Hermit Crab Drama!

[WisconsinChick]

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Ok, I guess ill have to make it more clear for those of you who dont get it. Do you know what happens to a person when they are bad? They get locked up, their freedom is taken away. Of course they wont starve in jail and they have shelter, but it honestly its not fun. Like I said, those crabs did nothing wrong and don't deserve a life of being caged. You really need to look at it from the crabs point of view. If you had nothing to do-ever-you would be pretty bored. In a tank they don't have the challange and engagement of finding their own food or roaming where they please. If you were them, would you rather roam a beach all day or sit in your house?

 

[CritterHill]

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As far as I know, they are purple pinchers, so not the salt water ones. I do have a small bowl of saltwater in the tank for them (in addition to the fresh water) in case they want it though.


Guitartists - thanks for the info. Our tap water is from the well, so there is no chlorine to begin with.

 

[CritterHill]

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If there were giant birds trying to swoop down and eat me and no guarantee of food or shelter on the beach and someone had built my house full of climbing and digging opportunities and hidey holes and stuff. I'd take the house.

I guess we have to agree to disagree here. I don't think we are going to convince each other.

 

[WisconsinChick]

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If there were giant birds trying to swoop down and eat me and no guarantee of food or shelter on the beach and someone had built my house full of climbing and digging opportunities and hidey holes and stuff. I'd take the house.

I guess we have to agree to disagree here. I don't think we are going to convince each other.

wow.

 

[CritterHill]

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I'm not seeing the flaw in my logic. There are many different personality types in the world. I prefer a place of safety where my needs are met.

I've seen too much pain in my life to wish excitement and risk on anyone.

May you live in interesting times.

 

[Sarree]

right before winter we have alot of wild mice that get in and I live trap them and keep them over the winter then release them to a safe place in the spring.

Some of the mice seem to love being in their cages, they have warmth, food, toys, clean bedding. One time I set the cage out on a nice day and left the door open, none of them wanted to leave the cage. this has happened more than once. Some of them were able to escape through the cage wires, only to return to the cage later.

I don't know about hermit crabs though, they are hard to read. If I were going to a place with a beach I would like to release mine.

 

[yeahLauren]

All animals were once "wild caught." So, by WisconsinChick's logic, humans should not keep any pets or animals in a confined space, ever.

 

[silkieluvr]

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I completely agree with this statement and just for an added comment. Have we really come to this? Getting in fights about hermit crabs on a chicken forum. Honestly, everyone is entitled to their own opinions and if someone doesn't agree with you, you have no right to try to convince them to agree. Please just let it be and keep it civil...

 

[CritterHill]

I don't know if anyone cares about this thread anymore, but I haven't given up on it yet.

I had a less heated discussion about the ethics of hermit crab capture over on the crab forum. They were actually able to give me some valid reasons for regulating hermit crab capture.

As expected, the hermit crab forum is not completely anti-capture of crabs - though a few of the respondents did say that they only adopt mistreated crabs and they do not buy them.

There were some suggestions for regulation which included not capturing the very young (who would be reproducing in the wild) or the very old (who would have a hard time adjusting to captivity). But the middlin crabs apparently have a happy healthy life in the various amusement parks crabitats that folks create for them and most folks did not see the problem with this.

Note that there is also a similarity to the colored chick situation around Easter. A lot of crabs get bought on a whim by people who do not know how to take care of them. This is a problem and the hermit communities do what they can to educate folks on proper hermit crab care. But doesn't mean no one should keep crabs.

Anyway, as with all things in life, this looks like a complex situation in various shades of gray without a cut and dried answer and with many varied opinions.

Thanks to the folks over at the crab forum, I think I am beginning to see the issues and concerns with crab husbandry.

So WisconsinChick, you did open an interesting discussion, I'm sorry I was unable to see the reasons behind your vehemence.

 

[patandchickens]

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One thing to consider is that while there are definitely people out there who've taken the time and energy to educate themselves about hermit crabs' needs and how to keep and feed them properly, and provide interesting environments and suitable bedding and nutritious food...

...the VAST VAST MAJORITY of all hermit crabs sold go to people without any clue whatsoever, and dwindle away and die after a few months.

Not to mention the VERY VERY LARGE number of captured hermit crabs that never even get sold because they die between capture and point of sale, or they die in some boardwalk souvenir store where they are kept in a dry aquarium with five gajillion other mostly-dying crabs.

I'm with those who'll only keep them as 'rescues', although I am ashamed to say that I had a couple in college that were bought retail.

FWIW about your initial question, my (limited) experience is that they may need to be separated for a while, to let the injured one get over his injury and moreover his 'upset'. After that you will have to watch them carefully, and possibly set up a second habitat to keep 'em apart.

Good luck,

Pat