Oh Dear... Hermit Crabs

BornThisWayBettas
  • #1
So for those of you that don't already know, I'm on vacation!!!! At a beach in Florida, to be exact! Lol, been having fun! But anyways, that's not what I came to tell you about.....

Last night, my family and I went shopping for souvenirs. We only went to one shop, but it was pretty big, so much stuff! So I went inside and guess what I saw? Nope, not fish. But HERMIT CRABS!!!!!!! As a souvenir!!! They had these tiny little plastic boxes for them (think Kritter Keepers) that were at the very most perhaps 1/2 gallon. They had different sizes, but I'd say the biggest one was a 1/2 gallon. Inside the "kits" was a packet of food for the crabs, some multicolored gravel (very little gravel, not even enough to completely cover the bottom), and some decorations (a plastic palm tree I think).

The crabs were divided into two very small enclosures, one enclosure with crabs with "painted shells" (SpongeBob, I think), and the other with regular shells. They had a tiny, shallow dish of disgusting water, and what I think was supposed to be food littered all around the enclosure. The enclosure reeked, too. The ones with regular shells were actually being given away free with a purchase of one of those tiny boxes!

I casually asked my mom what she would think about me getting some (since I've heard they need to be kept groups of more than one), and she said no because "they stink". I had no real intentions of getting any anyways, because then what would I do with them? It would've mostly been a sympathy purchase and wouldn't have helped them in the long run. So I ended up buying a necklace from the store.

Just wanted to share with you guys this sad little story of these poor little crabs, hope I didn't ruin your night. :/
 
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biller
  • #2
Sad... Hermit crabs are adorable
PS. If I may ask, what part of Florida? Last summer I went to fort Lauderdale


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Lucy
  • #3
Glad to hear you are having fun!

It bugs me to see those "crab habitats"
Mine is in a 10g.
 
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BornThisWayBettas
  • Thread Starter
  • #4
Sad... Hermit crabs are adorable
PS. If I may ask, what part of Florida? Last summer I went to fort Lauderdale


Sent from my Z752C using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app
Near Daytona. And yes, hermit crabs are adorable. Poor little things.
 
biller
  • #5
My brother keeps 3 in a 26g bow front, and will be getting a few more. as they are social

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delta5
  • #6
They're kind of lucky if you ask me. I luv me some crab meat.
 
BornThisWayBettas
  • Thread Starter
  • #7
They're kind of lucky if you ask me. I luv me some crab meat.
Huh?? Who is lucky??? If you don't mind me asking.
 
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delta5
  • #8
Huh?? Who is lucky??? If you don't mind me asking.

The crabs you spoke of. They could have been born the type of crab you eat.
 
Jsigmo
  • #9
Mmmmmm Crab!

Better than lobster if you ask me!

And on another note: If they're supposed to be kept in groups, why are they called "hermit" crabs?


Seriously, though, they really are cute. I wonder what you need to do to truly provide a good habitat for them if you did decide to keep some. I'll bet they're quite interesting.
 
Anders247
  • #10
I assume it's because they live in shells...
Sad that they're being sold in this way.
 
BornThisWayBettas
  • Thread Starter
  • #11
Seriously, though, they really are cute. I wonder what you need to do to truly provide a good habitat for them if you did decide to keep some. I'll bet they're quite interesting.
I've actually researched them a bit, and I think it would be neat to have some. But I believe I've read that they need at least a 10g, and besides, my mom now has the idea that they stink after smelling that enclosure.....

Anders, yeah, I guess so. People might just associate that the are suitable "souvenirs" because they live in shells and because they are crabs, etc. Also, Anders, you're stuck on a 10..... twice lol.
 
Anders247
  • #12
I've actually researched them a bit, and I think it would be neat to have some. But I believe I've read that they need at least a 10g, and besides, my mom now has the idea that they stink after smelling that enclosure.....

Anders, yeah, I guess so. People might just associate that the are suitable "souvenirs" because they live in shells and because they are crabs, etc. Also, Anders, you're stuck on a 10..... twice lol.
Lol, I don't mind a 10. Actually technically I'm stuck on three tens.....
 
Lucy
  • #13
My brother keeps 3 in a 26g bow front, and will be getting a few more. as they are social
I always thought that as well until ours ate it's tank mate about 3 or 4 years ago. Could be the other molted and was vulnerable but seriously ours is aggressive toward other cabs.

We've had others in the past who were great together. If I recall correctly the most be had at one time was 9.

Seriously, though, they really are cute. I wonder what you need to do to truly provide a good habitat for them if you did decide to keep some. I'll bet they're quite interesting.

Here's the sticky in the Hermit Crab section under Other Pets.
 
el337
  • #14
Oh, I thought the story was going to end with you owning a new hermit crab!

Ah well, hope you're having fun on vacay!! Lucky you!
 
BornThisWayBettas
  • Thread Starter
  • #15
Oh, I thought the story was going to end with you owning a new hermit crab!
Lol, I wish it would've! But I would've had to have kept it in one of those small boxes until I go home on Saturday, and it would've been a LONG drive home for the little guy..... oh well. :/

But thanks!
 
Boeing250
  • #16
Most likely it smelled because there where dead and rotting crabs in there. Poor things!!
 
TexasDomer
  • #17
Remember, by buying crabs from that situation, you're encouraging the business - they'll replace the one you bought with another. So it's good you didn't buy one
 
Bellusion
  • #18
They have always been sold like that in FL souvenir shops.. my family and I took a vacation there every summer. My brother bought some a couple of times, but they never lived long.
 
BornThisWayBettas
  • Thread Starter
  • #19
They have always been sold like that in FL souvenir shops.. my family and I took a vacation there every summer. My brother bought some a couple of times, but they never lived long.
Aw, poor little things. :/
 

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