First Shells

     Chloe's first two shells with me ^--^ I was hoping to get her in the new shell beside these two however she was running away too much so I had to put her back. Unlike Prada, Chloe never really goes inside of her shell which makes handling her a bit tough. She is my energizer bunny through and through (^3^)

I bought her in the white one and once home she entered the spotted one on the right.

The size compared to a US penny.

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~

Better Place: RIP

     I noticed Louis was sitting kind of funny in the tank last night but left him alone as I didn't want to stress him out more. Early this morning at about two o'clock I saw he had dropped another leg and was still in the same spot. After having a tiny fight with myself about checking on him I decided that it would only stress him out more to do so and leave him be after making sure the temperature and humidity were perfect inside the crabitat. At around four he was still in the laying in the middle of the tank and so I opened it to check on him. To my horror he was dead. At first I thought, "Oh no, he's surface molting!" But after I moved him around to place him in the ISO tank he fell completely out of his shell and didn't move - and I mean completely.

     I'm scared to believe I did something so wrong that he died within the two days I had him. I remember last night when placing the food inside the tank (that no one ate) all the shells I had put onto the burlap net had fallen off; could they have hit him and I didn't know? 

     I also wondered if he was sick from the get go; malls aren't the best place to buy any living creature. Could it have been the painted shell; it was chipping pretty bad... That's the problem I have no idea what caused this. Ugh, my poor baby :{ 

     I hope Louis' in a better place now. 

    

This was the only picture I got of him within the two days. Rest In Peace Louis.

Link to my first post with Louis*

Until Next time,
Pearl Popping~

Basic care

     Here is one of the sites I go to all the time whenever I feel lost about something. It's pretty straight forward, filled with facts, and has helped me in many ways.

Hermit Crab Basic Care*

Until next time,
Pearl Popping~~ 

Play sand review & new tank setup

     After replacing the calcium sand with the play sand and watching the levels on humidity for the pass few hours I have to say it's working ^--^ The hydrometer is staying at the perfect 70%  or higher level and my crabs seem to really like the switch which makes it all the better. Chloe is moving around, as always, and Prada is investigating as well. I am currently trying to catch a picture of her with my phone lol. She's so shy and keeps running from me.

Prada

     Here is the only one she let me take before she went missing under the bridge. Oh, and after getting a much better look at both Prada and Chloe together, yes, Prada is indeed bigger then Chloe although not by much. I think I might how been seeing a few signs that she is looking for a new shell - or as my sister likes to call them, apartments lol. Since she hasn't changed yet I'm wondering if I should add more - maybe even larger ones?

     I also wanted to mention I gave them organic peanut butter and they really seem to like that as well. However I believe Chloe's favorite snake is that wood she likes to hang around. So I'm starting to notice what they like which is great. Prada prefers raisins, boiled eggs, bananas, and peanut butter. Chloe likes all that plus the seaweed I buy from my Chinese supermarket and, of course, the wood/bark she stays under. I haven't seen either of them eat the apple I put in nor the carrots but maybe they did and I never noticed.

new tank setup w/ play sand

     Besides the change in sand I also added a fake plant for them to climb on. I didn't get the chance to go to the pet store and buy the drift wood so I used what I had. I have already spotted Chloe hanging on it the night she discovered the soap dish and thought I might it more exciting if I added more. Hopefully Prada can get some fun out of it too.

Until next time,

Pearl Popping~

Painted Shells

     Here I was, shoe shopping at my local mall and spotted hermit crabs. Their everywhere I go now lol. I thought they might be Strawberry crabs ( and yes I do want one >.<) but sadly they had painted shells not to mention with Prada still missing a limb I don't want to introduce new crabs at this time.
     There was a large sign that stated the paint used was non-toxic and all that but I still don't like them. What's wrong with keeping things natural? It's bad enough these little guys were taken from their home now people are forcing them into shells that have Hello kitty and Batman painted on it. I've seen the video, okay. I'll never buy a crab with a painted shell unless they look like they really need help.
     On a different note, I still haven't taken the pictures yet of my own babies but I will soon and I'm getting ready to switch the sand out now as I write. I did get a picture of Chloe last night though~

Chloe

 It's still blurry but it was the best one at one o'clock in the morning :)

Until next time,
Pearl popping~

Changed Shells

     Chloe changed shells again~! They look the same but obviously they were different in some way to her. I was standing right there with my camera ready and waiting because it seemed like she was going to since this morning before I went to work but I was so busy fixing the lighting and stuff I missed it :( I'm so sad right now... 

     To make myself feel better I went on youtube.com and watched a different crab change shells. Yes, it's not the same as seeing your own crab "naked" but, you know, whatever. Hopefully, next time I'll see it first hand and get a good shot :3

Hermit Crab changing shells

Until next time,

Pearl Popping~

Shells and Stuff

     I was looking everywhere for shells; petsmart, petland, petco, and online. Gave in a bought a couple of them even though their selection was pretty sad. But when I walked into a craft store to grab a couple things I came across the fake flower section and spotted this cool net. I though I could make something for my crabs to climb on. Its a huge roll, 10 yards, and I'll have enough of it for the time to come.  (See the burlap roll here)  

     When I saw the burlap net I found the shells right next to it. A huge bag for $13. I made sure they were natural and hadn't be dyed, painted, or scented ( plus contained shell my crabs could use). They seemed fine so I thought,what the hell I'll give it a try. I boiled them first for about twenty minutes and let them cool then added some of them to the tank. I'm so happy I did buy the shells. Now I have more shells then I know what to do with them and more importantly my crabs are happy. What I can't use I'm saving for later to place on the beach, maybe someone else can use them :3

 (Sea shells)
 

Some of the shells I got from the large bag. This was about half way through when I had to switch the pot because it was too small. 

Chloe in her new shell standing next to her old one.

How small her first shell was and please don't mind my sad ass nails...

 Until next time,
Pearl Popping~

Chloe and Prada

     Let's be honest, hermit crabs aren't the best picture takers. My little girls are scared to death of my phone let alone my camera. How some people are able to get such great shots is beyond me but I tried my hardest.

Chloe

Chloe is my smallest crab... or I think she is. Since she has moved out of this shell into a much larger one she looks about the same size as Prada now. She hasn't molted with me yet, I've only had her for about five days now, only swapped out shell. She is very active; I have yet to see her sleep and she's always climbing over everything in the crabitat. Chloe is my guinea pig when I place new items for them to play on inside the tank only because she is the first to notice :3

Prada

Prada is completely opposite of Chloe, she is quite and shy. She likes to stay inside her hut and only comes out to grab a raisin or two before running back to her corner (that is why I placed her on a towel to get her picture). She hasn't switched shells yet and it doesn't seem like she's looking either, which is fine.

I'm always looking in on her because I'm hoping she does molt soon. I believe she was in a fight at the pet store as she is missing her largest claw and has trouble climbing when she actually takes the time to do so. This makes me a little uneasy and I'm constantly looking out for her and hoping Chloe isn't trying to fight with her. After stopping countless fights with Hermes and Chloe I'm on edge, however I was told that since I bought them at the same time from the same pet store this would be highly unlikely - I'm crossing my fingers in hope that this is true.  

Close up of Prada

    I hope to one day add to their little clan :3