New Fella

[Pumilio]

So as a rather silly impulse buy, a friend and I picked up a pair of Hermit Crabs. I picked a lil one, but when I finally held him last night to take pics, I was surprised how much crab could fit in that little shell! It kind of creeped me out, although I'm sure he was much more afraid of me. He's cute in a verrry veeerrry ugly way, :grin01: I don't know the sex, since I looked up how to do it, but it seems fairly grotesque.
I figured that it would be super easy to take care of, which it is, but there are some people who go all out with their tanks and such. I also learned that in the wild (or under the right conditions in captivity, I guess) they can grow to the size of coconuts. That's NOT going to happen. They also eat basically anything even remotely edible, including feces. Also not going to happen. He has had Corn Chex, peanut butter, banana chips, grapes, and basic crab food so far. He's not as exciting as many other (Dean's) impulse buys, but I like him.

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

I like the little designer shell!!

 

[tanner123]

Awww hes so cute i love those things i want one but my moneys always taken up by other animals (the girlfriend mostly). But very nice little guy

 

[Tula_Montage]

How aborable

 

[Tula_Montage]

OOOPS I meant adorable LOL

 

[Roy Munson]

What can I say, Sis? Congrats on your bug? I prefer limbless pets, and that one has way too many! Kinda cool, though... in a mini-killer-mech-bot sort of way.

 

[Checkerbelly]

Great crab! Now you got me thinking. I used to have an army of those in my saltwater tank. (different type). They were so fun to watch. Plus I saw an enormous one at a local pet store. They had it in a big shell with a ribbon tied around it. Kinda nifty.

*gears turning....

 

[Abcat1993]

My sister used to have one. But, like all of her pets she didn't remember/refused to feed it and nobody else knew how to take care of it. Now she has a hamster that she is already giving away (after 2 months) and wants goldfish.

 

[diamondlil]

That's priceless! what have you called it?

 

[Eremita]

Charming little critter there. You should let them become the size of a coconut. I've always admired the fact that they pick up portable homes to live in, like some kind of crab RV. And please show us some progression pictures as they grow.

-Sean

 

[Yvonne112]

my son and nephew both have hermit crabs, actually my son's just died. He lost his big claw and a couple of days later, died. We had him for about 2 years, but I've heard that if they get handled to much, this can happen. I don't really know how true that is, but it might be something worth noting.
They really are cute in an ugly kind of way, especially when they come almost all the way out of their shells. Make sure that you have a slightly bigger shell in the tank, when he grows, you'll wake up one morning and find him in the new shell ! :laugh:

 

[Pumilio]

Thanks for the comments, guys! He's got a couple of shells in his Kritter Keeper thing. I didn't have anything else on hand, so I just put him in the small keeper I used to feed Conor in. I'll probably get him a bigger one soon. I have a tub too, but I don't like how the sides aren't very clear. I'll probably end up getting him a friend as well, since I think they are pretty social. I like him because he looks like a giant monster...but he's lil.