New Additions!

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Thu Oct 10, 2013 12:22 pm

Now that I got my 55 up and running, I moved my 4 from the 10 in and got 4 new ones today! All PPs I think, one is darker and I didn't get a great look at its claw. I got 2 small - med and 2 really big ones (opening is about 1.5 in, is that XL?). I'll post pics when I can get some without too much stress on them. I have all 4 in the 10 for Iso... Will they be OK in there for 4 weeks since 2 are so big? Or should I shorten the time?

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 2:58 am

Personally I would have waited on the larger crabs as the ten gallon really doesn't offer enough space for them and the others you've purchased even as an iso.I wouldn't recommend shortening the iso period as they need the four weeks to rest up and do what they need to ie: molt, de-stress and tank up on nutrients.Just keep a close eye on them and keep them well fed and watered and they should be okay until you can move them to the main tank.Oh and congrats on the new tank and new purchases.

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 8:55 am

Well, what happened was that I went to one Petco location hoping to get 2 PP's and 2 E's but they only had PP's, so I just got the two smaller ones there and planned to go to another location for two more, hopefully E's. Well, I saw those two big guys at the second location and couldn't leave them Then I didn't want to return the other two back to doom Had I seen the big ones first I would have only gotten them, but I'll just have to make it work for 4 weeks. The biggest of the two big ones was at the food dish all evening and this morning (worm castings drizzled with honey, brine shrimp, and boiled egg). Tonight I'll probably do sardines, leaves and dandelion roots sprinkled with mineral supplement.That second Petco location experience made me cringe! Literally! The guy was digging through the EE and under the water dish where many of them were hiding, picking them up and throwing them in the water dishes. I told him to stop digging but of course he didn't listen There were legs everywhere in the tank

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 9:33 am

I don't purchase hermitcrabs from Petco or Pet-smart because of the way they are handled and cared for.Most places that sell hermitcrabs treat them as insects and just do whatever they feel like to them because they don't care.It's really unfortunate when you see hermitcrabs that could be healthy, sick and dieing because of a lack of care, nutrition and proper housing.It's really recommended to avoid buying from enclosures where you see lots of dropped limbs or has a really strong odor and lots of limp lifeless hermits as these are indicators that something is seriously wrong and any crabs that are still alive somehow are going to be sick.I say this shamefaced and guiltily,I've tried to live by this recommendation but I like the rest of us am human and as such am prone to moments of weakness and in those moments of weakness I have bought hermitcrabs from enclosures with less than ideal conditions and even with dead hermitcrabs being visible because I just couldn't walk away leaving what could be the last one alive there to suffer. So I don't blame you for purchasing these crabs as you did because I might have done the same if in your position.lolLike I said earlier just try to muddle through the next four weeks and everything should be okay.

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 1:15 pm

Thanks! So far, so good. Fingers crossed they will make it. I see it as a "rescue mission"

Post by **JediMasterThrash** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 2:44 pm

Once at petsmart in the terrible condition crabitat with dead crabs, I saw this crab missing two legs and an eye and he was desperate to get out! My heart melted and I had to get him. Ended up being with me for like 4 years. Though most of my pet** rescues aren't that lucky.

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 11:37 pm

I got my first 4 at Petco a little over 3 months ago and they all seem to be doing great. Of course they were in a little better conditions than the bigger ones I just got at the different location where limbs were strewn. The biggest of the big ones changed his shell last night! Also, one of the smaller new ones did The two smaller ones have been staying buried though.

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 11:44 pm

Here are some pics of them. I'll have to get a new pic of the bigger one now that he's changed shells.

crabber101 · Post by **crabber101** » Sat Oct 12, 2013 11:22 am

They're adorable! The attempt at painting the hulk on the shell is a nice touch Good luck with them, though! I hope they all pull through for you!

Marshmelo76 · Post by **Marshmelo76** » Sat Oct 12, 2013 11:43 am

Thanks! Yeah, I guess that one didn't care for the Hulk painting since he changed shells last night

Kryorke · Post by **Kryorke** » Sat Oct 12, 2013 3:51 pm

I know exactly how you feel about it being a rescue mission- I finally had to start chanting to myself in the pet store "Do NOT go by the hermit crabs, do NOT go by the hermit crabs". sometimez it works, sometimes it doesn't!!!!!