Inactive hermies (formerly quick help please???)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:22 pm

okay i need help im on my dads hca acount.my hermies are very un active.i have 4 of them and all but 1 are burried i need help with getting them active because my mum doesnt want them very much any more because it just seems like theres an empty tank in our living room.there is no activity but i dont no what to do to make them active.do i need to pick them up and let them have a little walk round?do i need to purchase something? i no they are great little creatures and to me they are very specail. please help me as much as you can.

thankyou very much.

Subject edited for clarity (and faster help). clmw

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:50 pm

Do they have plenty of things to climb on?

Tetracolor · Post by **Tetracolor** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:05 pm

Well... since 3 of the 4 are underground then there isn't much you can do to make the tanmk, but so lively. Do you have PP's? If so... it might be extremely hard to make them appear active. Try buying them some new climbing toys and perhaps putting in some honey, apples, or some other food that makes them energetic. And if possible... try and sneak out and buy an E or two. Those are active!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:15 pm

thanks for the great replies iv tried the climbing toy idea .... i live in england and you can only get ruggies here unfortunetly

i dont think there is enough room for another crabbie either

Kilimanjaro · Post by **Kilimanjaro** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:18 pm

Well you cannot force your crabs to become active, since they are nocturnal. This all is apart of being a responsible pet owner and understanding that they are more active at night.

Foods with lots of carbohydrates like apples, honey, and molasses will usually get them a bit more active, but it's not likely that they will become active. It's just the way they are.

Tetracolor · Post by **Tetracolor** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:31 pm

Well, you could let your mom get on the HCA and learn and then she might appreciate the nature of these crabbies.

MudCrabDude · Post by **MudCrabDude** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:33 pm

Kilimanjaro wrote:Well you cannot force your crabs to become active, since they are nocturnal. This all is apart of being a responsible pet owner and understanding that they are more active at night.

Foods with lots of carbohydrates like apples, honey, and molasses will usually get them a bit more active, but it's not likely that they will become active. It's just the way they are.

Ditto on this one.

Also, some of the hermits may prefer environmental conditions buried as opposed to being above ground (in other words, they are only "active" underneath the substrate).

Unfortunately, it seems that the problem with the empty tank being an "eyesore" is to be solved only by moving the tank, it seems, to a place where your parents do not mind having them 24/7 year round. If it's a really, really big tank in a home, you would probably need to talk with them on how to move it properly as well.

brad873 · Post by **brad873** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:51 pm

well, you can move the tat to your room. i hate when parents dont like things becaus they dont always see them

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:07 pm

Another thought: design an absolutely beautiful tank. There are some members who've made such gorgeous tanks that even without crabs the tanks are almost works of art. I'll try to find links to some pictures posted on this board. However, basically they all involved a fair number of plastic hanging vines, wood climbing toys, pebbles all arranged to look very attractive to people as well as crabs.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:02 pm

Also check the temperature of the tank, They do become more active with more heat and humidity!

I have the same problem and the only time i see them is when i have been cooking alot and the room heats up which in turn heats up the tank!

Good luck and i hope your mum starts to enjoy your babies soon!

Tetracolor · Post by **Tetracolor** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:05 pm

Well... I'm going to be xtremely upset if your mom makes you ditch them. Perhaps the family could stay up late one night and watch a movie and perhaps the crabs will start moving around and you can say, "Hey! Look mom. The crabs are out and about." And draw the attention towards them.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 5:20 am

wow thanks! youve given me alot of great ideas realy good advice!