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~

Saltwater & Gnats

     After checking on my little roommates once again to make sure all the levels were perfect in the crabitat, and that they were behaving, I saw a gnat! Ugh, I hate bugs... Well, thus begins the fight of all things summer (my lest liked season). Thankfully I already learned how to fight them with the use of salt water.

     Misting the tank down for humidity reasons can also prevent unwanted critters when using saltwater, or so I've heard. I have never had this problem before. As everyone knows you can't use sprays or repellents around or inside of a crabitat as it will kill your crabs. So, I'll give the saltwater a go and see what happens plus my little strawberry friend loves saltwater.

     On another note, everyone is still sleeping to which I'm not surprised, which means that no one has met face to face quite yet. I'm hoping for the best though as the new edition is pretty calm from what I can see and Prada can't really hurt him without her larger claw. Chloe hasn't left her hideout yet and I'm pretty sure she doesn't even know he is there. But I have given him a name: Louis as in Louis Vuitton~ Hooray, lol. Welcome to the hermie/designer family ^--^

     I gave them an extra food dish as well and added to their stable diet with betta food to enhance their coloring and goldfish flakes along with their hermit crab food. I plan to buy turtle freeze dried shrimp as well, a cuttle bone for calcium and new things for them to climb on/ hide in tomorrow.

Until next time,

Pearl Popping~

Oh my lucky day!

     Wow, I can't believe it. Me, the most unluckiest person I know, has gotten a beautiful Strawberry crab for free! Let my tell you the whole story:

     I went to the mall, yes again, to buy a monster high doll (that they didn't have :'( ) and other things when I walked pass the "Crab Shack". I was talking with the girl working there for a bit; asking about prices and what came with it (just the shell on its back). After having a long fight with myself I gave in and picked out one that seems to be about the same size as Chloe and Prada, if not a little bigger. Well, after swiping my debit card twice with no luck, her register "being from the 1980's" and me standing there for about twenty minutes she gave up and said I could take it for free. I was willing to go to the bank and come back with cash but I was told not to worry about it. I have been so happy since! A crab that would have cost me $16.38, or higher depending where you look, for free ^--^  

     Once I got home I added food and water to the ISO tank and placed the little guy in there for the time being. He quickly went to the water dish and drank from it for a while before calmly taking a peek around and curling into his shell for a nap. 

     I didn't want to rush things but my house is actually cooler than the last few days and I wanted to get him in the main tank where its warmer so I gave him a bath, to which he seemed to enjoy as he just sat in the water, and put him inside the ten gallon. Prada has smelled his shell (that is painted sadly) but they haven't met face to face yet. Chloe is still buried underneath the driftwood and hasn't come out but after another quick peek she seems to be alright. I wonder if she is staying under there for something other then molting now... hmmm. 

   

There he is XD He's so cute~!

Until  next time,

Pearl Popping~

P.S. 
     I'm still against painted shells but I really wanted a Strawberry crab and now all I can hope for is for him to change his shell soon so I can remove it. His shell is actually already chipping too and the longer it stays in the tank the more of a risk there is for all the hermit crabs to eat it.
     Also, I don't have a name for him yet but I'm thinking. Hopefully in the next post he'll have one. 

Until next time, 
Pearl Popping~

Update: Molt

     I have moved Prada back into the main ten gallon tank and I could tell she was so happy, so was I. Having my hermies in two different tanks gave me a little bit more to worry about as far as food, humidity, and - sadly- mold/fungus. Yes, I have spotted some kind of growth in my tanks but it's okay I have quickly read up on it and know what I am doing wrong to fix it. See how here*
     Also, I took a peek at Chloe still underneath the driftwood. I know I probably shouldn't have but seeing her tiny face looking back at me made me so happy. She is moving around under there but has yet to remove the sand sealing the exits and step out for some food as far as I could tell. Hopefully soon she will come out in no time and Prada will have her buddy back soon. 
     I am playing with the idea of bringing new hermit crabs home if only because  "Two crabs do not make a colony. Go get him a friend, or better yet, two." as said on www.hermit-crabs.com We'll see. I really want a Strawberry crab ::sigh::, again we'll see. 


Until next time, 
Pearl Popping~

Update: Molting, Mall crabs, & Breeds

     It's been awhile since I've made a post but everything is the same for the time being. I still have yet to see Chloe's little eyes and Prada remains in the ISO tank however I am debating on returning her to the main tank even though I haven't bathed Chloe in the stress coat. Hmm, I'll figure it out. 
     On another note, I  went to my local mall again and saw the Hermit Crabs still there. This time I was smart enough to take a picture ("Boo" to painted shells).

     I was told that they sold Strawberry and Blueberry crabs. I've heard of Strawberry crabs but never Blueberry so this is something else I'll have to look into. This had me thinking of the breeds of my own little hermies. I know for a fact that Chloe is a Purple Pincher Crab, her largest claw giving that away. Prada however I'm not too sure. With her missing her largest claw and deeper coloring (red "feet") I believe she might be a different breed of all together.

(An old picture of Chloe) purple claw

Prada's hints of red

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~