I started looking at PETCO, then mom & pop shops (much better!), watched a ton of videos on YouTube and did a bunch of research here. I was HORRIFIED when I realized how badly I had treated my little gift shop hermies when I was a kid- I just had no idea. They had been kept on gravel in a tiny, unheated plastic cage with no heat, no saltwater. PAINTED SHELLS. No wonder they didn’t live very long. Trust me- I feel terrible.
I ended up buying two large PPs from petco (one with a painted shell... I know it supports the industry, but I wanted to save him! So far I’ve offered a ton of natural shells and he hasn’t switched yet) and then two jumbo PPs from a mom & pop shop. The difference in their personalities is staggering. The PETCO crabs are so terrified of everything, constantly digging, hiding, sleeping, while the mom&pop crabs are as happy as can be, and super active. This whole experience has totally turned me against PETCO, and now I’m making sure to give all my business to the small shops. Something just isn’t right about their animal care (at least in my neck of the woods) and I feel awful about it.
Anyyyyways, that’s my story and I just wanted to say hi! Glad to be here
Dave the Wondercrab~Patpat the Scaredy Cat~MaggieMoo-Dumbo~Billy
