Bug!

A couple of weeks ago, my little ecoudorian Bug, lost a leg. Later I found the leg in the sand and threw it away. This is not the first time I've had this happen to a hermit crab. I think Bug died because she had...1. No access to salt water. 2. The humidity levels were down by a lot and I hadn't been misting my crabs. 3. They had chlorinated water! I didn't know this until I read up on another website that chlorinated water is dangerous to the little crabbies. This obviously means be careful of chlorine. You can also get a water dechlorinater. Two little drops to tap water will destroy the chlorine. The water dechlorinater is for any pet, mostly fish tanks but can be used for any water that has chlorine. You can also try Spring Water but that will cost a lot. You can get a nice dechlorinater in a little bottle. Now it may not seem like much but this little bottle can make at least a few HUNDRED gallons!

What the...

I have had King the crab since April. If your crab is dead it is obviously not going to grasp on the it's shell and will most likely fall out. If they are not dead, they will be tight and you probably be able to feel force that the crab is hanging on. King is not dead, but he has NEVER COME OUT OF HIS SHELL! He has a grasp though, and I can easily feel it. But I have never seen him come out, nor move. He is always in the same spot or around the same spot when I come to check on the crabs. I think maybe he does move, I just don't see him do it. Tip: Want to see what you're crabs are up to when you are asleep? Get a video camera with plenty of room on it and set it up around bedtime. Set it on night vision. If it doesn't have this on it, leave a dim light on so the crab tank is visible through the camera lens. Turn the camera on right before you go to sleep. In the morning, watch the video and see what you're crab has been up to!

Some Pet Stores... You just have to RULE OUT!

As the title says, some pet stores you just have to rule out. A couple weeks ago, I went to a pet store I had never been to. It was family owned, so there is only one. I loved it. It was very nice. Then I wanted to see the hermit crabs...okay, I ask an employee. She says they are at the end of the aisle. I go there. My EYEBALLS almost POPPED OUT of my head! There were many Ecuadorians. Great! Most of them were dead and in painted shells! Horrible! This is obviously not a good pet store to buy hermit crabs.

E or P?

Ecuadorian or Purple Pincher? In this posting I will show you how to tell the different species apart!



Take your crab out and examine it. The name Purple Pincher indicates obviously that a crab that is a purple pincher has a big purple claw. You can also tell that your crab is a purple pincher by it's red legs. some crabs may have dark red, blood red, or rose red. It all depends on the crab.





Once more, take a crab out and examine it. Now, the name Ecuadorian may not automatically ring a bell. But these crabs get their name from where they live, not from what they look like. An Ecuadorian crab lives in Ecuador, just like what it's name sounds like. You can tell if a crab is an Ecuadorian by looking at it's legs. If the crab has white or gray marks with tints of a light red in them, your crab is an Ecuadorian.

The World Outside

In the summer, (don't use the hamster ball for this) you may take your crabs outside. Put them in the grass and make sure the grass isn't sprayed with pesticides. I'm not sure which plants may harm your crabs, so keep your crabs away from other plants. Make sure you watch the crabs, especially if your crabs are near the road.

Hamster Ball

I think I read this on another site...but hamster or not get a hamster ball! Hermit crabs love to use them. I bought one 2 days ago and enjoy putting my crabs in it. Not only can they run around, but it is safe. No one can step on the crabs and the ball can't fit in small spaces. ALTHOUGH it can fit under cabinets, dressers, etc. Make sure you put big ones in, the small ones aren't strong enough to push it!

Just as Promised

Just as I promised, I got pictures up of Claire and King. I put all of them here so you can see them all together. King, (bottom) Claire (smallest picture) Bug (middle) Miranda (above) and Willy (top left).

New Decorations

Every once and awhile (not to often anymore) change my crab tank. But I don't change then sand, I change the placement of everything. This way the crabs have something new to explore, or something new to do. It's also good to have new things in storage. That way when you do change the tank you can put new things in there. Also, if you have an aquarium like mine, (one that has a lid on hinges and a built in light) while the top is off it's a good time to mist the tank. Oh, and I forgot to mention that everyday or when it seems like it needs it you should mist your tank with a squirt bottle. Make sure you get the walls of the tank and everything inside it too. Make sure you close the lid. This way your tank stays very moist and humid.

Update

I just wanted to update and put some new pictures up of my tank and hermit crabs. If you want to see some videos of my hermit crabs, go to youtube.com and type in the search box 79mardie. There you will find some of my creations, from cartoons to comedy videos! Anyway, here are pictures of the hermit crabs I have now. Miranda (left), Bug(right). I should get pictures of King,Willy, and Claire up soon!

How to Hold your Hermit crab

Some people have had bad experiences with things. Maybe you went rock climbing and you fell. Maybe you went swimming and someone pushed you in. If this happens, you usually get afraid and may not do it again. Some people have been pinched by hermit crabs. That, just natrually may make you think that all hermit crabs pinch and that they are mean and you don't want to take your hermit crabs out anymore. But remember, you can't give up. The more you hold your hermit crabs, the less likely they are to pinch. If you are having trouble holding your hermit crab, I may have a solution that just might work.



