Hi, all

[Alexandra]

Hi, my name is Alex. I'm 19 and living in central West Virginia working toward a BA in English at my local college. I have a passion for gaming and anime. I have never been allowed to have pets so when I moved in with my boyfriend I was so excited to get hermit crabs, though unfortunately I did not know much about them. I spent around $40 dollars on my current habitat, a 10gal. I did not know about different breeds, but I just happened to think that they might like company. So I did buy two crabs, however I didn't realize one was an Ecuadorian and one was a Purple Pincher. I know that they like company but will the company of a crab of another species work until I can afford another of each species?Their habitat is sub-par. I did not have enough coco substrate stuff and sand to cover the bottom so I have some small rocks on the warm side, sand in the middle and I piled up the coco substrate high because they like to dig in it. I provided some hidey-holes with large flat shells that they seem to like, and a pretty piece of smooth wood they love to climb on. Right now I just have a simple lamp next to their tank but it seems that they are happy with their temperature. I have their declorinated drinking water with a sponge in it, salt water with a sponge, a dish of dry food I change every other day and a dish of fresh food I change every night. I had trouble getting them to eat but right now they both seem to really like my dried shrimps with a side of honey. Is that OK?The little Eccie is a female named Arya and the PP is a sweetheart named Jon. I have pictures on my camera but I need to buy a cord to connect it to my computer to hopefully share the cuties with you.I feel bad that I was sucked into the hype of them being a very easy, low-maintenance pet. I think I am doing decently but until I get another job I am unable to supply them with anything else. I hope to enrich their lives with advice I receive from you all on the forum.

[janes02p]

You can get rid of the sponges in their water dishes. Unnecessary and prevents them from splashing around in water like they enjoy. Else you're off to a good start. When you are able, you want to provide them about 4" of depth of a diggable substrate. 3/4 of it should be a Bed-a-Beast type substance and 1/4 should be sterilized play sand. The sand they sell at pet stores is too fine and causes their shells to get sanded down. Not sure what it does to their legs... I just get mine at home improvement store, ask for sand box play sand. Keep their substrate very moist. I add about a gallon of water every couple weeks and toss it in real good. I have 5" of substrate in a 40 gal tank for my jumbo pp

[Crabber85]

Let me be the first to welcome you to the forum on behalf of the staff here at LHC.com, welcome.. Don't blame yourself for not having the best set up possible I for one can tell you that all of us here started out much the same as you with little correct information and little money for care supplies and so forth.Theres a steep learning curve with hermitcrabs and their care which is why most companies that market them don't put out the whole story on what they need to be properly taken care of as it would discourage a lot of little children and adults who impulse purchase because they would know that the pet really isn't as cheap as the price tag on display enclosure says.The cost of properly setting up a hermitcrab enclosure can range anywhere from $90 or more depending on how much stuff you already have laying around which would be cost prohibitive to most people who just want a cheap easy to care for pet.I can't tell you how many times I've seen people waltz into my local Pet-smart purchase their first hermitcrabs a kritter keeper and whatever else the associate can talk them into buying which has been marked up so much that they are literally paying the same cost as it would be to do a correct setup if not more.Calci Sand ie Hermitcrab sand is one of the worst things ever marketed for hermitcrab use because the sand is not real sand it tends to clump when wet, traps burrowed or molting hermitcrabs underground and starts to mold in no time flat not to mention the dyes and food colorings used to give the sand its pigment can be downright lethal to hermitcrabs after a period of exposure.My local mom and pop pet store wont sell any of their pets including their hermitcrabs to people who are impulse purchasers, don't have a proper setup going at least a week prior to purchasing or to young children who they known wont be supervised with crabs by an adult and I have commended the store owner and her employees for taking a proactive stance to protect the animals they sale from abusive or neglectful situations.You sound like your earnest about getting your setup completely correct and with your budget things might take a little longer but don't worry were not here to judge you, you just do your best and we'll help you along as we can.Can you tell me what your temp and humidity levels are if not thats okay we'll address that later.Again welcome to the forum.