit mom back then.

Saw some Strawberry crabs at Petco a couple of weeks ago and decided to do some research.

Still haven't named them, but we're certain the big guy is a boy since hubby didn't see any pleopods when he changed shells. It was too dark to tell on the little guy. Hubby is so lucky as he saw them swapping shells many times last night.

Anyway, here are a few photos I snapped last night.

( Here be hermits! )

Any ideas for names? :)

I am leaving for 8 weeks in germany over the summer. I have asked a couple of people to take care of my hermies, so I made some questions to ask them so I can kind of "Evaluate" them.

Have you ever had any experience with hermit crabs?

Are you going away over the summer?

If so, do you have anyone who would be willing to watch them?

Do you have any siblings?

If so how old and do they listen to you?

Are you good at following directions carefully?

Can you stay consistant with something for a long time?

What does your family think of you taking care of them?

Do you have any other pets?

If so, what animal?

Will you contact me if anything happens?

What is your email adress?

Do you check your email all the time?



Any other suggestions for questions? I want to choose the right person, and if anyone else wants to take care of my babies I'll ask these to them, too.

X-posted

On Monday I decided to change my substrate from sand to Eco Earth. I've had a tough time this winter keeping the crabitat damp enough for the crabs, and I finally decided Eco Earth would make life easier. I forget why I quit using it before honestly.

While pulling everyone out of the tank, I found one of my crabs had been attacked and lost some limbs in the process. As a matter of fact, I thought he was dead. He was half out of his shell and not moving. I didn't smell the horrid dead crab smell, but I thought maybe he had died not long before.

I was messing with him a bit later and noticed that he moved! Very weakly, but he moved on his own. I quickly put him into an isolation bowl with everything he needs, and he's now back in the tank where his conditions can be maintained more easily. I've got the bowl near the front so I can keep an eye on him.

On Tuesday, I still got some weak movements from him. Yesterday I was sure he was gone, but there wasn't the horrid smell. I misted him, and he moved on his own. That was the only movement I got from him. And yes, he moved on his own and not from the force of the mist.

Today there's still no smell, and it almost looks like a gel limb is forming. I'm not getting any movement from him, but his body is still pliable. I've changed his food and water, and he's within easy reach of his food.

My question is do hermit crabs normally not move much after they've been through a bad attack? I'm not sure why he was attacked. He recently molted, but his body has hardened up pretty well. Still, there was a lot of his skeleton left, so the other crabs may have gone for it. I've never had an attack leave a crab this badly off before. They may lose a limb, but they do ok. On occasion I've had a crab killed, but not very often. This guy is just near to motionless, and I don't have a lot of hope for him. He still has both claws which is a relief.

I'm going to keep checking him every day, and see if he starts to smell. I'm also going to keep an eye on his gel limb and see if that's really what it is.

He's just not moving, but he's not stinking either. I feel a little silly like maybe I'm attempting to feed a dead pet, but he's moved often enough for me to know he's still alive.

And this post makes it sound like I'm always poking and prodding him. I'm really not. I only check on him once a day so that I can mist him. I was sure he was gone this afternoon, so I did gently touch him.

Cross posted.

There is Finally some life going on in the Crabitat! Mojo is moving around. Being that he is one of our newer ones, he's still really shy and pops back into his shell if he ever catches me peeking through the glass at him.

We bought Mojo and Homie (I let my Husband name them) about a month ago because I thought they might keep Ditto company since Scrooge had burried himself. However, two day's after we got them home, they ALL went under!

My husband named the newbies Mojo and Homie because Mojo is a hyper and very quick little thing. The owner of the pet shop had told him, since there were only two crabs left in the tank at that point, that if he could catch him, my husband could have him for free. Homie was so named because he wouldn't hardly come out of his shell. Oh, he's alive and such, he just wouldn't move until night time when he thought no one was watching.

I think that Ditto may have switched shells, finally, and may now be in the process of molting. One of the two bigger shells that I put in there for him is missing.

So, I think and hope *Crosses fingers* that I finally have a stable crabitat. The temperature stays between 83 and 87 degrees, and I've been working to keep the humidity at 80, though it will go down to 70 at the lowest.

*X-Posted

Well, Things seem to be doing well in the crabitat now. I noticed that Scrooge has burried himself. I guess that was what the problem was. Not enough substrate for him to burrow into.

