Should Hermit Crabs Be Kept as Pets?

[Guest]

I feel this way sometimes too. It's a catch-22, you know? Because if people who know how to care for them don't buy them in pet stores, they have no chance for a good life. Then again, we are contributing to very practice which took them from the wild and put them in their percarious position in the first place. One could agrue that there are certaintly many deaths that occur in nature, and it's a crap shoot for our little friends either way.I ask myself this, which way can I make have a bigger impact: by no longer buying hermit crabs, or by joining a forum like this, talking to pet stores, and trying to get much need information out there? If I don't buy any more hermit crabs, will it make any difference, and if I try to educate others about what I know about humain treatment of hermit crabs will that make a bigger difference? I think you know what I decided.

[Guest]

(Warning- RANTING AHEAD) I often feel very guilty about owning crabs that should be free on the beach. BUT it's not my fault they were taken from the beach and I cannot stop them from being taken from the beach. However, I do know how to take care of them better than the general public, crab salesmen, and the people who do take them from the beach. Therefore, I feel it is my responsibility to take action and take care of the ones I have because whining and crying about it all day isn't going to feed them. Taking care of them will. So I feel that it is my right and duty to care for these creatures and give them a better life than the ones they would have, had some sadistic brat or some corporate tight-wad gotten a hold of them. Because feeling guilty about it will NOT stop them from being harvested, so I do the best I can, which in most cases is better than what they WOULD have gotten. I don't have the resources to return them to their natural environment. And if I did, how would I know some low life wouldn't come and snatch them up just to be sold like cheap costume jewelry all over again? So you can either take action and start educating people and taking care to do your best or you can be quiet and feel guilty while 7-year-olds with flame throwers get cheap amusement. And secondly, how is this any different than owning any other kind of animal? Cats, dogs, snakes, rabbits, deer, goats, pigs, rats. They all can be found in captivity, right? And nobody complains about their mistreatment, and trust me, they get mistreated, too. (Although not as much as hermit crabs it seems, and PS I don't like dogs so I... nevermind) And... okay I'm going to stop.

[Guest]

Ok...let's get one thing straight:WHAT WE CRABBERS DO--We rescue crabs from filthy heck-holes filled with dead crabs and most of the time with no substrate to dig in.-We send letters to local sellers who do not take proper care of the poor crabs.-We distribute information for those poor souls who listened to the pet store and are blindedly killing their crabs slowly.WE CRABBERS DO NOT:-Snatch these poor crabs off the beach and take them home.-Just shove them in a tank and say "Lookie lookie I got a crabbie!!!"-Sell crabs to irresponsible owners.

[motley crew]

its kind of a double edge sword is'nt it but there in the stores and other very bad places (fairs ecct...)with or with out me so if I can give them a better home than those places some of them are better off

[Guest]

Well I don't like taking animals from the wild and keeping them as pets (especially birds) but considering crabs are on the bottom of the food chain... I don't feel that bad about it. At least I try to give my crabs a good life. It will never match the wild but I take the responsibility and care needed to keep my crabs happy and healthy and try to spread the word about good crab care.

[KittyCaller]

You have to remember that not all crabbers buy hermit crabs anymore (or take them off beaches) Some just can't justify buying animals taken out of their natural habitats. Instead, they adopt from people who don't want or can't care for their crabs anymore. We can't release these animals back in the wild. It just can't be done. And right now, there have not been any long term successful attempts at captured breeding. I am all for protections on native populations. And I do agree that if crabbies were given the same prices as reptiles and were thought of perhaps in the same light as reptiles, as in not necessarily the easiest pet, they would be better off for many reasons. Jared, I don't think you're rude for asking, and it's a question many-if not all-of us struggle with. I think if people try to educate the horrible petshops if they feel a need to rescue as well, then that's just another means. Boycotting is also completely acceptable and justified, in my opinion. I won't say one works better than the other. I think sometimes one technique will work better than the other in the same situation. Anyways, just my two cents.

[moire_eel]

Keep reading posts, and I think you'll find your answer. Many members of this group work tirelessly to improve conditions for hermit crabs in petstores. I think that the improvement in crab tank conditions at most Petcos is due to letters written by concerned crab owners. The Hermit Crab Association was involved with Petco as well, I believe. The real problem is the distributors who care more about minimizing their costs and maximizing their profits. I personally would rather spend $20 or $30 for a properly treated hermit crab than have things continue the way they are now. I think many of us agree that there should be regulations that control both distributors and petstores with regard to their treatment of hermit crabs. But there's a lot of opposition to overcome because most people don't have a very positive view of hermit crabs and thus don't care about their treatment. I'm actually fine with controlled numbers of hermit crabs being taken from the beach, but not at the expense of the native populations and not in lieu of working towards establishing captive breeding. And we have an obligation to provide excellent care for any living animal we take into our homes, since we take away their ability to at least attempt to do so themselves.Incidentally, in many parts of the world hermit crab environments are not in great shape. They are polluted, and there aren't enough shells so crabs have to wear broken shells or even bits of trash. I agree that a crab's instincts probably tell it that life is better in the wild, but while I prevent them from being truly free, I offer them a safe, high quality environment. And I give other people to see how pet hermit crabs should be cared for, and to perhaps come to appreciate them and become more interested in their well-being as a species.

