Loveable Exotics (coming soon)

[aussieJJDude]

I sure others have mentioned an idea that i thought of, but just in case I will offer my thoughts.
I believe it is best if you ship the healthy ones off straight away to their new homes so that way they can get the ordeal over an done with; like many people that ship fish will just export them ASAP so they don't have to "cool down" and then get worried again. However for the ones that are in a fair condition it may be worth just keeping them in a pet store conditions - eg; low amount of substrate however everything else like a normal crabitat - and feed them the calcium, protein & other important vitamins/minerals. In a few weeks time, see which crabs have perked up in the conditions and ship them off.
For the others that don't look like they going well - and the ones that arrive in bad conditions - it may be best just to let them moult & rest under your care.
How are you going to look after the ones moutling? In separate areas - like a divided tank - or a large tat thats full of substrate?

[LucasBinx]

I'm going to comment about the bearded dragons, since I have two myself and work at a petstore.

First, I hope they're coming from a pedigreed background and not being bred from an unknown pet store dragons. I'm assuming they'll be hypo? I would also suggest waiting longer than a month old/4 inches to ship them off. I've seen too many beardies perish due to stress and stop eating. They get shipped to us way too young.
Definitely have whoever is interested in purchasing one provide informative on their care. Are you familiar with beardeddragons.org? Awesome care site like the HCA to reference. I would require a proof of how the dragon will be careful for, like how is their setup- Reptisun 10, no substrate, 40+ gallon enclosure, proper basking temps, etc.

[kitkathermiesworld]

I sure others have mentioned an idea that i thought of, but just in case I will offer my thoughts.
I believe it is best if you ship the healthy ones off straight away to their new homes so that way they can get the ordeal over an done with; like many people that ship fish will just export them ASAP so they don't have to "cool down" and then get worried again. However for the ones that are in a fair condition it may be worth just keeping them in a pet store conditions - eg; low amount of substrate however everything else like a normal crabitat - and feed them the calcium, protein & other important vitamins/minerals. In a few weeks time, see which crabs have perked up in the conditions and ship them off.
For the others that don't look like they going well - and the ones that arrive in bad conditions - it may be best just to let them moult & rest under your care.
How are you going to look after the ones moutling? In separate areas - like a divided tank - or a large tat thats full of substrate?

I like your idea!!
But I was going to divide the main tank + I will have about 10 Iso with deep substrate. If I needed more I can always buy more.

[kitkathermiesworld]

I'm gpartner to comment about the bearded dragons, since I have two myself and work at a petstore.

First, I hope they're coming from a pedigreed background and not being bred from an unknown pet store dragons. I'm assuming they'll be hypo? I would also suggest waiting longer than a month old/4 inches to ship them off. I've seen too many beardies perish due to stress and stop eating. They get shipped to us way too young.
Definitely have whoever is interested in purchasing one provide informative on their care. Are you familiar with beardeddragons.org? Awesome care site like the HCA to reference. I would require a proof of how the dragon will be careful for, like how is their setup- Reptisun 10, no substrate, 40+ gallon enclosure, proper basking temps, etc.

Thanks for the great info!
But I'm not a bearded dragon caregiver that is my Sister's field. But I know she has 4 of her own in a 200 gallon tank. She will be handling them though & is looking into breeding them with the proper care. I wonder if she is a member on the site I will definitely ask.
She also is my business partner

[aussieJJDude]

I like your idea!!
But I was going to divide the main tank + I will have about 10 Iso with deep substrate. If I needed more I can always buy more.

Thanks,
I thought that would work best as you can spend more time of the crabbies that need it, rather than worrying about the other crabs too.
And your setup sounds awesome too, I guess it all about what works for you and your crabs!

Good luck, & I hope the business does well for you!

[hermitcrab101]

I love the fact of another place being able to sell exotics to us. The main concerns I'd have is the condtion of the crabs coming from the suppliers in Indoneasia do you know how they keep, ship and care for the crabs? It could be like in the video by CNN where the crabs are kept overcrowded and are roughly treated. In that case LOTS of the crabs sould die upon artival and in the days after being shipped. There are several wholesale companies in the U.S. that offer exotics like segress farms, have you looked into buying from them? Also have you factored in website costs and bussiness/tax permits?

