HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Obviously not anytime really soon, but at some point I'm really considering getting Blueberry hermit crabs (probably will order two and I've read LHC tends to send an extra as well so that would make three). But before I did I needed to ask some questions about their behaviors, and the behavior of other crabs (PP's) toward them. Are they more active during the day or night/really early morning? Are they shy or skittish like LHC says violas tend to be ("shy and are more active at night") or are they more relaxed/bold? What kept me from seeking out violas in the future was hearing they are shy and mostly active when people are asleep. I've read Blueberries are so gentle they are best kept with their own species since they will not defend themselves; does that mean it is even a risk to put them with purple pinchers? Are they really active like E's or more lazy?

I look forward to seeing the responses from those of you lucky enough to have kept or known people who have kept Blueberries.

I heard that Blueberries are the friendliest -not as active as "E's" and not shy like Violas. I ordered two straws from LHC in August, but they didn't send any extras. I feel gypped - no not really. It would have been nice, but I love the two I received.

I ordered 2 violas and 1 Indo from LHC and got them a couple weeks ago. I didn't get any extras either and felt ripped off too but I think it's because I live closer and the crabs didn't have far to travel. I just places another order for 2 blueberries, 2straws, and another Indo buddy for the one I already have. I can't wait!!!!
I heard blues will sometimes not stick up for themselves when being picked on by other crabs but experiences blue owners say that is not true.
Not much is known about them because they have been available in te US for that long.

I really think so many people have come to expect extras that she is no longer being nice and sending extras. Yes I got an extra but i also asked for it and offered to pay for that extra ahead of time.
I have to laugh at the statement PP's are active and Viola's shy. I NEVER see my PP's. Its not because they are molting, they just never come out. Even when I take them out they stay in their shells. The viola's are out and about in the tank a lot. One was very active during the day at the begining. Out of the tank yes one is extremely shy but one will come right out. Really hoping they can do fine with other species as I only got one. starting to regret that. really nervous about them arriving in the winter.

Some of my PPs are out a lot and one of my violas is out a lot! So go figure!!! I think every ctab is different and there's not much info on a lot of exotic crabs because they haven't been available for that long. Not to mention some of the info is rumors, mostly about their personalities, started up by god knows who, probally some know it all!!
Like violas being hunters and indos shallow molters so you shouldn't keep them together but when I talk to people who opinions I trust and are long time owners of both species they say they have never had a problem.
So read what you can and unless you read the same fact from several different sources I would say take it with a grain of salt and trust people who have given you proven information in the past. Like many people on this board!!!
You don't know til you try stuff out for yourself!!!

I find blueberries to be pretty "middle of the road" in most aspects. They're generally friendly and pretty active but they rarely go crazy and trash the tank. I've been keeping blueberries with all my other species for a couple years now and my blues have never been bullied. In fact, I've found the very large blueberries to be food aggressive. Even one of my little blueberries went after one of my Ecuadorians the other day because he apparently liked his shell. For the most part, though, blueberries are easy to care for and the get along well in a community tank setting.

Thank you for all of the responses! I'm glad to hear they are out and about more but do not tend to trash the tank like Es (I do love my Ecuadorians but they can be real pills sometimes). That sucks that they don't send an extra. The shipping is incredibly expensive alone, then $15 per crab, so I thought it was awesome if they sent an extra. Especially considering people have been having mite problems with crabs they've purchased from LHC. That's what I'm most paranoid about, them coming to me with mites (even though they would be in an ISO tank, I hate to see animals miserable). Hopefully they have blueberries in a few months, too, since they offer no live arrival guarantee during winter months (which I understand, although I wish they wouldn't ship at all during winter months if it's that risky). I'm sure not going to spend that much without a guarantee and possibly risk a hermit crab's life, not worth it all around.

Since you live pretty far away from New York, they may send you an extra but that extra is there in case there are any that didn't make it during such a long trip.
Even though I live closer and didnt receive an extra that makes me feel better about them being sent during the winter months. It took my last order less then 24hrs to get here and I probably would have ordered more except they were out of stock on a lot of species. Originally I was going to wait until spring but I have no restrant when it come to crabbies. Not to mention my sons bday is on the 9th and mine is the 24th of December so this is our bday gift!!!
I can't wait!!!!