[Guest]

While wild caught animals aren't the best idea.... I do believe that I do as much as possible for these animals. In fact I particularly like to adopt micros and teenies...I believe they have a harder time of it and therefore I have created a crabatat just for them. I'm sure my dog and my cat would love being on the streets, catching rats and rummaging through garbage....until they came to live with me....and learned about feeling healthy and being loved.... I'm sure this isn't much different. I believe my Lizards were wild caught also (no matter what the pet store said) and I think they have a better life also. They never have to worry about when they will see their next cricket... or if they will drown in a flash flood, or if a bird will swoop down and eat them. In fact, all they have to worry about is how much longer they will get to live because of the care provided for them. Doesn't sound to bad to me. It is said that we have a dominion over the animals, it is a responsibility not to be take lightly....but it can be taken. Flowerhttp://www.petakillsanimals.com/

[Guest]

Hey! Let me explain my statement..."especially since hermit crab numbers seem to be doing well in the wild"...I was basically using this as an argument to show that there are plenty of other species treated far worse and in much more dire straights then the hermit crabs. One thing that probably does work against the hermit crab numbers is that it is currently not possible to breed them in captivity. How, say that somebody invents a salt water set up that allows for hermit crab breeding in the wild. What would anybody think about that?Frankly, that sounds like it would solve a lot of problem. We wouldn't be buying animals taken from the wild, they would be put through the warehouse abuses where a number of them die, as newcrabber pointed out.Does anybody know if there has been in progress towards breeding hermit crabs outside of the wild?

[NewCrabber]

If things keep going the way they have been these past few years, land hermit crabs will be next. Most likely, only then will there be some regulation on harvesting, if they're lucky. The death toll in warehouses is simply unbelievable. I cannot even begin to imagine the numbers lost between harvest and distributor. Not to mention all that parish in pet stores and then those lost to PPS in homes.I'm also a crabber who does not support retail sale of land hermit crabs. It's also my belief that buying from these establishments does not constitute a rescue. Although, I appreciate and understand how some think otherwise. In spite of the differing opinions, the goal is mostly the same, taking care to preserve the lives of those we have and spreading our knowledge.

[Ariel]

Not to mention any crabs bought who were captive bred would be teenies. Teenies are more fragile and not (in my opinion) ideal for new hermit crab owners, so that would be a whole new problem, considering breeders couldn't keep thousands of hermit crabs for 5 years before they reach 'average' size.

[Guest]

I think the reason why these pet stores don't listen is because if they did, not alot of people would buy them on an impulse.. therefore, the loss of money... So yay to the petstores that do listen and yay to everyone who does there part in supporting the proper care of crabs. Maybe one day they will all listen and realize that not every kid that passes by and says "Mommy, what a pretty shell.. I want one"..etc.. cause you have to buy the tank, and the huts and the food and the toys and this and that... so in essence, that would be a good thing if they did listen, cause then they would see that their not selling much anymore, and atleast they won't be harvested "as much".. In this world, thats pretty much all we could do, is help.

[Willow]

Jedediah is right--it's the same thing with turtles and tortoises. The federal government (in their infinite wisdom ) passed a law in the '70s that forbade the selling of pet turtles that are smaller than 4 inches. This was the worst thing that could happen to turtles--and ultimately pet owners, too--a lot of turtle breeders stopped breeding and started importing wild-caught turtles (which often carry parasites and diseases), because even though most turtles are easy to breed in captivity, they take so long to grow to 4", it's just not cost-effective for the breeder to keep them that long. It would probably be the same for hermies, although it's unlikely there will be a law against selling micros, most people want larger hermies. And I'm sure it takes a year or so for them to even reach micro size (before that, they're just microscopic ). So, even captive-breeding isn't a sure answer to this problem.

[KittyCaller]

Well, I hope we see more of you, since we can always use another concerned, experienced crabber here. It's true that some people who got interested in crabs fell into the trap of misinformation that they die quickly and are "throwaway" pets. I daresay none of us here believe that. There are different beliefs among the group here concerning rescues and such. But I do firmly believe that we all want what's best for the animals, both wild and captive. I don't think jumbos or very tiny crabs should be harvested at all, since the big guys have a very hard time adjusting after 20+ years in the wild, and the little guys haven't had a chance to breed yet. The middle sized ones should probably have harvesting protection in place, so there are still plenty to breed and so their niche in the evironment-a very important one-will be secured. Anyways, I hope you stick around. Concerned crabbers are always a good thing.

[Guest]

I would have to say, that sometimes life in captivity is less stressful for some animals, they never have to worry about where their next meal is from, or if they will be eaten by a hungry predetor or run over by a car, or have their home dug up and new homes/buisnesses built where they lived and bred. But that only works if the animal is purchased by a responsible animal lover. The problem with hermits is that they are too often sold like costume jewelry, and impulse buys at souvenior shops, where the staff has no knowledge how to properly care for them to pass it on to an irresposible 7 yr old, who just HAD to have one. It's a double edged sword, you feel guilty about buying an animal taken from it's natural environment, yet when you see them at the store you feel guilty leaving them behind when they are already obviously dying from lack of proper care, to be possibly bought by an irresponsible person who will not give them the proper care thus sentencing them to a slow painful death of suffocation, dehydration, or just plain stress.