So Ditto has the entire tank to himself. Such a tiny little crab to such a big big world. *LOL*

The temp now stays at 82 and the humidity is above 80. Last I checked, I think it even got close to 90. I've calmed myself down from spritzing the entire tank down 3 + times a way now that things seem to be more stable.

*x-posted

I had my husband go out to get a humidity gage today for the Crab Tank. While out he also picked up new Substrate, so I cleaned the crabitat and changed things around a bit.

I got rid of most of the old substrate except for the corner where Fumma is still burried. I don't know if he's alive and molting, or if he has died. I can't see from the bottom of the tank like I had hoped.

So, Now there is mostly new "fine Gravel" on one side of the tank, while on the other side there is a thin layer of the fine gravel, and the rest is Puka shells. I added a third water bowl for fresh water, while the other two have salt water.

Ditto is shell hopping. The other day he switched to a bigger shell, but I guess he found it too much of a hassle to move around and he moved back into his tinny tiny little shell which you can tell he is way too big for. There are a few more empty shells in there for him to try out if he desires.

Scrooge has been acting really strange, and I'm worried about him. He's not nearly as grouchy or as active as he has been in the past. In a way, compared to Ditto, he almost reminds me of an old man. When he moves, IF he moves, it's really slow, and it's like he's having a hard time climbing.

Right now, the temp is 82 and the humidity reads at 55. I know that's too low for the humidity, but my husband say's I'm not likely to get up to 80 without a humidifyer and a larger tank. Right now, I think we have a 10 Gallon Tank. It's your standard size fish tank.

I have had an easier time keeping the temp and humidity regulated since I covered most of the mesh top with plastic wrap, so that was a great idea!

* X-Posted

*sigh* All of my hermies are dieing. I have 2, maybe 3 left out of 8... Maybe 3 because there is one burried...but he's been burried so long now that I'm not even sure if he's still alive or not.

Kamui died a couple weeks ago because I moved him to the isolation tank. I found him half out of his shell, looking all dried up. Obviously humidity was the issue... but I also just found Skitters this morning, out of his shell, laying on his back, looking all dried up. I didn't think humidity was a problem, but I see no other explination.

I need to get a humidity gage, but don't have the money. The temp currently is 82. Though at night it tends to go down to 76.

I also found Ditto out of his shell this morning. I figured it would be time for him to change shells soon, because you could tell that his other one was too small. I put a few empty medium sized shells in the tank, and he is currently in the process of making himself at home in a new shell...

What am I doing wrong with my poor hermies. Only Scrooge and Ditto are left, and Scrooge is in the crab hut where he's been for about a week now. Fumma is still burried and I dunno if he's even still alive. Moving any of them to the isolation tank only kills them. Obviously I need a better isolation tank. However, I don't see much point in actually moving anyone right now. The keep pretty much to themselves.

I'm not getting any more hermies until I figure out how to properly care for them. Honestly, I wish I knew someone else in the area who had better experience and could come tell me what I'm doing wrong.

*Sigh* My poor Hermies. =( I'm a crabby killer. *sniffle*

*X-posted

I'm not sure if one of my crabs has finished molting, yet he's been out and about on the surface moving around.

I did some crabitat maintance today, which was really needed because I've been too afraid to with so many of my hermies molting at the same time. Three have been on the surface for about a week now, so I thought maybe that I could do a little cleaning and give the guys on the surface a bath.

Scrooge, (who actually hasn't been acting like Scrooge, though I don't think he molted, he still looks the same color to me,) didn't even pop out of his shell during his bath. Oh, He's alive, he came out when I gently blew into his shell.

Skitters, I noticed was moving kinda funny. He poped out during his bath, but seemed to be having a little difficulty moving around. Again, he's been out and active on the surface for a week or so, so I figured he had finished molting. I picked him up for closer inspection to finally realize/discover that he only has his big claw on one side, and no other legs. So while he has his little claw and two (or was it three? I forget) legs on the other side, he was moving funny because he only has his big claw on the other side to use. O_o uhhh.....What's wrong with my hermie???

