Random thoughts :3

     Woke up to a cloudy sky this morning but Chloe seems to like it. More active than when I usually see her walking about in the daytime, she is just moving all over the tank which is a good thing because she was rather still last night. Choosing to stay on top of the bridge for hours and making me nervously check the levels every ten minutes to see if something was wrong. I did give the fresh food a break, only giving her two different hermit crab pellets I bought from the pet store so maybe that was it. With the mold scare, though, I'm trying to fight any new growth and the reasons that it appeared to begin with.

     I will be adding some apple pieces and either organic peanut butter or a small piece of tuna to her bowl later so she will have fresh food tonight. I think that leaving the food in for the suggested 24 hours is what lead to my crabitat growing mold so from now on I will only leave it for the night and replace it in the morning. Also, I will be doing more frequent cleans. The sand needs to move around more to prevent growth and possibly add dry calcium sand as well to remain excessive wetness while adding something good for her health. I'm actually debating on putting half and half substrate so it's more like it would be in the wild for her. Placing the saltwater on the side with the sand and the fresh food/water with the soil/coconut bedding. I may wait until fall comes around as I am worried that it may make the mold grow faster.  

     Anyway, back to what I wanted to talk about: After I went to bed, she must have moved around a bit; the fake plant I had added after her climbing episode last time (Read it here: Over protective mom?) fell throughout the night. I put it back up, adding a few more hooks to keep it in place, and she ran over to me as if so excited I was fixing her toy. Maybe it's a sign she's used to me? I hope so~!  ^---^

   

Until next time,

Pearl Popping~

    

Over protective mom?

     Ugh, three o'clock in the morning and I'm so sleepy but Chloe just had to wake me up. I apologize now if nothing makes sense in this post...
     I heard something, like a cat scratching at a post or something but as I own not one cat I knew this couldn't be the case. It was coming from the tank so I turned on the light and headed over to see that Chloe was climbing on the lid once again even though I tried so hard to place things in spots where the top couldn't be reached. Yeah, I guess that didn't work.
     She seems to have used a piece of cloth from the towels I keep on the lid for humidity reasons as a boost but after I removed that small piece in fear she'd be able to escape I also took away her "step down". Great now she's stuck...
     After what felt like forever I tried to gently peel her off because nothing else I tried worked however this didn't either. With a sigh I took the lid off completely and helped her climb back to the soft sand where her butt is safe. I also took the time to add extra fake plants that are high enough for her to reach should she get anymore smart ideas.
     So, am I an over protective pet mother? Maybe, buy at least I know my hermie is safe before I go back to sleep.

Until next time,
Pearl popping~ 

Fighting unwanted growth: deep clean

     I was ready for bed last night at about two o'clock in the morning when I took a quick peek inside the crabitat to make sure the levels were perfect when I noticed Chloe was still sitting in the same spot. Freaking out I threw the top off and made sure she absolutely fine before placing her back on the sand to which she ran away from me. As she moved with the speed of light I felt completely disgusted with myself for putting her back in that nastiness! Little "cotton clouds" were everywhere in the sand! 

     I grabbed Chloe again, much to her dislike, and placed her inside of a bowl (the ISO tank was nasty too) then began pulling out all the items I was going to need. Noting this would take awhile I sprayed the  bowl to give her some much needed air and covered it with the lid so she couldn't escape - that's all I needed, to be running around my room at two in the morning looking for a crab. 

      Once Chloe was safely contained and out of my way on my bed I removed everything; yes, everything. I have no idea what the hell was in that sand but it needed to go. It took a while and it was pretty messy, I'm not going to lie, but at least it was done. Now the substrate is completely fresh with added calcium sand just to give her a little boost. I washed all the dishes, the toys, the coconut hut and even wiped down the tank with saltwater as I couldn't use disinfectants. I removed the tree and replaced it with the bridge I once had in the tank that Chloe enjoyed. She actually took a short nap on it after everything was settled. 

     I also added new items she can climb on such as a doilie (Which she took to right away), the shredded coconut wall (I forgot what it's actually called, sorry), and I also put the soap dish "second level" back inside and she loved it all over again. Chloe loves to climb and that's something I can't forget, but I also keep it safe to make sure she can't climb right out of the tank. 

     Hopefully the growth stays away and Chloe enjoys her clean new living space. I also threw away the ISO tank I had because it was absolutely overrun with a disgusting mold or fungus and I didn't have the stomach to clean it. With only one hermit crab I won't have to worry about molting as she can do it right in the main tank. 

     Last night was crazy but at least I didn't have work today and could sleep in. I really am fighting the growth though, I have seen it before but it was only a little and in the powder foods so I discontinued them, only giving my hermies pellets and fresh food. After searching it up on the web I believe my humidity might be too high along with the heat. These are the ideal levels for Chloe though and I am lost on those facts. For the time being I will keep my eyes open and continue fighting anything that doesn't belong. 

Until next time,

Pearl Popping~

24/7 Salad Party~

       I have just finished mixing a fresh salad together for Chloe consisting of mustard greens, broccoli, raisins, and dried cranberries. I might add some meat in later as well but for now I think that's good. I always add raisins because it seems my hermies really liked them. While raisins were Prada's favorite I'm still trying to find Chloe's, though she seems to really enjoy eating that piece of driftwood... I should buy some more of that soon. 

