HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I posted on Craigslist a few days ago about being able to adopt unwanted hermits in my area. I figured nothing would come of it but lo and behold...I just got back from picking up a new dude (or dudette...not sure yet). The girl said she got 2 in Panama City Beach in February and one just died...doesn't have much time for them and was freaking out that this one would pass also. She said this one hasn't changed shells so fingers crossed he finds some new digs and buries for a molt. Gave him a little dunk and in the tank he went

Before:




After:







And I prepared a special meal of bugs, shrimp, pumpkin seeds, berry leaves, bee pollen and then honey and peanut butter sprinkled with calcium powder. And the piece de resistance...worm poop!!

I may need to order bigger shells though


Zoo mom of 3 cats, a dog, a fish and 3 (for now) crabs

This dude is cracking me up! He's slowly exploring the depths of the tank under the corner shelves but almost every time I sneak over to check on him he scrambles to the glass and waves his antenna he doesn't seem skittish in the least which is kind of refreshing.


Zoo mom of 3 cats, a dog, a fish and 3 (for now) crabs

Congrats on the adoption! S/he has such a cute face.

CallaLily wrote:Congrats on the adoption! S/he has such a cute face.

Doesn't he? he's been shell shopping for like 30 minutes now...literally going one shell to the next as he can reach one from on top of the last lol he's switched to a magpie and back but seems to be paying the magpies the most attention so far.




Zoo mom of 3 cats, a dog, a fish and 4 crabs (Balla, Spot, Twitch & Big Shug)

He looks great! Congrats on the adoption

He's, no joke, tried on all but 5 shells in the tank. And there are like 30 he's been in and out of this one and wore it for about an hour so fingers crossed since it's so pretty and too big for any of my others




Zoo mom of 3 cats, a dog, a fish and 4 crabs (Balla, Spot, Twitch & Big Shug)

Congrats on saving the little soul! He probably thinks he's in crabbie heaven or at least the Crabbie Hilton: lots of shells to try on, nice substrate, netting to climb on and great room service food, too .

I sure hope so...he's still wandering, took an unexpected dip in one of the pools lol so he gave it the evil eye for a while


Zoo mom of 3 cats, a dog, a fish and 4 crabs (Balla, Spot, Twitch & Big Shug)

meg_and_the_zoo wrote: Doesn't he? he's been shell shopping for like 30 minutes now...literally going one shell to the next as he can reach one from on top of the last lol he's switched to a magpie and back but seems to be paying the magpies the most attention so far.




Zoo mom of 3 cats, a dog, a fish and 4 crabs (Balla, Spot, Twitch & Big Shug)

Would new dude be interested in this? Roughly 15/16"-1" opening. Toby came to me in it and didn't give it up easily but has since settled on a turbo.


Mommy of 12 PP babies - Baby, Toby, Sid, Matty, Junior, Kaylee, Aries, Adrian, Turbo, Flower, Boo and Freckles.
RIP Octavius

It's funny...he studied the magpies intensely and tried on practically every shell I own but he settled on a really pretty turbo and wore it for hours. But I just woke up to him lumbering around in a gigantic Apple murex he's very indecisive apparently I just got a decent shipment of magpies and had some from a craft store package that are pretty darn big. But thank you!!


Zoo mom of 3 cats, a dog, a fish and 4 crabs (Balla, Spot, Twitch & Big Shug)

I think they go into shell overdrive when we bring them home. With a shortage in the wild they don't get giant piles of suitable shells. Happy hermits.

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KellyCrabbieLove wrote:I think they go into shell overdrive when we bring them home. With a shortage in the wild they don't get giant piles of suitable shells. Happy hermits.

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For sure. This morning he was up bright and early in a different shell than when I went to bed and then tried on 4 more before retiring for a nap in the flower pot I'm glad he's significantly larger than the rest of my crew or I'd never identify him at this rate.


Zoo mom of 3 cats, a dog, a fish and 4 crabs (Balla, Spot, Twitch & Big Shug)

I have trouble with a bunch of my middle size ones.

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Thankfully (for now) there are only 4 and they have pretty distinct personalities so...fingers crossed


Zoo mom of 3 cats, a dog, a fish and 4 crabs (Balla, Spot, Twitch & Big Shug)

this new guy is a bit more destructive than I'm used to lol he's explored every nook and cranny of the tank, pulled down the temp and humidity gauges several times, upended the 2nd level moss pits (he digs under and walks along the bottom of the shower caddies whilst flinging moss out as he goes) and shown me that I need to shore up my net bridges for his fat butt he's quite the character although I hope he digs down soon...I'll miss his antics but I'd imagine he's in pretty dire need of a molt.


Zoo mom of 3 cats, a dog, a fish and 4 crabs (Balla, Spot, Twitch & Big Shug)