I gently blew on him and he came out of his shell a little further so I could see better. It looks like he might have the start of a gel limb....but I'm really not sure. Is this normal??? Did he surface in the middle of his molt? I'm not sure what I should do with him. I really hope that I didn't stress him out or worse by giving him a bath and handling him... Ugh...that's how Nemo died... =(

* x-posted

Okay, Kamui and Skitters have been on the surfice for a week now, give or take a few days, and now Scrooge is half burried under the crab hut, and I'm scared to death to move him because that is how King died...half burried under the crab hut. I'm not sure if the other crabs bothered him or not or if it was me checking up on him that caused him to stress out, and I'm afraid of the same thing happening to Scrooge. Kamui and Skitters "seem" to be leaving him alone, though I can't be certain.

Fumma and Ditto are nowhere to be seen. However, I've noticed a few crab parts laying around the crabitat. I'm not sure if maybe they are part of someone's old exo, or if someone is overly stressed and losing limbs.

The crabitat probably needs to be cleaned, but again, I'm scared to death to do any more then refill their water bowls...

Any advice?? Please? *Pleading black beady little hermie eyes*

* X-Posted

And I Didn't Have A CAMERA!!!

Ditto, my littlest crab, climbed into one of the bigger shells I have in the crabitat. He looked SO CUTE!!!

He's SO Small that he fit into this larger shell, while he was still in his own little shell, and had room to make it look like he was lounging there on a king sized bed or something! Goodness, I SO Wish I had had a camera, that would have made a GREAT Icon!!!

X Posted

Over the past month, I've sadly lost two of my crabs, mid molt. I waited a week and a half before finally concluding they were most definately dead. Unfortunately, they were King and McQueen. =( I was really sad about that.

I've been scared to death to mess with the tank at all since. Skitters finally surfaced, freshly molted. He's been the only one active in the tank though. Even little Ditto has disappeared. Kamui surfaced about a week ago, but I think may have gone under again. I haven't seen Scrooge or Fumma in a few weeks now.

I'm glad that Skitters has safely come out of molting, but since the other's are burrowed, I'm really afraid to go poking around the tank to do much more then water.

*X-Posted

***Cross-posted***

Yesterday morning, Wally left us a window, big as can be and he was pretty active...I was happy to see that he'd molted and was doing well.

Last Night...on the phone with an excited Kathy about her new babies and we're chatting when my hubby comes up and says "Wally's topside"

WOOOT!

I dash downstairs! Oh! He's so pretty! Where's the camera?

Wally Before:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/wicked_annabella/Hermies2006007.jpg

Wally now (with the new shell he took before he burrowed down)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/wicked_annabella/January207004.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/wicked_annabella/January207013.jpg

Oh don't turn your back on me! Kathy: Oh, just turn him around, that's what I do! (lol) I notice something weird...Wally is diggin after Gary???

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/wicked_annabella/January207003.jpg

Then I notice Gary who's furiously digging for something! Kathy hears me..."Oh no....OOOHHHHH NOOOO."

K: What?
L: I think I lost one of my straws...uh, oh no...
K: Is it Sebastian?
L: I don't know...oh boy....there's a leg
K: Is it hollow?
(She's trying to keep me calm)
L: I don't know...I don't think so...
K: I don't want to be on the phone with you if it's Sebastian...You're going to have to dig - do you know where it came from?
L: I think so, I-I don't know.
K: You have to.
L: Okay....(digging) I don't feel anything...oh, wait...wait, it's, it's FRECKLES! SHE MOLTED! There's exo still attached.
K: Iso her!
L: IN WHAT? All I have is a kritter keeper
K: Well you can't put her in that, you know how straws are with their humidity...
L: Now what?
K: Do you have a coke bottle?
L: No
K: How about Gladware?
L: Oh! Yeah!
(runs to tupperware cabinet and pulls out three bowls, chooses one and punches scissors through cracking top)
K: Put her exo in with her and cover her lightly then put the bowl over her
(does - panting and trying to keep Gary from going back)
K: Do you have any shrimp or fish?
L: Yeah.
K: Give them some protein...keep them away from her.
L: (Dashing back with fish from daughter's dinner two nights ago) Okay.

(note Gary in foreground...arrrrgggghh h)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/wicked_annabella/January207007.jpg

Whew. Then I noticed that there's more scritching and another window appears...I can't quite tell who it is yet...but I will let you know. They look ready to come topside as well.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/wicked_annabella/January207008.jpg

I'll let you know how Freckles fairs after this. *Sigh*

Thank you Kathy for keeping your head and walking me through this...Boy when I saw the exo with the eyes and the antenna, I freaked.