Petco....ehh....but they have Ecuadorians!

crablab · Post by **crablab** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 6:17 am

Ok I can't stand Petco as much as the rest and their crab conditions usually make me cringe. Butttt I went there today for cat food and of course cruised by the crabs and what do my wondering eyes spy but Ecuadorians!!! They were crammed in painted shells(standard) and I really want one but I have 5 pp's finishing molts at home.....thoughts? What would you do, should I get one?

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 6:45 am

@Crablab, you'd need to have a minimum of two as this particular species really needs a species companion as they fare best in groups.Since you already have five PP's and I don't remember how large your enclosure is I couldn't tell you whether to get two E's or not.E's a frantic high paced hermits and so need more space to move around in and have special needs that PP's don't share like lots of spare shells laying on the surface because E's tend to emerge from molts shelles as they tend to be too weak to carry their shell back up with them they often dump it mid-surfacing which can be disastrous for the naked E as they can end up the unsuspecting victim of cannibalism if they can't quickly re-shell after coming up.

crazycrabber · Post by **crazycrabber** » Fri May 23, 2014 12:39 pm

ummm..., i don't understand why pet stores wouldn't know that painted shells are bad for hermit crabs! they should! i got my first crabs two months ago and i already know that! does petco sell any exotic hermit crabs? if you what kind? i am not sure? is your choice to buy them, just give them better care, leave them alone for about 3 days, and no painted shells!

crazycrabber · Post by **crazycrabber** » Fri May 23, 2014 12:40 pm

i meant if so, what kind, not if you.

crazycrabber · Post by **crazycrabber** » Fri May 23, 2014 12:42 pm

crablab, you are a newbie too? well ask me any question and i will try to answer, i have been reading a minimum of 7 hermit crab articles daily, so now i know a lot!