Trying hermies again..

[MoribundMaverick]

So I've been pet searching over the last few weeks, and I've pretty much decided on fiddler crabs and something else. I was thinking about a turtle, but every time I've gone to Petco or some other pet store for inspiration, all I can look at are the hermies. I guess I'm just ready to start crabbing again. :]
I lost a crab in March, and I took it pretty hard- I'd had her for over a year, and we'd grown really attatched. Or at least, I had to her. =P

Anyways, I'm ready to start crabbing again, but before I get the hermies, I want to arm myself with everything I could possibly need. I know my tank has to be lacking something. So here's the advice I know I need...

1.) What sand should I buy? I've been doing Calci Sand but I heard there are much cheaper and better alternatives.

2.) How do I do the shower caddy thing?

3.) I've seen leaves and nets in other crabitats... what are those?

4.) What do I actually need to look for in a hermit when I'm buying?

I still have the tank set up how it was when she died... what I have are:
Two water bowls (one salt one fresh), thermometer/humidity thing, a climbing wall thing, extra shells, a gladwear lid to play on, and some coral pieces.

Exactly how many extra shells should I have if I only start off with two-three smalls?
And do you have any reccomendations on what salt-water conditioner to use?
What foods are usually best?

Thanks,

[HermitPaws]

1. i recomend Repti-sand mixed with Eco Earth (EE)
2. Get a shower caddy from target thats all plastic and no hooks ( use the one that has sucion cups)
3. the leave are just floral leaves and the nets are made of hemp rope.
4. Look for a Crab with all its legs, and is active
you should have 3 extra shell per crab

As for food : mine don't seem to like fruit as much as they like veggys
hope this helps
-Dana

[alli'smommy]

I used to use playsand from Lowe's and they seemed perfectly happy. But I switched a few months back to all EE just to try it and they absolutely LOVE it! All crabs are different though, so just see what yours like! As stated above, get a caddy with NO metal hooks. I got mine from Walmart in the bathroom hardware section (with toilet seats and stuff not towels). It's a corner one with big suction cups. I put moss in them (from Vickums store-Hiawatha moss). They LOVE it! I always have at least 2 in each caddy!! Also make sure you have a CocoHut or something for them to hide in--a few actually, depending on how many crabs you are getting! When shopping for crabs, as HermitPaws said, make sure they have all their legs and try to make the employee let you hold them to see if they are active. Make sure they come out of their shell and check you out. I have never lost one that said "hi" to me in the store to PPS. (don't get me wrong, I have lost my share, but the social ones are more healthy, usually!) Also try to get some Cholla wood or grapevine wood from the petstore for them to climb on. I also use fake vines from the craft dept. at Walmart.
Good luck--glad you are giving it another shot!!!!

[silver616]

I use the Repti-sand...I've tried the calci-sand, but I don't like it b/c it seems to clump when wet and they didn't seem to like to dig in it as much as the regular sand. I know some people use just regular play sand b/c it's cheaper.

As far as looking for a healthy crab, you'd want to look for one with good, bright coloring and all it's limbs and pincers. Sometimes it's hard to tell if they're active in the store environment, but active ones are sometimes considered to be healthier. Also, if the store tank is in the right range for temp and humidity, the crabs will be healthier.

I use the Oceanic natural sea salt and mix it with spring water.

My crabs really like hard-boiled egg yolks, grapes, cornmeal mixed with honey, all natural peanut butter mixed with ground flax seed, Top Fin Large Medley (no harmful preservatives), any of the Hikari Bio-Pure freeze dried foods, coconut, blueberries, spirulina powder, organic baby foods (esp sweet potatoes and peas), broccoli, and on and on...my little guys aren't picky!!

[MoribundMaverick]

Thanks for all your advice!! I'm a little bit nervous for the crabs, but I am SO ready... I miss crabbing!! I'm going to a Flea Market this Saturday, and I think that at the same time I'll pick up a caddy, more sand, some food, vines, a net, and some moss... I still have everything else. Then I'll go home and put the crabitat together, and that night, I'll go get some new babies! =D
I really want to be the best crabby mommy that my crabs can ask for.... last time just broke my heart. =$
My crab had a bad molt and lost all of the limbs on her left side of body, and I had to hand feed her and everything... it just wasn't enough.
Anyway, I hope this time'll be better!
Wish me luck!!

[MoribundMaverick]

Okay one more thing... how not good is it to get a painted hermie?

I was thinking about the hermits they have at Petco, and most of the ones that are the size I'd like are painted. Is it okay if I get a painted one, as long as it's active and all together?

[Lukems]

To tell you the truth, the ONLY BAD THINg that I know is that they Chip it off and try to eat it, This poisens them and they die

[alli'smommy]

I know alot of people don't buy painted ones, strictly because they are trying to send a message to stop painting them. But, in my area, all I have to buy are painted ones. I don't see anything wrong with buying them, as long as you provide lots of natural shells for it to switch into as soon as it can!! Mine usually change immediately, however, I have had a couple of stubborn ones that waited a long time. As long as you provide the natural shells, that's all you can do!!!

[MoribundMaverick]

Okay, thanks for the info I can't wait until tomorrow, so this afternoon before I go out to see Our Town I'm going to stop by Wally World and get some vines, rope, and a shower caddy! Then I'll stop by True Value and get some play sand... =D

[MoribundMaverick]

Okay, so I got most of what I needed. Instead of getting those plastic shower caddies, there was one on the same isile that was like... whicker. Ish. And since it was whicker I was able to get those locking suction cups with hooks, and put the hooks through the holes in the whicker! The basket looks really natural =D
Only problem is, my Wal Mart didn't have the net stuff I keep seeing on people's crabitats?? They had the material, but I guess I would have had to make my own net or something. I'm going to stop by the bird store today and see if they have any nets. Maybe that'll work.

Also, how do you get your vines and rope to stick in the first place? I put my vine I got from the first floor to the second floor so that hermies could crawl on it if they so chose, but first time a crabby gets on it it will deffinately fall to the ground. =[

Help???

OH! And guess what I found at Wal Mart! A GIANT BAG of hermit crab shells! Can you believe it!? It was in the craft section at Wal Mart...! The shells that came in the bag varied from micro to jumbo, too!! There were a few clam shells as well, but these shells are all pretty good! And only for $5. =]