Take your hermit crab out of it's cage by it's shell in one hand. Hold it so It can't reach it's claws to pinch, but make sure you have a good grip so you don't drop the crab. Then use you other hand and put it under the crab's legs. Let his legs brush against your hand. This way the crab feels more secure./ The more secure the crab feels that it is not going to fall, the less likly it is for him to pinch to hang on. Carefully put the crab someplace safe, and unless you are there to watch it, don't let it run freely. Then put your hand flat on the floor in front of the crab. If you crab avoids your hand, put the crab gently on you hand and let it crawl off. Keep doing this until you are comfortable with having the crab on your hand. After a while, put the crab on your hand and carefully stand up. If you want to kneel that's fine too. Just be careful not to drop the crab. After you and you crab get used to being on on another, let you crab crawl to the edge of you hand. Then put your other hand next to the one your crab is on. Keep doing this until you have a crab that doesn't pinch!

NEW CRABS!!!!!

New crab! That's right i have added to my hobbies. Sadly, Star died. But... I got 4 more! 1 at a time! I now have Miranda, Claire, Bug, Riley, and Willy. And new news! BUG is an ECUADORIAN! I have never had this kind before. And I will also try to get a new post up of how to tell the different species apart. By the way, first uploaded vid! RANDOM PETS!

FOR SALE!!!!!

Just as a new invention, I made something I call a hermit crab playset. That way you can put it up somewhere in the house, (living room, kitchen, etc) and you won't have to watch your hermit crabs. It can easily fold up into a easy carrying system to take on travels. It's also very decretive and tall so the bigger crabs can't climb out. I'm sorry I don't have an image; I should get one up soon. In the meantime, if you are interested in purchasing one, go to etsy.com/shop/webkid43/ref=si_shop There you will see my shop. Besides my crab playset, I also have many other things you can purchase!!!

My Crab is coming OUT of it's shell!

If your hermit crab [abbreivieated hc] may be sick if it's doing this. The best way to do this is to not panic. Stay calm. If your hc is walking around it's tank naked with no shell, gentalaly pick it up by it's amdemin or pick it up with a kitchen spoon. Simply carfully transport it into a container that it can't get out of and one that it can't see through. Put it in a safe, dry, dark place where there is no noise. Leave it there with it's shell with it in your container. Then, simply wait. Chances are your crab will go back into it's shell. Once it does, you may put it back into it's regular tank. Keep an eye on it to make sure it does not do this again.

To big for it's shell

If your crab seems to be "falling" out of its shell, there is a very simple cure for that one. All you need is to go to your local pet store, [make sure it sells hermit crabs] and pick out a new good sized shell for your little guy. Also, make sure that it's going to fit. If it is to big, your crab will not like it. If it is to small, you are just running into the same problem as before. Pick out one that is not painted, with no holes. Most likely your crab will go over to inspect the shell when you bring it home. If your crab likes it, it will happily move into it! If it does not, it will go look for another different shell around it's tank.

Legs FALLING off!

There are really no cures I know for this kind of symptom. This has happened to me before, and I have found there is really nothing you can do. If this does happen, the crab is most likely to have a dieseise, and will sadly, probably die soon.

Hermit Crab Emergency Page

If your crab has been acting funny, [legs falling off, to big for it's shell, keeps coming out of shell, etc.] then you might want to visit this page IMMEDIATELY! This is not normal behavior, and can result in your crab dying. I've had two or three crabs that have died from one of these symptoms, and it is always very sad. If your crab is having one of these problems, go to the top of the page for more information.

Star

Some hermit crabs can be annoying... They constantly make noise. Some active crabs like to make a lot of noise in the day time even though they ARE nocturnal!

Petco Rocks!

Just today, on 11-27-10, I went to a new Pet Store called Petco. My mom had been there before, but not me. I loved it. They took such good care of there animals, and it was really clean. I looked around for a while, and I found the hermit crabs with the reptiles. I finally settled on this one with a semi clear shell, and when I brought it home I names it star because her shell was white. She's a medium, and I picked her because she was very active. We were at my Grandmas, and I needed a bigger cage. It was only temporary. I got some shredded paper for bedding, a piece of cardboard to hide under, and some lids from the recycling for food and water. I think she was okay with it, and luckily we were going home today or tomorrow. There she will meet my other crab Riley, and hopefully they will become friends! :)

Good Pet Stores

I usually go to Pet Smart to get hermit crabs. I think it's a good place to buy hermit crabs and to buy hermit crab items. Tip: Bigger crabs have seemed to live longer, so if you want a crab that will live a long time, if well taken care of, they probably will!

For more details on Pet Smart, go to www.petsmart.com/

Riley the Crab

One of my hermit crabs, Riley to be specific, is very active. In seconds after you pick him up, he comes out of his shell. Here are some pictures of him that my Dad and I toke.