New species of coenobita found in ELHC

CallaLily · Post by **CallaLily** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 5:11 pm

Crabola wrote:I volunteer to go to Delaware to visit Bob and see his crabs and facilities if he's open to visitors It's not that far from where I am in NJ, a couple of hours or so... I will drop him a line to see if he's willing

He's in DE? Where exactly?

CrabbyAbby · Post by **CrabbyAbby** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:54 pm

Just because someone is searching for new sources doesn't mean they don't have a supply built up.

True but a large volume of ads sends a message of it's own.

In the effort of fair play, have you also written to THCP, LHC, and HCV asking for pictures of their facilities? Maybe I've just missed them, but I've never seen pictures posted here at HCA of any of those facilities.

And if I didn't that would prove what exactly? Also, would failure to do so in the past cause me to forfeit the right to future inquiry?

I do have a habit of writing to companies for information and I've seen TCP pics as well as spoken to Tammy at length on several occasions. As the other two have a bad rep for death and/or non-delivery I've not felt inclined to inquire.

Dog Lips · Post by **Dog Lips** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:24 pm

MacandHunter wrote:I still have not even gotten a reply back to my e-mail. It's strange how he seems to tell his life story to some people, but treat others who contact him like they are trying to steal his profits.

now now, the company JUST opened up and I bet he's getting hundreds of orders and dozens of calls/e-mails from othe rabid HCA'ers

kgbenson · Post by **kgbenson** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:27 pm

CrabbyAbby wrote:True but a large volume of ads sends a message of it's own.

To be honest, what I get out of it is that Bob is trying out the import export websites and his cut and paste button. Most of the adds are verbatim copies and you can get on those sites with a few clicks of the mouse button. In fact most of those hits on google are for the same limited number of sites - just different parts of them. The first 7 are the same comapny. Look carefully at them. Of course if you can find those messages, you can also find his contact info. . . . .

I do have a habit of writing to companies for information and I've seen TCP pics as well as spoken to Tammy at length on several occasions. As the other two have a bad rep for death and/or non-delivery I've not felt inclined to inquire.

Call Tammy and ask her what she knows about ELHC. She is a trusted source of information yes?

Keith

MacandHunter · Post by **MacandHunter** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:29 pm

Dog Lips wrote: now now, the company JUST opened up and I bet he's getting hundreds of orders and dozens of calls/e-mails from othe rabid HCA'ers

You're right, I mean it would only take 10 minutes to answer my e-mail. :roll: I used to have my own online store and even if the person was not happy with something, I would never ignore them. Just answer them calmly. I'm just asking him about his new species. Don't make excuses for lack of communication.

kgbenson · Post by **kgbenson** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:45 pm

MacandHunter wrote: You're right, I mean it would only take 10 minutes to answer my e-mail. :roll: I used to have my own online store and even if the person was not happy with something, I would never ignore them. Just answer them calmly. I'm just asking him about his new species. Don't make excuses for lack of communication.

I don't blame you for being a bit irritated. But perhaps you might try sending it again - or calling?

Since we haven't seen your email (cause it is none of our business) it is hard to say why he may not have responded. If it was just seeking info and not confrontational, I should think he would reply. Are you positive he got it?

Keith

kgbenson · Post by **kgbenson** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:50 pm

A few people seem to be . . . upset . . . by ELHC. Few if any of those folks have actually spoken to anyone at ELHC, or received any animals from them so I am not certain where this level of angst comes from but we are all passionate about our crabs and that manifests itself in different ways.

So far the folks I know of that have received crabs are quite happy with the experience. I dunno - the whole kerfuffle is . . . funny, sort of, and silly.

Keith

Dog Lips · Post by **Dog Lips** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:19 pm

I agree Benson, All the reviews i've read on here have been positive. And now they find a new species and everything goes up in flames. It confuses me. ELHC knows more about crabs then HCV and LHC combined. ELHC seems to be like HCP, but with exotics.

sugarselections · Post by **sugarselections** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:27 pm

Dog Lips wrote:ELHC seems to be like HCP, but with exotics.

Very true. Bob and Tammy are good friends and he told me several times that he won't sell purple pinchers on his site solely out of respect for Tammy and her business.

sugarselections · Post by **sugarselections** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:37 pm

I'm really surprised at what seems like genuine animosity toward ELHC in this thread. Even with all the accusations and negativity, it still hasn't been proven that they're doing anything wrong. And all you have to do is check out the pictures section to see the high quality animals I was sent by ELHC.