[fraksocks]

I really support the idea of letting the crabs go through a molt. To help avoid some molt related issues related to timing and crabs digging up other crabs it would help to divide the crabs up by size so it would reduce (some) aggression and help you to have an approximate idea of when each grouping would be available for sale.

Having extra shells would be an issue initially but over time you would accumulate the shells that you need as crabs leave their current shells and move into other shells. It would also increase the value of your crabs if they are sent out freshly molted, de-stressed and in a nice natural shell.

[kitkathermiesworld]

I love the fact of another place being able to sell exotics to us. The main concerns I'd have is the condtion of the crabs coming from the suppliers in Indoneasia do you know how they keep, ship and care for the crabs? It could be like in the video by CNN where the crabs are kept overcrowded and are roughly treated. In that case LOTS of the crabs sould die upon artival and in the days after being shipped. There are several wholesale companies in the U.S. that offer exotics like segress farms, have you looked into buying from them? Also have you factored in website costs and bussiness/tax permits?

I seen pictures of their warehouse on their website and its really big... I wouldn't say it was the nicest way for them to be kept but there was none piled on top of each other. They all had room to walk but there was no substrate .. I'm honestly not sure how they treat them though since I'm not in Indonesia and if I ask they would probably just lie for the sale. I just know once they come into my care they will be spoiled with love. I did just look at segrest farms and only seen Es, Straws, & PPs. Do you know how they keep their hermies? Because I was trying to find pictures. But yes I did add my website / permit costs money is not a problem for me.

[kitkathermiesworld]

Thanks,
I thought that would work best as you can spend more time of the crabbies that need it, rather than worrying about the other crabs too.
And your setup sounds awesome too, I guess it all about what works for you and your crabs!

Good luck, & I hope the business does well for you!

Thank you very much

[kitkathermiesworld]

I really support the idea of letting the crabs go through a molt. To help avoid some molt related issues related to timing and crabs digging up other crabs it would help to divide the crabs up by size so it would reduce (some) aggression and help you to have an approximate idea of when each grouping would be available for sale.

having extra shells would be an issue initially but over time you would accumulate the shells that you need as crabs leave their current shells and move into other shells. It would also increase the value of your crabs if they are sent out freshly molted, de-stressed and in a nice natural shell.

I think they should be able to molt as well. But the one's who doesn't need to molt right away and are in good condition while being in my care they should be fine molting at their new homes if their conditions are right. I will be buying about 600 shells (turbos, babylonian, snail, and moon shells) for them. And I will be ordering all small crabs : )

[kitkathermiesworld]

Is polycarbonate any good to built my tanks with? Are just Acrylic? I'm trying to order the sheets this weekend

[hermitcrab101]

I did just look at segrest farms and only seen Es, Straws, & PPs. Do you know how they keep their hermies? Because I was trying to find pictures.

This is a pretty good company and they treat there animals well, I've seen pictures of the facility, but not the actual hermit crab cages. They also carry blues which seem to be in high demand http://www.segrestfarms.com/index.cfm?f ... ureus.html .

[kitkathermiesworld]

This is a pretty good company and they treat there animals well, I've seen pictures of the facility, but not the catalo hermit crab cages. They also carry blues which seem to be in high demand http://www.segrestfarms.com/index.cfm?f ... ureus.html .

Okay Thank You very much!! I'm going to send an e-mail to them today for their price list..

[kitkathermiesworld]

Update~
I have almost everything I need for getting their tank started, just waiting on my polycarbonate sheets and the sealant I ordered online...
So far I've purchased food trays, water dishes, river rocks, huge baskets for moss pits and shell shops. A couple fake plants and playsand. I plan on getting more thing's as time goes on since I have about 5 month's to complete everything I'm going to take my time.

I can't wait for everything to come together!!!

[ErikRasmussen]

Is polycarbonate sheets okay for crabs? I want to go to the hardware store and get a sheet of it for a DIY lid and maybe some other stuff.