HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I saw a crab at PetSmart that I would like to buy, but he was missing his big pincer. Should I demand a discount? What are his chances of survival? Maybe I should buy one that looks healthier. Advise welcome.

lol. That would be interesting, to see what they say. If they have no knowledge of crabs, you could say that he won't get it back, so you should get the discount

I know a lot of crabs that have lost limbs/pinchers and been perfectly fine. As long as he can walk around, he will be okay

He seemed active which I thought was remarkable since the tank conditions were rather poor. I asked the girl to fill the water dishes (both were empty) and commended her for having 2 water dishes for fresh and salt water. I could've ripped into her, but I was impressed that their selection of hermit crab products had improve so much! Before I left I mentioned the empty water dishes to another gal and told her that I was hesitant about buying a crab because the conditions didn't look right to me. She apologized and said that they would have a fresh batch of crabs in tomorrow. Would you all prefer "fresh" crabs that just survived shipping? Or is it better to see how they settle in once they've been in the store for a while?

Well, people say not to buy unhealthy hermit crabs. I'm one different.


Pretty much every single crab I have now... except for Thunder, was a rescue. They're all healthy and were close to death's door when I got them. Some have bad luck with rescues, but I have very good luck.

Maybe I should start a thing where if petstores get in injured/sick crabs I come pick them up, for atleast a discount.

*ahem* Anyway... it's really up to you. If he's active, he's probably pretty healthy despite the stress.

Goodluck!
Lakota

Ive heard that PetSmart can not sell you "damaged" pets, they can only let you adopt them...and usually that is a minimal cost.

PetCo had some finches that were picked on and one had no tail feathers and the others were darn near naked and they let my mom adopt them for Free because they werent "healthy" according to the guidelines of how pet stores can sell pets.

He will most likely molt and grow it back I bought a kiosk crab that had one pincer and two legs and he molted and grew everything back and did great.

NaRnAR wrote:Ive heard that PetSmart can not sell you "damaged" pets, they can only let you adopt them...and usually that is a minimal cost.

PetCo had some finches that were picked on and one had no tail feathers and the others were darn near naked and they let my mom adopt them for Free because they werent "healthy" according to the guidelines of how pet stores can sell pets.

He will most likely molt and grow it back I bought a kiosk crab that had one pincer and two legs and he molted and grew everything back and did great.

Good point. When I got Lolana the manager wasn't happy, at petco, she doesn't like me much. Because I always go in there and push them to improve their care.

But anyway, she got all poopy with me because I wanted her for a discount, because I honestly thought she wouldn't survive. Well, after huffing and puffing, she let me have her for a discounted price. I believe I got her for 2.50 or something like it. There's so many crabs in there with stress-related health issues everytime I want to get a crab I could probably get it discounted if they actually follow that. Really quite pathetic, I wish I couldn't because their care was so good.


*shakes head* And I wonder why she doesn't like me... I think she's a bit money-hungry.

My dad doesn't like her either, he was talking to her one day and she came off like a jerk to him, too. My mom and sister have yet to talk to her. My dad's usually the one who takes me to get more hermits.


Lakota

I'd go for it - discount, pincherless crab and all

Few things I've learned in my time, dealing with petstores and people (military related). Writing does jack squat, they just shove the letter off the desk.

Go there in person, they will squeel and get nervous. Back them into a corner and tell them what is wrong, why it is wrong, and what they NEED to do to make it better.

In the petstore's case, offer to take the injured / damaged crabs off their hands because people won't buy if they see injured / hurt pets. They (the petstore) will lose money if people don't buy because of conditions, you just need to convince them that the conditions are wrong and un-healthy.

Once you start into the money subject and them losing money, they will usually give in.

There's my two cents worth!

I agree with that. If you convince the store that they will lose money they will more than likely give in.

Does anyone think that I should wait for "fresh" crabs?

I kinda feel sorry for the guy without a pincher... but the fresh crabs might have a better chance. it's your choice

I tried that approach and they never ever let me have them disc or free and all I read is people on here getting crabs from these places for free or disc and I tell them that to their face.
I too wrote a very nice letter stating how much more money they can make in sales if the portrayed them right (reverse thinking) I did this with 4 pet stores and none of them did a thing.........I thought one changed but I dont think so......

So I tried both approaches no luck

A new shipment of crabs may be healthier, however not nessesarily. At one Petco I go to they've had several of their crabs since xmas, this tells me two things, that these crabs were pretty healthy to begin with, and they are getting the right care at this Petco.

With a new shipment, crabs may be deceptivly healthy, because they are new they will have the typical hyper activity that comes with them getting used to new surroundings, and may seem healthy when they aren't. Basically, it's a crap shoot weather you buy from a store with excellant conditions, poor conditions, a new shipment or old shipment, you'll want to just look over the crabs, their condtions and go with your gut.

If possilbe I look for crabs who have molted most recently, because when a crab molts while destressing it prolongs the PPS peroid, and is a greater risk to their health.

I have had luck with getting discount/free crabs who are imperfect. The way I look at it, in this life if you don't ask, you don't get, ya know?

As far as improving a pet store sometimes it can take a long, long time for changes to take place. I have also found working with people most effective, although I send letters too. I just kill them with kindness (this works in almost any situation where people have some shred of common decency-when you're sugary sweet and pleasant it takes a huge jerk to be rude and nasty back). In all my situations dealing with petstores over several years, only one store hates to see me comming (very poorly managed store-terrilbe employees-GRRRR!), the rest of them always are very friendly to me, even if they secretly think, oh no, not her again. As I lean over tanks to look in and employees I don't even see brush by me they say hello, which I have to take a sign they don't hate me.

With every suggestion, offer a compliment about something they'v done right, if improvements are made, make sure they hear about it, and when conditions finally meet what's required, buy some sfuff to show them they are being rewarded with a paying customer. I've had a lot of disapointments, but the sucesses outway them. I've been bugging these people for a very long time now, just don't give up, it takes some time for changes to happen.

If possilbe I look for crabs who have molted most recently, because when a crab molts while destressing it prolongs the PPS peroid, and is a greater risk to their health

that's a great suggestion!

Here's something that might help get the job done and the manager to let you adopt crabs and such. Here's the two links I found that will / should help.

http://petco.com/Content/Content.aspx?P ... re&Nav=147&=

http://petco.com/Content/Content.aspx?P ... rd&Nav=147&=

Rub the stuff at below this line into their faces, they'll give in eventually. If necessary become a royal pain in the hindquarters. If you keep complaining they will give in, just to shut you up at times but none the less they give in. If you stop pestering them, nothing will get done.



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