Traveling With Hermies

Kharasmatic · Post by **Kharasmatic** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:59 am

I know it's kinda far off, but we're going on a lot of vacations this summer, and we'll be gone for longer than I can leave the hermies alone. We have a bigger camper, a fifth wheel, and it has a seperate bedroom that me and my sister share that could fit my ten gallon tank. I was wondering though, should they travel in the truck with us, or would they be okay if I put them in the front of the camper. I can't put all six of them in a small kk, that would be just mean. When we're traveling, I'm planning to make my iso a five gal. because obviously I can't take two ten gals, it's just too much space. Maybe I can take my 20 gal, if I can convince my parents it won't be too much space/weight..But back to what I was originally going to ask. Would it be too much stress for them to travel? They're fairly used to it--I take them to and from school all the time and they seem to have no problems. But then again, thats only a forty five min ride at the most, and sometimes when we're traveling, we're on the road the whole day. There would be no problem with keeping the heat up--our room is easily the warmest place in the camper. Any ideas?

Crabby Abby · Post by **Crabby Abby** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:23 pm

My only suggestion would be to prepare and bring all your water with you. Even though you treat it, some waters are better or worse than others and if they have an effect oon people, I'd hate to think what a change of water might do to a small crab.

Willow · Post by **Willow** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 11:25 am

That or only use distilled water you can buy at grocery stores. Not purified drinking water---that has the same quality variance issues that tap water would, but distilled should be the same no matter what.

Kharasmatic · Post by **Kharasmatic** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:22 pm

Thanks guys, I was planning on taking my own water. Also, I was wondering, we're going to a beach, would it be okay to let them roam around on the beach if I was watching them? Just for a little while, I think they might enjoy being near the Ocean, since that's their natural habitat.

Kharasmatic · Post by **Kharasmatic** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:24 pm

Also, if water is okay for people to swim in is it okay to give to hermies? I thought they might enjoy some natural ocean water.

Crabby Abby · Post by **Crabby Abby** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:36 pm

Aw Kharasmatic, you're breaking my heart. It's a bittersweet plan I think but consider the outcome. You don't think that would torture them, to be free on the beach for a short bit and remind them of their former freedom and then scoop them back up and put them back in the tank? Maybe I read too much into the little guys but I wouldn't want someone to do that to me - I'd pinch you when you tried to scoop me up again!

Nicole · Post by **Nicole** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 4:17 pm

quote:Also, I was wondering, we're going to a beach, would it be okay to let them roam around on the beach if I was watching them? Just for a little while, I think they might enjoy being near the Ocean, since that's their natural habitat. I really would be leery of setting the crabs free anywhere they are not somehow gated in. If I just set one loose on the floor, it takes off like there's no tomorrow. It would be so hard to watch all of them on an area like a beach. Plus little kids would likely be all over them if they saw the crabs. JMHO

Kharasmatic · Post by **Kharasmatic** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:01 am

Thanks for your advice. I think I will get some real beach sand for them though. But I will be sure to bake it before I give it to them. Crabby Abby, I agree with you. It I would pinch me too. As much as I love them, I think I would set them free if I knew that they would stay wild and not be caught again. But that is very unlikely so I guess they'll be staying where they are. I'll feel guily going to the beach without them though. I'm hoping to see some wild hermies when we're there. It's too bad my plan won't work out...but at least they'll get real ocean water and real beach sand, that will give them a little taste of home.

PSUPrncess10 · Post by **PSUPrncess10** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 7:57 am

I also wouldnt let mine roam on the beach... I do take my tank to NC with me every year for vacation, but they all stay inside the shore house, haha... This past year, I brought home a gallon of ocean water and a very large bucket (aka, the large joint compund buckets, used for dry-wall) of beach sand for them... all you really have to do is check with the municipality that you're in about water quality and sand quality at that location... you want to make sure there's nothing like red tide or any outbreaks going on... I haven't treated the water or sand in any way and there have been no problems! (side note: in some states/cities, such as many in New Jersey, it is illegal to take sand from public beaches, you also don't want to get caught and get in trouble - so do some research!) Also, check out all those gift stores at the beaches for GREAT deals on shells and sponges! I stock up every year!