"I've Got a Big Bag of Crabs Here..."
Mar. 20th, 2010 01:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
psalm_onethirtyoneI have a hermit crab!
...which means, of course, that I have spent the last hour looking at websites obsessively, because I have no idea of what proper hermit crab care is. He has a 10 gallon tank with about two inches of sand, a dish of bottled water and a sponge, a dish with foods (I bought crab food at the store, but I put some peanut butter in too because all the sites I checked said they really super like peanut butter), two extra shells, and a box for him to crawl under, because all the sites say that they like to have a hidey-spot.
I also covered it with cardboard and a wet paper towel to try and make/trap humidity, since all the sites also have humidity in like all caps and glittery text and everything. The problem is I know nothing about how to gauge humidity, so I will probably have to cave and get a gauge or something, as soon as I can find somewhere that sells them. Maybe Dani would consider driving me to State College or somewhere they have fancy pet stores that are open on the weekend.
Any advice would be extremely welcome.
His name is Percivale, because he's a hermit in the desert, and during the day he was really, really active, but he got very quiet at night. He's also more active when he's sitting on me, which I think is because I have a higher body temperature and so that makes him feel more alert. I'm worried about him getting too cold--I made sure our window is closed, because it's been frosting at night, and our dorms aren't that well-heated. I'm not sure whether it would be okay to turn the lamp on at him or not.
He's so beautiful! And so curious, and he loves climbing. He also loves my watch, he finds it really fascinating. Everything says that hermit crabs like to play, so to-morrow I'm going to try to find maybe some things for him to play with, like non-piney wood and stuff. Also, apparently they like grass. So I will bring him some grass.
He's the first thing that's made me feel alive this whole week. Which I realise, and I'm going to try not to pin too many hopes and dreams. But I've been so miserable and sick and my anxiety and depression have been so much worse, but I feel better by just stacks when I'm playing with him.
I really hope he's warm enough. Maybe I'll fiddle with the thermostat, not that it ever does any good.
...which means, of course, that I have spent the last hour looking at websites obsessively, because I have no idea of what proper hermit crab care is. He has a 10 gallon tank with about two inches of sand, a dish of bottled water and a sponge, a dish with foods (I bought crab food at the store, but I put some peanut butter in too because all the sites I checked said they really super like peanut butter), two extra shells, and a box for him to crawl under, because all the sites say that they like to have a hidey-spot.
I also covered it with cardboard and a wet paper towel to try and make/trap humidity, since all the sites also have humidity in like all caps and glittery text and everything. The problem is I know nothing about how to gauge humidity, so I will probably have to cave and get a gauge or something, as soon as I can find somewhere that sells them. Maybe Dani would consider driving me to State College or somewhere they have fancy pet stores that are open on the weekend.
Any advice would be extremely welcome.
His name is Percivale, because he's a hermit in the desert, and during the day he was really, really active, but he got very quiet at night. He's also more active when he's sitting on me, which I think is because I have a higher body temperature and so that makes him feel more alert. I'm worried about him getting too cold--I made sure our window is closed, because it's been frosting at night, and our dorms aren't that well-heated. I'm not sure whether it would be okay to turn the lamp on at him or not.
He's so beautiful! And so curious, and he loves climbing. He also loves my watch, he finds it really fascinating. Everything says that hermit crabs like to play, so to-morrow I'm going to try to find maybe some things for him to play with, like non-piney wood and stuff. Also, apparently they like grass. So I will bring him some grass.
He's the first thing that's made me feel alive this whole week. Which I realise, and I'm going to try not to pin too many hopes and dreams. But I've been so miserable and sick and my anxiety and depression have been so much worse, but I feel better by just stacks when I'm playing with him.
I really hope he's warm enough. Maybe I'll fiddle with the thermostat, not that it ever does any good.
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(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 06:28 am (UTC)He sounds simply delightful, and it sounds like you're going to be an excellent crabkeeper. You should post pictures of you both!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 01:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 07:34 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 01:52 pm (UTC)Only all the websites say he needs a friend, and I'm not sure that my tank is big enough--that has me a little worried.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 10:53 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 01:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 02:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 05:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 12:11 pm (UTC)I'll ask my sister if she knows anything about humidity/light/etc. for hermit crabs. I'm not sure whether they sell them at PetSmart, but if they do, there's probably someone at her work who'll know about that stuff.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 01:53 pm (UTC)Thank you!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 01:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 01:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 02:12 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 02:14 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 03:21 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 05:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 06:09 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 09:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 05:42 pm (UTC)...of course for some reason when I first read your post, I thought of a horseshoe crab instead of a hermit crab. I... well it'd be pretty awesome but it would be hard to take care of.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 09:38 pm (UTC)Man, I would love a horseshoe crab, but I don't think it would be doable.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 05:43 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 09:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-22 03:56 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-22 04:06 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 06:09 pm (UTC)But! Yes! CRAB. <3 You will have to take peekshures of him.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 09:39 pm (UTC)I will!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 09:54 pm (UTC):D!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 09:55 pm (UTC)tag me while I do my homework, wench.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 09:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-20 09:59 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-21 12:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-21 12:42 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-21 09:34 am (UTC)And I'm glad you've found something that makes you feel better. I hope it continues.
&hearts
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-21 02:22 pm (UTC)I love him so much! He's on my lap being a doof right now.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-21 09:18 pm (UTC)Aww, they're such sweet pets. ;___; &hearts
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-22 01:22 pm (UTC)They are!