Adopting tomorrow! ( 12/16 ) EDIT; THEY MULTIPLIED!

Drakezilla · Post by **Drakezilla** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 11:23 pm

While I am unable to take the E's I posted for in the adoptee thread, I AM however picking up a new small PP in a 10g tomorrow! I'm so excited!! It's the first time I've taken on new crabs in years!!

but with my tank upgrade it should be great!!

From what I gathered, the guy I'm adopting the crab from, got it from a friend of his daughter's at school and they've had it a month.

Now, while I'm used to crabs flying solo and doing perfectly fine, I know my large, Draco, is the exception, not the rule. So. I know that for a bit, the little guy should be okay, but what I'm asking is, should I go ahead and get him a friend? I know of a store with 2 lonely micros by themselves and I was wondering if I should help them out as well? THEYRE SO CUTE.

If not, how long do you think the one adoptee can make it on his own?

Post by **aussieJJDude** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 1:56 am

Well, every crab is different. I am sure that both the adoptee & draco would love some buddies to hang out with.... We will never be equal.

So your asking me if I would get more crabs???? Well, of course I would!

Even though many people don't advocate buying crabs from a store, it might be a good idea to get the two micros to give your PP's some friends to play with. Crabs of different sizes often coexist the happiest IMO.

Drakezilla · Post by **Drakezilla** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 3:13 am

aussieJJDude wrote:Well, every crab is different. I am sure that both the adoptee & draco would love some buddies to hang out with.... We will never be equal.
So your asking me if I would get more crabs???? Well, of course I would! Even though many people don't advocate buying crabs from a store, it might be a good idea to get the two micros to give your PP's some friends to play with. Crabs of different sizes often coexist the happiest IMO.

Honestly, I would never advocate it myself, this is just an unusual situation. Draco breaks every other hermit crab law out there ( though I stick to them regardless ) he's different. I upgraded to offer him friends and space after being alone for a long time. He's molting, so I don't think he'll be able to keep the newbies company for awhile. And yeah, as he's a large going on jumbo, I think smaller crabs are gonna be an easier transition for him. And if it doesn't work, they're so little that the spare tanks I've got will make a good home for them to grow!

Post by **aussieJJDude** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 3:58 am

Thats good that you have a backup plan if things don't go that well!
I hope the best for you & your crabs - both present & future.

Fingers crossed, and I look forward to some pics.

Drakezilla · Post by **Drakezilla** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 5:45 pm

Thanks, JJ! I can't post any pics right now because he won't come out honestly, but I got him! He's in a crappy, chipping metallic blue painted shell. He's got a few inches of EE sub, for now I've given him extra shells, salt/fresh water, misted the tank, handmade crab food, egg shells, honey, cuttlebone and spirulina powder. I've covered the tank to keep in the humidity and calm him down.

I know I need to add sand to the sub, but as long as he's wearing the painted shell isn't it better to wait til he switches ( he's trying to change shells now ) then add substrate with paint chips in it?

ETA; PICTURES!

Post by **aussieJJDude** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:11 pm

I would add some more substrate now.

The poor thing is probably in need for a moult & could use the extra depth... I had crabs with painted shells that will dig down and enjoy the tank before changing; I never noticed anything bad happen. Anyway, what I am trying to say is that he should be fine.

I see that you're offering him a lot of D-shaped shells. Thats ok, however he does look like a PP so he probably prefer a turbo or similar.
I hope the best,
aussie
(BTW, you might need to update that siggy of yours!

)

Drakezilla · Post by **Drakezilla** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 11:44 pm

He's VERY healthy from what I can see! The funnier thing is that my mom has really taken a liking to him as he's so tiny! XDD I'll add more sub in the morning, he's very happy as of tonight! He's eaten, he's in all the water dishes, changing shells constantly, he's a cutie! His color looks good too!

I wasn't sure of his size, so those are all the shells I've got right now. I'll try to get a ride to a craft or petstore for some turbos soon though!

I've named him Tonks.

Post by **aussieJJDude** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 1:24 am

Ohh, Tonks is such and awesome name! Plus it goes with cute an awesome (and cute) crab.

I happy to see that he is out of that awful painted shell. Really looks like he is loving the TLC that you've been giving him. (Trust me, he will thank you for the turbo, I never heard of a PP thats said no to a turbo.)

Crabinski · Post by **Crabinski** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 6:33 pm

Great name! Tonks is one of my favorite Harry Potter characters

.

Drakezilla · Post by **Drakezilla** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 1:37 am

UPDATE;

...Tonks has a friend!!
Somehow...there were two crabs in that tank.

I don't even know. Like, I'm still speechless. If they hadn't changed into Draco's old shells, I never would have known! Thankfully, they're both PPs! One looks like it's almost a medium and one is definitely a small. They're too shy for me to figure out their sexes yet so, back to the drawing board with names!

singlemomwithcrab · Post by **singlemomwithcrab** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 7:39 am

That's hilarious....
Tucked deep in an oversized shell.

GOTTCHA should be his / her name. ROFL

aldebaron0626 · Post by **aldebaron0626** » Sat Dec 20, 2014 2:14 am

I guess the good news is you don't need to find a friend. But how did the previous owner not know there were two?

Post by **aussieJJDude** » Sun Dec 21, 2014 8:39 pm

Wow, you successfully managed to breed a hermit crab! o_o How did you managed to breed one?

Great to hear that Tonks has a friend though.

Drakezilla · Post by **Drakezilla** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 1:26 am

aldebaron0626 wrote:I guess the good news is you don't need to find a friend. But how did the previous owner not know there were two?

I decided to email the guy who gave them to me asking the same question. Here's what he said:

Hello

One but maybe two. There were two but one disappeared. I think it was molting. One was in the blue shell and the other was in the baseball shell. But I'm not sure they were both still there when I put them on Craigslist.

... One, maybe two. What does think happens? They vanish totally? It was darn lucky I put those two shells in though, I took the other painted shells out and I was worried I had others wandering around on me!

My sister however, did not know Tonks wasn't solo, so she surprised me...

bringing my crab count up to 5 now...they're 2 teeny/small PPs and will all be going into a 60 when they've destressed, so it shouldn't be a problem especially if they're going into a 2 story 60 with cycled pools, right...?

If not, I will consolidate eventually and they'll get shuffled into their own 10 or 20 with my sister, as I suspect she adopted the green one for her!

She told me that the lady who got them out for her at a very nice conditioned Petco said the big ones ATTACK the little guys?! Is this due to malnutrition? They were on pellet food...

Because I read on another forum in the wild though that the little ones learn from the big ones...?!

Post by **aussieJJDude** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 4:06 am

Oh, no! What will you do with all these new crabs?

haha, I wouldn't be complaining though. They all look very cute & I am sure they will look cuter without those hideous painted shells one. Hopefully they switch into nicer accommodation soon.
I would say that 5 PP's in a 60g will do well IMO for a while - until they all reach jumbo size. If need be, you could always upgrade/extend.
Hmm, to me it sounds like the crabs could do with some variety in their diet, I know that my crabs can get a bit crabby when they don't have a change of food.

HCA: Hermit Crab Association