HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Mango wrote: Okay. I think tomorrow I'll go collecting. There's a bunch of them that made their home in the sand I'd dumped a while ago from when I cleaned out the tank, so I don't think I will have a problem getting any. xD What type do you prefer to put in your tank? The flats or the ones that roll into a ball?

The flat ones are called sowbugs and the ones that roll up in a ball are called rollie pollies. Some people can't tell the difference so they just pour them into the tank. It doesn't really matter as they both do their job.

My hubby is so sweet! He came in from some yard work today and gave me a coffee can with dozens of rollie pollies in it. He's not particularly into the crabbies, but when he found a big nest he made a point of scooping them up for me.

Can they climb out of the tank? That would be my only concern.

hazel_eyes89 wrote:Can they climb out of the tank? That would be my only concern.

Nope Glass is to smooth for them to get a good grip on.

I always find them in/on/under decaying wood - when it's really soft and rotten they build tunnels in it.

I am overrun with the bugs in my backyard. I decided not to add any to my 'tat, just because I really don't want to kill any during cleans. I'm too sensitive to animal life, haha.
If anyone is really that broken up about not finding any in their yards I could always harvest some and pack them in a plastic container with some cricket water gel things (I have tons left over from when I had a tarantula that ate crickets). The plastic containers are quite shallow and could fit in a manila envelope.
Haha, I know I'm sounding crazy, but if anyone wants any I could totally get you plenty for only $1.00-$2.00 in shipping.

NotaMallard wrote:...
Haha, I know I'm sounding crazy, but if anyone wants any I could totally get you plenty for only $1.00-$2.00 in shipping.

Sounds tempting

eregel wrote:My hubby is so sweet! He came in from some yard work today and gave me a coffee can with dozens of rollie pollies in it. He's not particularly into the crabbies, but when he found a big nest he made a point of scooping them up for me.

Aww, he got you bugs!

Haha, only in a crabber's world.

Would somebody love to send me some?!

Kilimanjaro wrote: Aww, he got you bugs!

Haha, only in a crabber's world.

NotaMallard wrote:I am overrun with the bugs in my backyard. I decided not to add any to my 'tat, just because I really don't want to kill any during cleans. I'm too sensitive to animal life, haha.
If anyone is really that broken up about not finding any in their yards I could always harvest some and pack them in a plastic container with some cricket water gel things (I have tons left over from when I had a tarantula that ate crickets). The plastic containers are quite shallow and could fit in a manila envelope.
Haha, I know I'm sounding crazy, but if anyone wants any I could totally get you plenty for only $1.00-$2.00 in shipping.

Can't have anything until the tank is fixed up, but an so going to take you up on that offer.

CreepyCrawly wrote:Would somebody love to send me some?!

I certainly would love to send you some. PM me, we could work it out.

My 5 year old son loves isopods, thinks they are the coolest things. SO when I initially mentioned keeping them in with his crabs he was excited. Then he asked why and I told him that they will cut down on the mold here and there and that the crabs would enjoy eating them.

Then I got the lecture about how they too are natures creatures and I quickly realized that we would not be putting isopods in our enclosure. He is a caring little fellow.

Keith

What if you have micro hermit crabs, would the rollie pollies harm them? Do the hermit crabs eat them alive? Wouldn't the rollie pollies harm the crabs when they are molting, like when a micro is molting?