Hermit horror

[Crabbzymagnus]

Hello everyone,
A classmate of mine got some Hermit Crabs 3 months ago.I immediately told him about this awesome forum!He claimed that his tank was good sent me a picture of it

I pointed out to him about all the wrongs(No shells,no salt water,low sand,no climbing toys,his tank is 5 gallons),his tank had 1 jumbo,2 mediums and a big hermit.He did not listen to my advice and only bought 1 shell claiming that the care was expensive.I advised him to put the crabs up for adoption if he truly couldn't afford it however he thought I was just jealous of him.A month passes by with me supplying him some salt water every few weeks.He told me he had bought this cool dark grey crab n brought it to school inside a container with a shallow amount of water,during science lesson,one of it's feet dropped off and it dropped from its shell at recess,I felt sorry for it while my classmate just said"EEw!Throw it away!"these are just a few examples(there are many more to say)Today,he told me terrible news,he got into trouble for almost breaking one of my school items and his parents were called up.His parents were crossed,they said the device he almost broke cost $2000 and he spends too much time on his pets,this is the worst part,they took out all of the crabs,plucked off their feet and left them in a basin of tap water to drown,upon drowning they threw the crabs into the toilet bowl along with his fishes,frogs,snails.The only pet that survived was his rabbit since the rabbit cost$400.I feel terrible for supporting him......

[KellyCrabbieLove]

Honestly this is something I wouldn't have posted as it will make us all sick to our stomachs to hear and nothing can be done to fix what happened. I know it is not how I wanted to start my day. That being said, I wish he had listened to you....these parents are amongst some of the worst I have ever heard of and animal abuse such as this should be reported. It needs to be reported now. I don't think helping with the salt water is something to really feel bad about. You tried your best to help and it was unforseen events that caused the crabs to die, you helping didn't hurt them.

[Crabbzymagnus]

Sorry to post,I just felt like these kinds of things can be avoided if people were to give the correct advice.Where can it be reported?We r only kids,my classmate cried this morning.Our teacher plans to give them a call regarding this

[KellyCrabbieLove]

What state are you in? I will look online to figure out who to call. You guys are very young so hopefully your parents could make the call for you.

[Breeezy]

:headshake: :headshake: :headshake:

[wodesorel]

From the Singapore Statutes

“animal” includes any beast, bird, fish or reptile, whether wild or tame;

42.—(1) Any person who —
(a)
cruelly beats, kicks, ill-treats, over-rides, over-drives, over-loads, tortures, infuriates or terrifies any animal;
(b)
causes or procures or, being the owner, permits any animal to be so used;
(c)
[Deleted by Act 46 of 2014 wef 16/01/2015]
(d)
by wantonly or unreasonably doing or omitting to do any act, causes any unnecessary pain or suffering or, being the owner, permits any unnecessary pain or suffering to any animal;
(e)
[Deleted by Act 46 of 2014 wef 16/01/2015]
(f)
[Deleted by Act 46 of 2014 wef 16/01/2015]
(g)
employs or causes or procures or, being the owner, permits to be employed in any work of labour, any animal which in consequence of any disease, infirmity, wound or sore, or otherwise is unfit to be so employed; or
(h)
causes, procures or assists at the fighting or baiting of any animal, or keeps, uses, manages, or acts or assists in the management of any premises or place for the purpose, or partly for the purpose, of fighting or baiting any animal, or permits any premises or place to be so kept, managed or used, or receives or causes or procures any person to receive money for the admission of any person to the premises or place,
shall be guilty of an offence.
[10/2002]
[Act 46 of 2014 wef 16/01/2015]
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), an owner shall be deemed to have permitted cruelty to an animal, if he has failed to exercise reasonable care and supervision in respect of the animal.
(3) Nothing in this section applies to the commission or omission of any act in the course of the destruction, or the preparation for destruction of any animal as food, unless that destruction or preparation was accompanied by the infliction of unnecessary suffering.
[43
(4) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on conviction —
(a)
in the case where the person commits the offence in the course of carrying on, or employment or purported employment with, an animal-related business —
(i)
for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding $40,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both; and
(ii)
for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both; and
(b)
in any other case —
(i)
for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding $15,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 18 months or to both; and
(ii)
for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $30,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.

[StarWarsHermitCrab]

This sounds like a case of animal cruelty.
You should contact your local authorities
to see if something can be done about it.

[Mahaliapbrown]

I'm in tears right now who would do that to such amazing little creatures!


Jason, Justin, and Jett my little baby "E's"

[Crabbzymagnus]

Ok thnks so much guys!But hermit crabs count under this law?I will check with him whether he feels comfortable about reporting it

[StarWarsHermitCrab]

I don't want to bring this up, but if his parents are capable of doing
something that terrible, I would be concerned about child abuse.

And what his parents did counts as Psychological/emotional abuse.

[chobbychobby]

REPORT THIS NOW!!! i, for one, get very concerned when the neighbors spray their birds untill they huddle in ths corner, when they keep their rabbit outside, and dont clean the dog poop in the yard where the dog spends most of his time. To me this is a LIVING NIGHTMARE!



A little part of me died inside

[citiliviey]

I am so sorry to hear about that, you tried to help, and for that, you are a great person, those crabbies appreciate your efforts very much. ♡

[wodesorel]

I couldn't tell if hermit crabs counted - it sounds like the law is written to include all living things, but it didn't specifically say. For sure the fish and frogs are covered.

I'm with StarWarsHermitCrab - I am very worried about child abuse. Heck, this IS emotional abuse towards a child. In America this is something that Child Protective Services could be called about, and they would come out and check to make sure everything was okay in the home. There are large cultural differences throughout the world and while we may see a punishment like this (outside of the animal abuse) as being extreme, other parts of the world may consider it to be a normal response to the child's actions. It would certainly be something to talk to your friend about, but keep in mind there may be more going on then you're aware of. It might also be worth talking to a teacher if you have one you trust to keep confidence.

[takinyan]

That's awful! Please contact someone!

[Crabbzymagnus]

Update:The teacher advised me not to take this to the authorities,my classmate has been through canning from his parents which is legal,matter of fact even I have been through canning.Is canning illegal in America?My teacher gave him a box to catch some new pet snails which I find kinda strange.