     I was placing the top back on when I saw her climbing on the side where I placed the net at. It made realized that she I haven't seen her climb on the tree as of yet which is weird for her seeing as she loves to. As I'm writing she's making her way up the net again. I am pretty sure she doesn't sleep too, every time I look in the crabitat she is wide awake. If anything I have been play hide and seek with her. One minute she's here and the next I can't find her again. 

     Well, like I was saying: I haven't seen her on the tree and so either later today or tomorrow I will revamp her tank (sand, shells, decorations, etc.) to fix it up to her liking. My reason being the tree is pretty big and taking up space, if she doesn't like it then it needs to go. Actually I still haven't taken a picture... salad party

Tank setup

     This is how the tank has been for a while now and I'm ready for a change, I like to believe Chloe is too. Speaking of Chloe, raise your hand if you see her ^--^ (Answer: on the left near the water dish in the green shell.)

Until next time,

Pearl Popping~

Back to square one

     Two days after resurfacing Chloe has gone back to normal routine; climbing, eating, and some more climbing. I saw her resting for a bit before she went right back to her crazy hermit crab antics. It's great that she is still active for that was one of the things I was worried about but I've noticed she seems to be a little more unsure of me than before her molt. I'm not taking it too seriously, perhaps after a couple of weeks of not seeing me she needs to get to know me again? Also, I really want to get some new pictures of Chloe but I am waiting for the right time.

     Besides that, I really hope she's okay without another hermie in the tank. I'm not ready to adopt one quiet yet and I'm still not sure if I had done something wrong with Prada who was fine one day and died the next. As I said before, I'll figure it out. For the time being it'll just be Chloe and I. 

Until next time,

Pearl Popping~

    

Not Sure...

     After about two hours in the ISO tank Chloe stopped all signs that she might molt. I noticed she had stopped digging completely and only walked around as if taking in her new environment (I could tell she didn't like it). With nothing to climb and only her favorite piece of wood reminding her of her real home she sat on top of it and watched me as if silently trying to will me into putting her back. As all parents (yes, even of pets) know those sad eyes always win. 

     Now Chloe is back in her tank with Prada, whom she sought out right away, and loving the second level. On top of that, after coming home from work and checking on the hydrometer (etc.) I see she has been digging again. All the levels are fine inside the crabitat so it can't be she finds it too cold or hot, not enough humidity or too much. Molting is all I can think of. Also, Chloe has been a little less active. Usually she's really all over the place, investigating everything and now sometimes I'm waking her up from a nap accidentally.

     Bottom line is I'll keep my eye on her and if I start seeing lethargic behaviors or cloudy eyes I will then place her into the ISO tank straight away. I don't need any cannibalistic crabs...

Until next time,

Pearl Popping~

Climbing higher & higher

     I hate waking up five minutes before my alarm clock let alone two hours but this morning I had a surprise. There was Chloe, active as always, hanging upside down on the grate lid of the tank. She looked so happy and her antennas were just moving all around the place with each little careful step she took but I was the complete opposite. I was looking around the crabitat for what in the hell gave her the boost to get up there in the first place. Those fake plants, I realized after two minutes of trying to get my brain moving. All I could think of was how happy I was that I had taken out the towels. Now I'm on the hunt for clamps to secure the lid and keep my babies inside their tank, where I know its safe for them. I've heard so many stories of Hermit Crabs escaping from their crabitat - sure they were found alive later (most of the time) but my house stays cool until the summer time really hits. My crabs will freeze without the lamp and suffocate without the humidity.  

     Later in the day, while I was at work, I was still thinking about it because this will be the second night I've seen her hanging around above the "ground".

(Chloe) The first night

(Chloe) The second night

 Does this new behavior have something to do with the switched sand? I hope not but if so I'll add some more of the calcium sand into the play sand as I still have some. Perhaps I'm over thinking it and my new tank setup is better and allows her to act more like a hermit crab? I'm not sure...

     Prada was active last night as well, on a different note, however she stayed closer to the sand if not on it. I spotted her staring at me and grabbed my phone (I'm still on the hunt for a good picture of her) snapped a couple and left her be as she ran away from me. She is still shy but at least she's coming out of her hut - even though its mostly when the lights are off.

Prada hiding in her shell

There she is~! :3

Until next time,

Pearl Popping~

All About The Heights

     One of the first things I learned about my new little buddies was that they love to climb. As such almost every hermit crab owner tries their hardest to stimulate their crabs to reach for the sky... or at least the next branch. I know I can add lots more to stimulate my babies and I will sometime very soon but for now we are just getting to know each other. This is my very first time owning Hermit Crabs and I'm trying my best to learn fast and understand their body language. I'm always nervous they might start a fight over shells or something, maybe that is why I keep adding new ones to the tank.
     Anywho, Chloe was very active last night - as always - and I could hear her shell knocking into the glass with every step she took. She ate she fresh food snack up and afterwards she continued to run around like she had appointments in every corner of the crabitat, all while I only got a glimpse of Prada stealing a raisin from the dish. I know crabs are all different but I hope one day Prada will be a little more active and maybe warm up to me.

Climbing on her favorite piece of wood :3

She spotted me lol