You were such a special little crab. I found you on my first visit to the other pet store in my town. You were running around scratching the front of the tank staring at me with you one right leg in that awful painted shell. I took you home along with Indigo.
When we got home I tried to put you in the tank but you had a leg lodged in the bottom of the box. No matter what I did you would not leave so I had to leave the box in there until you were ready. And when you came out you ran around like crazy, scaring poor Charlie and making it clear to the other hermies you were the boss, because after that day whatever you did the rest followed.
You climbed with Charlie and dug tunnels with Indigo. Chester was your little buddy when it came to scratching the front of the tank at night.
Then you started to change. You buried yourself for a few days and kept hiding your eyes like you were in pain. Then I found you a week later in the cave. I thought you were dead but then I realised you were mid moult. I put you in my 5 gal iso tank and before leaving in the 10 gal as you started to move around more. You had new sharp nails, hair all over and little eyelashes. I thought you were going to make it. But then I saw your body and realised it was so damaged that maybe you wouldnt. And I was right.
I found you today and I picked you up. You were so limp, so lifeless. But still your stubborn body was in that shell. I realised you were stuck in their. Forever because of humankind.
I'm sorry you were forced into a painted shell, ripped away from home losing your leg too. I'm sorry that I failed at keeping the humidity high enough for you. I'm so you didnt like the shells I had or maybe that you did like them but you were stuck. I'm sorry I disturbed you when I was putting in the cool end. I'm sorry you surfaced moulted and I disturbed you, causing your body to look the way it did. I'm sorry if my iso was too small and stressed you more because you couldnt move as much as you liked. I'm sorry you lost your new leg. I'm sorry if I scared you by moving you to a bigger iso. I'm sorry if you were too weak to move so you chipped your shell ate it and got sick.
Most of all I'm so sorry Willow... That I couldnt save you
I loved you so much and still do. Please forgive me little guy Rest in Peace Willow
