Question about traveling

[Gizaroo]

Hey all, sometime in the near future I am going to be asked to bring one or two of my hermies in to my old school for a class of 3rd graders to see. I wont be lettin them hold them most likely. Do you think the hermies would be too stressed if I were to do this? It would only be for a couple of hours, if that, and the school is only 15 min up the road.

It may not happen, but I wante to get all of your opinions before i decide what I'm goin to do. Of course it also depend if they're molting or not too... If they are then they wont be going anywhere.

Thanks!

[rjp_1986]

Our class hermit crabs needed to come home over winter break and they traveled well (live 30 min away) and hung out perfectly at my home! Then back they went. Still alive and everyone is fabulous!

[ladybug15057]

Is this more like a show and tell type class? Will you be permitted to already have a tank set up for them when you get there so it will be in the proper perimeters? (even if it is a small basic set up tank)

[Gizaroo]

Is this more like a show and tell type class? Will you be permitted to already have a tank set up for them when you get there so it will be in the proper perimeters? (even if it is a small basic set up tank)

Yea, it would be a show and tell type class. I doubt I'd be able to have a tank set up there already...she doesn't have room in her classroom I don't think.
I will probably only be taking either Blu or Banjo in one of my critter carriers, which of course would be set up properly (aside from being heated) and would make sure the humidity was correct in it before putting them in it. (Would be using my plexiglass cover for it taped on so it wouldn't fall off, and get the humidity correct the night/day before). I would put some of my sand in there, have food/water and salt water available, and a moss pit and a small log in there.

Like I said, it wouldn't be for long...maybe an hour or so tops. I may take the crab out once or twice (only me handling it) just to let the kids get a closer look...but I don't know yet.

This teacher really loves having hermit crabs (we had some as classroom pets when she taught me...horrible conditions though looking back) and I have a feeling she will be getting some after I bring mine in to her class to show him off. If so, I'm going to try to help her get the proper set up going so her critters stay healthy and happy.

I'm not going to let them handle them as I think it would just stress the crabs out too much. There's 18 of them I think. Plus, I don't want any of them to get pinched.

[ladybug15057]

IMO you are wise in not wanting the children to handle the hermies. Along with getting pinched (which then the possibility of dropping them) some children are sensitive to the make up of the chitin their exo's are made of. (long story shorter, rarely does anybody have an allergy problem towards hermies, but some are sensitive... there is a member here who had a problem...HermiesRule)
Anyway you could have shallow substrate so they do not burrow. This would keep them where they could be viewed, but have a hut so they can seek shelter in it. For brief viewings the hut could be lifted. Not knowing which state you're from in a couple months many of us in the northern part of U.S. will be experiencing cooler weather so a warming alternate may want to be considered.
Children do like to touch many times, maybe take some extra shells you may have and pass those around? I know of one mom for show and tell why made a play doh hermie with a painted shell one of her hermies moved out of. Also gave a little story about why the painted shells weren't good. Quite a few things one can say and show about hermies for show and tell. After all, they maybe the future crabbers of the world!

[rjp_1986]

After all, they maybe the future crabbers of the world!

I like this^ Haha! Good point! In our class we let them walk on the table and have the 3 y/o put their hands under the table. They love to observe how they walk and carry their shell! Passing shells works well also! They learn how to be still and quiet because if they move the crab goes in the shell. So its a reward system teaching them self control! Hard when your 3, but so worth the lesson in life! Hope you do it. Crabs are fascinating to children!

[Gizaroo]

IMO you are wise in not wanting the children to handle the hermies. Along with getting pinched (which then the possibility of dropping them) some children are sensitive to the make up of the chitin their exo's are made of. (long story shorter, rarely does anybody have an allergy problem towards hermies, but some are sensitive... there is a member here who had a problem...HermiesRule)
Anyway you could have shallow substrate so they do not burrow. This would keep them where they could be viewed, but have a hut so they can seek shelter in it. For brief viewings the hut could be lifted. Not knowing which state you're from in a couple months many of us in the northern part of U.S. will be experiencing cooler weather so a warming alternate may want to be considered.
Children do like to touch many times, maybe take some extra shells you may have and pass those around? I know of one mom for show and tell why made a play doh hermie with a painted shell one of her hermies moved out of. Also gave a little story about why the painted shells weren't good. Quite a few things one can say and show about hermies for show and tell. After all, they maybe the future crabbers of the world!

Yep! I was planning to do that. I'm in Va, so it will still be warm here up into late September.