New to the forum; have had my crab several years
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 12:09 am
Hello, I am excited to join this forum and share about my hermit crab Busy. I gave her that name when I first got her at a very tiny size, and she was such a busy little eater that that became her name. I'm not sure how long ago that was; most likely at least 10 years, perhaps 15? It was only 3 years ago that I began documenting her molts & other activities in detail. More on her in a bit.
Along with Busy, I used to have several larger crabs: Moby (named after the whale), a rather huge crab, from a specialty aquarium/exotic pet shop. Moby did not live long. I also had others from PetSmart: Pinchy, a medium crab, who was somewhat lop-sided, having one eye larger than the other, subsequent to a molt. And Joey, a bit larger than Pinchy, had more pronounced color, seemed the most vigorous, and lasted the longest of all the others except Busy.
All these crabs lived in a cheap plastic terrarium from PetSmart, perhaps 12-15" long. They had a dish of food, and a dish of tap water, and a heating pad stuck to one end. I can't remember the substrate, although I was generous with spraying them and monitored humidity. If I recall right, for most or all the crabs that passed away, it happened while molting, underground. When only Busy remained, I decided cannibalism was the main issue (during molts), so she's been solitary ever since.
After a few years my sister was visiting and met Busy for the first time. Her immediate remark was, "Hello Busy! Do you want a bigger cage?" and within days after she left, I did a complete rethink of my crabitat. I bought a much, much larger tank (standard glass fish tank size; 21" long?). I added a plastic climbing "tree" from PetSmart as well. I also chatted with the exotic/aquarium pet shop clerk who said distilled water was important, so ever since then I have used distilled water bottles from the grocery store. And also, I added a salt water dish.
Busy's response to the salt water was sheer ecstasy. She basically camped out there at the edge of the tank, for hours! Like somebody who'd just crawled across the Sahara Desert, and barely survived to reach an oasis. The whole time she was dipping her claw over and over again, making up for all the years of salt shortage. I was so happy! And sorry too, that I'd taken this long.
The substrate I use for her is the coconut-fiber stuff from PetSmart that looks like soil after you soak it in water. It's about 4" deep. Often I add some yellow "calcium sand" from the store, as a bottom layer. A problem I used to have while traveling was the crab(s) would push the water dish over, or fill it with substrate so it all leaches out. My solution for several years has been to stack flat rocks strategically one end of the cage, as a stable support for the 2 water dishes. The two dishes are also carefully chosen to fit snugly against each other, held together by the two sides of the cage.
One ongoing issue - tiny flies seem to live in her cage. It's been going on for years. Hopefully, they leave each other along.
Hopefully I haven't over-stepped the "new crab" forum guidelines, but while introducing it seemed appropriate to give some background. In the past couple years, I've more frequently taken her out on walks in the lawn or house. I am hopeful to keep this crab happy for many years to come!
Along with Busy, I used to have several larger crabs: Moby (named after the whale), a rather huge crab, from a specialty aquarium/exotic pet shop. Moby did not live long. I also had others from PetSmart: Pinchy, a medium crab, who was somewhat lop-sided, having one eye larger than the other, subsequent to a molt. And Joey, a bit larger than Pinchy, had more pronounced color, seemed the most vigorous, and lasted the longest of all the others except Busy.
All these crabs lived in a cheap plastic terrarium from PetSmart, perhaps 12-15" long. They had a dish of food, and a dish of tap water, and a heating pad stuck to one end. I can't remember the substrate, although I was generous with spraying them and monitored humidity. If I recall right, for most or all the crabs that passed away, it happened while molting, underground. When only Busy remained, I decided cannibalism was the main issue (during molts), so she's been solitary ever since.
After a few years my sister was visiting and met Busy for the first time. Her immediate remark was, "Hello Busy! Do you want a bigger cage?" and within days after she left, I did a complete rethink of my crabitat. I bought a much, much larger tank (standard glass fish tank size; 21" long?). I added a plastic climbing "tree" from PetSmart as well. I also chatted with the exotic/aquarium pet shop clerk who said distilled water was important, so ever since then I have used distilled water bottles from the grocery store. And also, I added a salt water dish.
Busy's response to the salt water was sheer ecstasy. She basically camped out there at the edge of the tank, for hours! Like somebody who'd just crawled across the Sahara Desert, and barely survived to reach an oasis. The whole time she was dipping her claw over and over again, making up for all the years of salt shortage. I was so happy! And sorry too, that I'd taken this long.
The substrate I use for her is the coconut-fiber stuff from PetSmart that looks like soil after you soak it in water. It's about 4" deep. Often I add some yellow "calcium sand" from the store, as a bottom layer. A problem I used to have while traveling was the crab(s) would push the water dish over, or fill it with substrate so it all leaches out. My solution for several years has been to stack flat rocks strategically one end of the cage, as a stable support for the 2 water dishes. The two dishes are also carefully chosen to fit snugly against each other, held together by the two sides of the cage.
One ongoing issue - tiny flies seem to live in her cage. It's been going on for years. Hopefully, they leave each other along.
Hopefully I haven't over-stepped the "new crab" forum guidelines, but while introducing it seemed appropriate to give some background. In the past couple years, I've more frequently taken her out on walks in the lawn or house. I am hopeful to keep this crab happy for many years to come!
... But, still you could see her cuticle darken over time, and the bits of her old cuticle that she was gradually chewing up, I suppose.
! Oops!)
! Oops!)