New to the site but not a new owner

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 2:10 am

Hi, I found the site last night and got registered today. I have had my Hermie for a year now, and didn't realize that I was such a bad owner until last night when I found this site. I really thought that all I needed to do to keep Hulk, my PP, happy was stick him in a big critter keeper and make sure he had food and water on his sponge--i feel so awful for keeping him alone for a year--I know that he must have been bored to death almost! I am going back to the beach in a week and will be getting several more to keep Hulk happy. I also wasn't aware that they needed to be bathed--i had been told that they they would droned if you put them in water because they were land crabs. I bathed Hulk last night (for the first time

) and he hasn't been so active since I got him. Hulk is currently in the same painted shell that I bought him in-I know have three natural ones in his keeper hoping that he will change soon. (I didn't' know that was bad for him either.) I am glad that I live in the south so the humidity is always pretty high--one of the reasons I think that Hulk has been able to make it with such a bad owner--I just didn't know any better

. I feel so awful and as soon as I have the money to do it, I am going to make him (and his coming friends) a nice habitat. Well anyways, that is about all that I can think of to introduce myself and Hulk. I just hope that y'all don't think too poorly of me for not knowing any better.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 2:22 am

Welcome to the HCA.

How could I judge you when I started out the same way long ago. Many of us did, because petstores give out bad info and then there's conflicting info on the web. Don't feel bad, we can tell you want to make Hulk as comfortable as possible.

There are two schools of thought about batheing. I don't bathe the crabs myself, although some people do. I've found it's been stressful to them for me to bathe them, instead I have water dishes deep enough that they can bathe themselves. I have plant limbs which dip into the water so crabs can climb out agian and never had a drownding.

You think the bath perked him up, wait till he gets a friend, salt water and more room and toys! You'll have a whole new crab! Some people say hermit crabs are boring, but that's probably because the crabs are lacking something, mine are never boring. Every day at least one of them is out and about.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 5:52 am

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement--I am trying to learn everything I can so that I can make Hulk a happy and healthy home. Thanks again for your kind welcome!

annopia · Post by **annopia** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:23 am

welcome to the HCA!

don't feel too bad, I started out crabbing just like you: plastic kk, water, sponge, and some extra shells were about it...I know now how bored/uncomfortable my hermies must have been. what's important is that you're here now, trying to care for Hulk as best you can.

crabber explained the whole bath debate very well. personally, I don't bathe crabs either, because it only seems to stress them out.

when you've got a little bit of money to spend on a new tank, I would recommend a glass aquarium, probably a 10 gallon, that you can find for pretty cheap. also, as you've probably read, temperature and humidity gauges are VERY important (about $6 for both), and this winter you will need some way to heat the tank, even in the south its hard to keep the temp 75-80 (recommended range) in winter. a good lid (glass or plexiglass) will help keep both moisture and humidity in.

and then comes the fun part! decorating, adding fake plants, hideys, and things for the crabs to climb on. you should check out the DIY projects subforum here, theres lots of ideas on things you can make very cheaply for Hulk to enjoy.

if you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Caroline

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:16 am

I totally agree with the others. Back in 2003 I started with 5 hermit crabs and made just about all the mistakes that most new crabbers make. Gravel for substrate, only offering fresh water, feeding commercial food and whatnot. Those 5 crabs, well most of them anyway lasted for about 2 !/2 yrs. Now that I am doing it the correct way, I expect that they should last longer than just 2 1/2 yrs.

cranlsn · Post by **cranlsn** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:24 am

Welcome to the HCA! And, I'll pile on...don't feel bad. There is little to no info "out there" about these guys. I was astounded at the actual "care & feeding" these guys require once I found this site.

....bud did that stop me from getting addicted?

Keep us posted on your changes/upgrades, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Someone here will have gone through just about anything before.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:50 am

Welcome. It's nice to see that you are concerned and want to make the improvements necessary to keep your crabbies happy. I'm sure your hermie will be able to forgive and forget. He'll be too distracted by all the new improvements to even hold a grudge.

Good Luck & Happy crabbing!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 12:20 pm

Welcome! Don't feel bad, We're just happy you cared enough to change when you realized your mistakes (and yes they are VERY common), who would think to not trust a pet store for goodness sake! But your here now and that's what's important.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 2:30 pm

Thank you all for your kind words and for all of the good advice. I feel all warm and fuzzy inside and I know that I have a good group of people! Thank you all sooo much. I do have some questions but I will be posting them in the Crabitat section as that is where they belong. But I would like to know is there some official way of determining what size Hulk is? Is there some chart or proper way of measuring him?? I would guess that he is in the small to medium range. But I would just like to know for sure. Also is it better to have all crabs of similar size or does it matter? I have also heard (although it is probably wrong) that the bigger crabs seem to be easier to keep alive?? I have seen a lot of people talking about their Micros so I figure that this is probably wrong but it might just be that they are more experienced crabbers. Well, that is all for know but I am sure that I will come up with more questions--I have always liked to know "why?".

thanks again
Michelle

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 2:32 pm

Yes there is a chart on the side either under the caresheets or FAQ's not exactly sure which. Forgive me I am old.

annopia · Post by **annopia** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 2:39 pm

the sizing chart is in the drop down menu under "crab care FAQ"

all sizes of hermies can go together, the big ones won't bother the little ones. in fact, i have more aggression between crabs of the same size than bullying those smaller. in my tank i have a very large (hehe, thats on the line btw large and jumbo), two mediums, two smalls, and a teenie. besides the friction btw the very large and the mediums (which is completely one sided on the very large's part), they all get along just fine.

Caroline

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 2:44 pm

I'm not sure that one size is any heartier than any other size. I don't think so at least.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:17 pm

thanks again for the help. Hulk is a small. Just incase anyone was wondering.

Michelle

annopia · Post by **annopia** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 9:17 pm

HULKSMASH wrote:thanks again for the help. Hulk is a small. Just incase anyone was wondering.
Michelle

hehe, good, when you get a glass aquarium (when you have the money), you will have lots of extra room for friends for Hulk

.

Caroline

Willow · Post by **Willow** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 10:36 pm

I have found that the really big jumbo crabs are very delicate. They've been wild on the beach for so long, it's really hard for them to adjust to captivity, and they have a hard time moulting, too. The really teeny micros crabs are also a bit delicate. The most hardy, I've found, are the "regular" sized hermies---small to medium.

HCA: Hermit Crab Association

New to the site but not a new owner

New to the site but not a new owner

Thanks!

I feel so loved!