HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I had no idea where to post this so I posted it here x.x I had to ask this question... Even though its a rather stupid question... Don't laugh please!

I did have four Es, I couldn't leave them at that horrible Petco with their tank setup there so I brought all four of them home but two died during their first molt. I have been trying to find at least two more Es for the two I have to be with but NOBODY has them anymore. The only place a pet store owner had for me to go look at for Es was a place in Kernersville NC and it isn't open to the public. She says she goes there to get the ones for her shop and that they just have tons of them in buckets to look through. But if I went there I'd end up stealing some to save them x.x

It is wrong to steal but...

Question is, is it wrong if it involves saving a life? (any life no matter how small or big?)

It is wrong. I know they're probably in horrible conditions but the best you can do is go and talk with them about proper care. Write letters to headquarters where possible. Keep at it.

I'm all for getting correct info out there and doing what we can for animals in horrid conditions but I do not think the law should be broken to do it. Two wrongs don't make a right and all that.

You're right. I just hate that they keep them in buckets, like hundreds just in a bucket without food and water. The woman that gets her crabs from there for her petstore treats them very well other than the one inch of sand and the fact that it can be over crowded but she says she wants customers to see them and not dig for them when searching for one and half of them are in painted shells. I told her that the shells were bad for them but she called the place she got them from and they said I was full of crap for saying painted shells are bad for hermit crabs.

I know it's hard. See who you can contact to complain about this company's care.

Maybe explain your situation and maybe they will sell you 2 for cheap.

Give 'em heck You could save two, sure. But with situations like this there are probably thousands going through this system per year (and those are the ones that survive being shipped there) write letters, put up posters, let the public know about this. If I was in your shoes, I would get on their back and cling onto it until I see some improvement. And sometimes the only improvement you can get is getting them to stop selling animals. (sometimes that's the best improvement)

Speaking of that, we need to stop this painted shell thing. Sellers like them because its easy to sell them to dumb kids. Ok... I could have left off the "dumb" and just said "kids", however I don't like kids. But I digress.

Anyway, if you have the opportunity search on YouTube for videos of hermit crabs and painted shells. There is a horrible video on there that shows what they have to do to them to get the crabs into painted shells. Awful.

We know, and a lot of us have signed petitions and pressured pet stores to stop using them, but it's what makes the money :/ so it's a long ways away from stopping. The whole point is to sell the pretty shell to the kiddies, the crab inside really doesn't matter

Rocky wrote:We know, and a lot of us have signed petitions and pressured pet stores to stop using them, but it's what makes the money :/ so it's a long ways away from stopping. The whole point is to sell the pretty shell to the kiddies, the crab inside really doesn't matter

The first time I ever got hermits back before 2004 I got them at the battlefield mall and they were painted shells but now I'm older idk why the painted shells don't even appeal I love the natural beauty of unpainted shells like the ivory banded tapistry turbo shells





even this one looks to me like flames but it's natural and not painted is more beautiful thank a silly painted one...

That could be the stylistic nature in me comeing out but oh well lol

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That's actually not carved, it's an african turbo Beautiful, pricey, but not usually worn by hermit crabs because of the awkward shape

Rocky wrote:That's actually not carved, it's an african turbo Beautiful, pricey, but not usually worn by hermit crabs because of the awkward shape

Oh didn't know that we'll yes very beautiful 8 bucks on etsy

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That African Turbo shell is beautiful. Are there similar shells that are that pretty/exotic that hermits DO take to well?

phx_mike wrote:That African Turbo shell is beautiful. Are there similar shells that are that pretty/exotic that hermits DO take to well?

I hear they also like the pearl or ivory banded Tapestry shells



and I think these spotted tapistry are neat too




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Tapestry turbos are especially popular when they're carved, since they're a bit lighter than regular ones
But we're straying pretty off topic from the original question, if you guys want to talk about shells you're way more than welcome to start a new thread (I can even move these posts and make them into a new thread for you if you want) That way people will know it's a thread about shells, and peeps can focus on the original question on this one

*Pouts* Heh sorry

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