I am Doug, aka Eldorf.Dragonsbane, a new crabber from the Flint, MI area.
Currently have 2 PP's both bought at the same time up in East Tawas Michigan from Mooney's Ben Franklin last Friday, Mr. J (from Batman, the name that Harley Quinn uses to refer to the Joker) that is technically my moms, and Tawas (figured name him after where I got him). Mr. Jay was hanging on the side of the screen tank they were displayed in while Tawas was active and roaming around the bottom of the tank and climbing up and down the sides when I got them. Tawas has a natural shell, where as Mr. J. has a painted one
that is painted black with a skeleton on it.Granted they are both currently in small (approximately a gallon) travel tanks (separate tanks) with Eco-Earth as the substrate (replaced the gravel substrate that came in the Hermit Crab tanks that I bought when I got them), though this is being remedied, have a 20 Gallon aquarium and glass lid ordered that I will be picking up either tomorrow or Saturday from one of the local Pet Supply Plus stores. In addition to the tank I will be picking up some all purpose sand from Home Depot or Menards to mix with the EE. Have two gallon jugs of Spring Water with Drinking Water declorinator already mixed in one and Salt water conditioner in the other that I have been using to give the Hermies their water. Immediately replaced the food/water shells that came with the kits since they were painted and the paint actually started rubbing off of one when I picked it up, and replaced them with a single large scallop shell bought at Michael's Craft store ($1.47 for two on clearance at one of the local Michael's Stores, *DISCLAIMER* I do work at a Michael's Craft Stores as one of the Shift Managers). I also picked up the small craft fishing net we sell (net is approx 200sq in. of recycled {reclaimed} fishing net). Both the Net and the scallop shells were boiled in another gallon of spring water and then rinsed with more spring water multiple times then air dried for the nets over night and paper towel dried for the scallop shells.
Once I get the 20 gallon tank set up, I plan on picking up a pack of Chollo Wood for the Hermies to climb on and chew on.
As for the personalities, Tawas seems to be a lot calmer then Mr. J. who has already tore up 2 sea sponges and has moved most the EE in his small tank to bury his water dish (he has done this multiple times) so that theres very little EE in the Coconut Hut that he hides in, he seems to not want to burrow in it as much as get it out from where he is sleeping. Tawas on the other hand has dug a pit in the EE in the Coconut Hut in his tank to sleep in and during the day will have the entrance of the hut blocked.coming out at night pushing the excess EE he used to block the opening of the hut back into the hut as he goes around his tank. Both Hermies have been given some fresh from the garden (no pesticides or other chemicals used on the plants, just water so they will grow) cherry tomatoes, Tawas dug right in to the pieces he was given, while Mr. J. tasted some then let it be for a while finally going back to eat it after eating the crab food that came with the tanks (which will be getting replaced with a different food as is contains Copper Sulfate, the food is manufactured/distributed by a company called Shell Shanty in Ship Bottom, NJ).
Once the larger tank is set up I was already informed by my mom that I will need to get a couple more Hermies as playmates for Mr. J and Tawas. Hopefully as I get the larger tank set up and a wider selection of shells for the Hermies, Mr. J. will pick a better non painted shell to move into. I will try to get pics of the Hermies to share when I am able to.
