Crabs Freak Me OUT!!

[dgh_1984]

Ok, here's the deal: Crabs Freak Me OUT!! My neice and nephew have had crabs and I couldn't even look at them. I told myself, and others, that I would never have a crab, but alas, I am now crabbing. I did some research and had to get some. The thing is, they still kind've freak me out. The first time one came out of it's shell while I was holding it and it touched my finger I freaked and couldn't get it back into the tank fast enough. I am getting better and they don't bother me as much, but I read on post of people letting them crawl on them, and I am thinking "". I know I will get over this and I can hold them for longer periods of time and even allow them to touch my fingers, but when it comes to letting them crawl on me, It's going to take some time.

[sami]

when i want to let my hermits get some exercise, i put a cloth on the floor (clean of course) and sit on it and make a diamond shape with my legs so that they can crawl around and then there's not a risk of dropping them

[alli'smommy]

They bothered me at first. They kinda remind me of spiders-which I HATE!!! But now they are my babies!! I don't handle them though. I read somewhere that it wasn't a good idea--stressed them. But I guess that is one of the "debatable" issues!!

[Hildegarde]

alli'smommy is correct. But I am one of those who likes handling them and my husband will play with them sometimes for hours. You sound like you're doing the right thing, taking it slowly, a little bit at a time.

Of course, this is very funny because usually the posts are about a crab not wanting to come out of his shell, not its owner being leery of touching him. As for having them crawl on me, I love it when they go across my back near my neck. It's a nice, tickling feeling. Recently one was doing this and then I didn't feel him on me anymore. I looked for her on the back of my t-shirt, the chair, the floor. I finally found him resting in my hair!

[dgh_1984]

Hildegarde, that gives me the willies.

[krackersmom2]

Maybe you could start handling them with a glove? My four year old loves to hold the crabs! I also have not problem with crawly things as long as I
KNOW they are not going to cause me harm.....the olny thing I don't do is big hairy spiders or roaches You'll get used to them. Does anyone know whay the term for a phobia of hermit crabs is?

[alli'smommy]

LOL!! My Mom has it, whatever the term is!!! She will look at them in the tank whenever she visits, but NO WAY would she pick one up!!!

[dgh_1984]

I think that one of the reason why they freak me out is because when I hold them and they come out of there shell, it's almost like they will crawl out of it. Will this happen?

[alli'smommy]

They won't come totally out of their shell in your hand. In fact, they'd rather be pulled apart than give up their shell! Unless you're holding an empty shell that they decide they want, it won't happen--I wouldn't think!!

[Hildegarde]

I'm a big advocate of the sock on the hand. When I'm picking out hermies to buy I always bring my sock with me.