Please Help...molted crab naked

[galaciel21]

Wai - I've kept several fish growing up and right now my husband has recently set up a salt tank. Their interesting to watch and I've always been interested in marine animals. I just find them incredibly fascinating. The deeper in the ocean you go, the more intrigued I am. I just don't find them to be anywhere near as affectionate as hermit crabs. I think they do possess a certain personality but, nothing near as great as what I've experienced in the short time I've been housing hermies. We just purchased a clown fish for the salt and all he does just just swim around in the same tired pattern. The only thing I really enjoy in this tank are the reef hermit crabs we got. Even they seem to posses personality! We feed the "clean up crew" seaweed and we have one crab that literally like sits down! His shell rests against the ground and he has all his limbs in the air, holding onto a giant piece of seaweed just going to town.

You are right about them being disposable. Its such a shame. Having these "complete kits" and not so much detailed "care sheets," most people aren't even aware that what their being provided is far from being the proper way of caring for a crab. I think if anyone ever considers wanting a pet their unaware about, they should research before ever asking someone at a pet store about it. Don't most people research things like electronics, restaurants or cars before purchasing? Why wouldn't you do the same for an animal you aren't familiar with? Its the reason why people release animals such a iguanas and Burmese pythons in the wild, because they didn't know they could reach the lengths they do and they don't have proper housing.

Don't even get me started on painted shells. I'm from the Jersey Shore but always avoid the boardwalk. I go for the beach. Anyways, I spent a few years moving from different states and then went back home for a couple years. Having a child now, we went on the boardwalk and I was just appalled seeing painted shells. Last year was the first time I saw that. My brother in law bought my daughter one and I tried like heck to find one that wasn't painted. It was impossible. All the crabs I have/had had painted shells with the exception of the one that just passed. They usually change shells immediately which is a good thing because the painted ones are gone the moment I see its abandoned before another can jump in. Part of the charm for me with hermit crabs is their shells. I don't want to see a hermit crab wearing some hideous shell. Its not natural, cute or safe.

Marie - That is crazy about the member who was native to the Caribbean. I'm sure she wasn't in store for the complete culture shock of that. Its like that saying, "one man's trash is another man's treasure."

[ladybug15057]

Very true, and it wasn't until her husband had a dozen as pets that she realized just how unique they were!! Seems she was at work one day and came home to find a tank set up. She assumed he was getting fish, so didn't mention anything. In a week when she came home imagine her shock when she saw a dozen hermies in the tank waving their antennas at her!

[galaciel21]

LoL, I'm sure she appreciates them more in a tank rather then covering her entire front yard!

[ladybug15057]

Very true, but she became addicted herself in about a week and looked forward to actually playing with them outside of the tank! She stated that down home she was afraid they would start pinching and eating her!