I'm a small business owner. I'm an adult and my business is my sole income. Most of my business is in wholesale, but I also have a small online retail outlet that is really more pleasure than business for me. One of the best things about owning my own business is that I get to choose how I respond to inquiries, if at all.

Dog Lips · Post by **Dog Lips** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:52 pm

sugarselections wrote:I'm really surprised at what seems like genuine animosity toward ELHC in this thread. Even with all the accusations and negativity, it still hasn't been proven that they're doing anything wrong. And all you have to do is check out the pictures section to see the high quality animals I was sent by ELHC.

I'm a small business owner. I'm an adult and my business is my sole income. Most of my business is in wholesale, but I also have a small online retail outlet that is really more pleasure than business for me. One of the best things about owning my own business is that I get to choose how I respond to inquiries, if at all.

Exactly! You can grumble all you want, but with no evidence, What point is there?

Post by **wodesorel** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:54 pm

I think it is more of being very concerned rather than animosity. This is supposed to be a humane society for hermit crabs. ANY humane society would want to investigate a new company that claims to provide perfect conditions for their animals but have not furnished any proof. I think everyone here would love to say "Yes, this place is amazing and we support you 100%" if he does exactly what he's claiming.

However, he won't give photos or discuss his husbandry because of "trade secrets" - which in animal rescue is an ENORMOUS red flag. Keeping hermit crabs is the same no matter where you are, there is no secret. Not talking about it or showing it is worrisome, and makes me think there is something to hide.

He's also not giving any proof of a new species - just a photo that could be of another known species. And without giving specific care instructions BEFORE someone purchases it, he could be sending a crab to live in imperfect conditions - another red flag of someone who is just out for money and not for the betterment of crab keeping - something that others here have claimed is his main focus.

Another thing that makes me worry is the ads online. If he is supposed to be collecting and shipping hermits in the most humane manner, than why post open ads online for anyone to respond to? I certainly wouldn't trust someone responding to an online ad to be the best person for the job of collection! I'd want to go by known and vetted channels to make sure the animals are treated properly at all times.

And just because the crabs being sent out are of wonderful quality does NOT mean that the conditions are proper and other crabs are doing well. I got (rescued) 7 of my PPs from a horrible store with even worse conditions, and none of mine suffered from PPS or had any problems adjusting to my tank. Does this mean that this store is perfect since all my crabs were great? Heck no! I don't think the quality of the crabs can show the conditions they came from - it just means that the best were chosen to be shipped.

sugarselections · Post by **sugarselections** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:00 pm

wodesorel wrote:I think it is more of being very concerned rather than animosity. This is supposed to be a humane society for hermit crabs. ANY humane society would want to investigate a new company that claims to provide perfect conditions for their animals but have not furnished any proof. I think everyone here would love to say "Yes, this place is amazing and we support you 100%" if he does exactly what he's claiming.

Then where are the threads here at the HCA demanding the same answers from other online hermit crab retailers?

Dog Lips · Post by **Dog Lips** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:04 pm

sugarselections wrote: Then where are the threads here at the HCA demanding the same answers from other online hermit crab retailers?

Interesting question, good sir.

Anyway, ELHC looks to know what they're doing and I wish them the best. You can actually buy these...B's right now. 30 bucks. I'm sure a HCA'er or 2 will get a couple so we just have to wait.
And another thing, a wise thing to do in the biz is tease the buyer. Like with movies, a trailer will make you want to see the movie right? One picture is just to tempt people. Alot of companies do this. It's just how it works.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:08 pm

I'm quite taken aback by the animosity as well. I haven't heard one negative thing regarding the crabs people have received or about the way he keeps them, in fact everything I've heard seems to be very positive save perhaps a complaint or two about the timeliness in responding to an occasional email voiced in this thread.

Could we all perhaps hold our fire unless we have something worse than that to go on :roll: I mean, we are all here because we care about hermit crabs, are we not?

Given our proximity to Delaware, I had chatted with another forum member about us taking a road trip down there a while back and we were looking forward to going and seeing some really interesting crabs that we had never seen before and talking crabs with Bob who by all accounts sounds like a knowledgeable crab enthusiast.

We still hope to do that, all though if Bob sees this thread for all I know he may decide to not let us come... and I wouldn't blame him, I think some people have been very critical and for no valid reason that I can see. And if it gives all HCA'ers a bad name, I wouldn't be surprised.