playtime

[ilovehermitcrabs!]

what sorts of things can i do with my hermies to give them exercise (still cant hold them in my hand it freaks me out)

[emmac350]

I sometimes make the bed, then let them climb all over it (with supervision). I do the hand treadmill, or sit with my legs outstretched and let them climb on my jeans. To get used to them on your hand, or the rest of your arms, lay on the floor with your arms over your head in a circle and put the crabs in the middle. In time, they will investigate your arms and you can get used to it that way.

Other crabbers have baby pools with climbing objects in them, and some (if the crabs are large enough) even use small hamster balls to let them explore the house without escaping. Just be creative! Let them wander the table (with a VERY watchful eye for falls) or on the couch.

[crabcrazygal]

an idea i had is to get a card board box and take out the bottom, and place it on the ground (so its like a little barrier type thing, then put rocks, or other things the can climb on in there.
just make sure that the bigger climbing objects are in the middle, so the cannot escape. also make sur the "set up" is not on carpet, because there might be cleaning chemicals, and the crabs might eat it (hey you never know)

[ladybug15057]

Be very careful with cardboard. Majority of cardboards are treated with chemicals (some poisons) to repel rats from chewing them.
I am one who uses a large hard plastic baby pool for the hermies exercise and have of almost 9 years now with great success. They are safe, and if I get distracted no worries.

[CrabbyJo]

I have a large tupperware type plastic tub for them to exercise in the house in, until summer comes and I can purchase a small wading pool for them. I am picking up more and more plastic and wicker type things for them to climb on.

[ladybug15057]

In the picture of my baby pool jungle gym we use to have a wicker basket but within a couple of months got rid of it. Hermies began to pick at it a little, and due to them either having their gills misted or a bath prior to going to the tupperware type container then the baby pool they were not always quite all the way dry. The wicker basket was harder to clean too, and began to get what appeared to me to be a form of mildew growing on it so out it went.

[crabcrazygal]

i actually had a kitty litter tray, before i came up with the idea i mentioned before. i hadnt actualy put that idea into action, and i am glad that i read the post about the high posibility of there being harmful chemicals in the crad board.
anyway about the litter tray thing, it had high sides, and sand, with various climbing objects in it.

[ilovehermitcrabs!]

I sometimes make the bed, then let them climb all over it (with supervision). I do the hand treadmill, or sit with my legs outstretched and let them climb on my jeans. To get used to them on your hand, or the rest of your arms, lay on the floor with your arms over your head in a circle and put the crabs in the middle. In time, they will investigate your arms and you can get used to it that way.

Other crabbers have baby pools with climbing objects in them, and some (if the crabs are large enough) even use small hamster balls to let them explore the house without escaping. Just be creative! Let them wander the table (with a VERY watchful eye for falls) or on the couch.

that's a really great idea thanks I'll try that!