NeviNuNu wrote:Since you live pretty far away from New York, they may send you an extra but that extra is there in case there are any that didn't make it during such a long trip.
Even though I live closer and didnt receive an extra that makes me feel better about them being sent during the winter months. It took my last order less then 24hrs to get here and I probably would have ordered more except they were out of stock on a lot of species. Originally I was going to wait until spring but I have no restrant when it come to crabbies. Not to mention my sons bday is on the 9th and mine is the 24th of December so this is our bday gift!!!
I can't wait!!!!

Sadly, I live in new mexico and didn't reccive an extra. I ordered 2 ruggies and one was dead within 10 days.

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i also have no restraint and last time i was unable to get my smalls plus i'm getting excited about the blueberry now. I am really worried about the trip and the cold but decided to risk it. obviously others have got crabs shipped during the winter and they survived. And honestly even with the guaranteed you would have to pay shipping again and that is the major expense of the crabs. If one died I don't think I would pay to have another shipped unless I was getting a lot more than one.

fate it sucks about your ruggie =( i wish you could order with us. can't believe she didn't even email you back about it

I know the extra is for if you lose one, and I am a little paranoid about that. I once read here that no one has emailed them saying they lost a crab during shipping, but I wasn't sure if that was true or not, it was just something I read on here. Which is why I felt more comfortable ordering through them (also the fact that people kept saying they got a "backup crab"). I'd feel horrible if any animal shipped to me passed, but I figured they must be doing something right if no one has had one die during shipping.

I'm so sorry to hear about your ruggie, Fate. You didn't get an email back? That makes me even more skeptical about ordering from there. I wish I could find somewhere even close that had blueberries, or an member here up to three hours away that was rehoming (then again, it's pretty much impossible to find anything but E's and PP's being rehomed even within three hours of where I live, and even then I don't see a whole lot of hermit crabs being rehomed in any of those areas).

Invert Mom wrote:I know the extra is for if you lose one, and I am a little paranoid about that. I once read here that no one has emailed them saying they lost a crab during shipping, but I wasn't sure if that was true or not, it was just something I read on here. Which is why I felt more comfortable ordering through them (also the fact that people kept saying they got a "backup crab"). I'd feel horrible if any animal shipped to me passed, but I figured they must be doing something right if no one has had one die during shipping.

I'm so sorry to hear about your ruggie, Fate. You didn't get an email back? That makes me even more skeptical about ordering from there. I wish I could find somewhere even close that had blueberries, or an member here up to three hours away that was rehoming (then again, it's pretty much impossible to find anything but E's and PP's being rehomed even within three hours of where I live, and even then I don't see a whole lot of hermit crabs being rehomed in any of those areas).

Sadly, no email back. I sent 3 to her begging to pay for a friend for my remaining ruggie who was super sick and needed a species buddy very badly. I wanted another blue ruggie to replace the one who died, but I would have tanken ANY color. I never accused her or asked for a free replacement. I just wanted to help my remaining crabie.

I hope everyones crabs come happy and healthy. For me, ordering from her with no garantee just seems to risky. I don't know her business practices well. I've just seen the lack of. I personally feel like it would be too easy to place dying crabs in a box and send them on their way.

If higher respect for customer service was given. Maybe id feel different.

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The respect for the customer may not be there but she cares about her crabs. I don't think she would send dying ones because them it would be guarenteed they would die. plus if she got a rep for sending dead crabs than she would lose her business. exotic or not means nothing if they are dead

Zoeythelost wrote:plus if she got a rep for sending dead crabs than she would lose her business.

She's been sending out mite-ridden crabs for months, and it hasn't seemed to slow business down even though everyone knows about it. Right now she's the only source for exotic crabs, and I think that says a lot about why she can have crabs with mites and poor customers service and people still go back and order more.

And as for the shipping - that's pretty on par with guaranteed overnight costs. Between the packing supplies and the actual shipping costs I seriously doubt she's making any money on that. (I wonder if she's even making on the crabs at this point - if the mite infestations are that severe, how many is she loosing at the warehouse before they even get shipped?)

I was thinking the same Wodesorel. I really wish there was another option.
I still have selling exotics in the back of my mind and look into it here and there so maybe one day. I think if I was going to do it I would start off at trade expos and what not first and then work up to it that way. Although I would never commit to even the expos until I have done more research on this business aspects first and there just isn't much info out there.