HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Just have to do a little happy dance. Crabcakes is back on the surface after 3 months! He was the first crab we got, "crabnapped" (with permission) from a friend whose son wasn't caring for him. Hermit crabs were the last thing I ever thought we'd have as a pet (well, except for spiders. I couldn't have a pet spider. Ever.), but we couldn't leave him in those conditions. We got him in the middle of November, and he went down at the end of December. He just came back up today, all hairy and pointy and colorful, and stuffing his face with good food. This is the first molt we've ever experienced, and it wasn't easy for this helicopter mom to just leave him alone all that time. Thanks to this forum for all of the good information. He is a large crab, and he's just gorgeous now, strutting his stuff around his tank. He has some new friends in quarantine in another tank, and I'm in the middle of a 55 gallon build where the whole crabby clan will get to hang out and just do crabby stuff. Can't wait to get it all done!

Huge congratulations to you! The first molt is always the best, but I get excited every time!

For someone who never thought they would have crabs, you sound an awful lot like a "lifer" now! I was the same way. I started with 1 crab in September, and by December, I had a 55 and 13 crabs!

You are soooo right hermieluv. We got hooked by just stealthily watching Crabcakes do his thing around his tat. They're such charismatic little beasts. Next thing I know we've got another tank and five more crabs, then we bought the 55 and I'm having a great time trying to come up with oodles of crabby amusements for that tank. Thankfully, we have a small house, or I'm fairly sure the addiction would continue, and I'd be scanning Craigslist for more tanks.

But then again, who needs a sofa?

Sassypants wrote:Thankfully, we have a small house, or I'm fairly sure the addiction would continue, and I'd be scanning Craigslist for more tanks.

But then again, who needs a sofa?

I hear ya! I had to cull a small bookcase worth of books in order to remove the bookcase from the living room to be able to squeeze in an aquarium stand when I upgraded to a 29g for my 5 PPs.

BTW, congrats on Crabcakes' successful molt. We all worry every time one of our crabs goes under and do the Snoopy happy dance when they emerge all hairy and black-nailed .

OMG, I just did the same thing with my bookcase...emptied it to turn on its side to use as a stand for the 55 gallon...too funny!

Go Crabcakes! What a good feeling that first molt is.

I've totally been looking at my bookcase, but I have no where to put the books Here's hoping I can find a good coffee table or something from Value Village or kijiji.