Do you think my pet will die when I go on vaction?

Question

I'm worried that my two hermit crabs will died when I'm on vaction. My neighbor is going to give them water but I'm afraid that she will forget to give them water or her oldest daughter(she's 4 years old) will pick them up when they're molting or pick it up and drop it on the ground and kill it! do you guys have any ideas?

Answer 1

I think you are panicking for no reason. If they do die, it happens but I assume you asked your neighbor to care for them because he/she is responsible. Just leave a care sheet next to them

Answer 2

OK well do not bring them with you!

Have a good talk with the neighbor and leave very specific directions as well as request the young child does not handle the crabs because of how sensitive they are, there is no need for ANYONE to pick them up anyway.

Pre mix their salt water and leave a bottle of fresh water next to the tank along with extra food and all should be fine.

Also if using tank lights either put them on a timer or have the neighbor turn them on in the AM and off in the PM, do nto leave them on 24/7 or they can get overheated and not get the proper light/dark cycle which can throw off both their metablolisims and molting cycles.

OR>>>>>>

Get a reptile water resivoir and fill it with de-clorinated fresh water and then get the largest dish you can find and fill it with hermit crab food, the dried kind best for this is Gardner's Tree Crab food and have a large pool of the salt dechlorinated water and get the lights on a timer and they shloud be fine, unattended until you get home.


OH AND BY THE WAY>>> Land hermit crabs are not usually covered by vets they are not animal, animals and I have yet to find a vet that knows anything about land hermit crabs that is up to date or accurate.

Answer 3

just leave them enough water that the neighbor wont have to do anything, or explain to the kid that they pinch REALLY HARD and if she picks them up they will hurt her and call periodically to check up on them. I personally had a bad experiance leaving a guinea pig with a friend. They used cedar bedding to change her cage, which I explained to them many times would kill her and it did. I trust noone but vets to look after my pets now.

Answer 4

If you could manage you should take your crabs with u and they would be much safer!Or if you are only leaving for a short time you should just give them a large amount of food and water and leave them. You maybe could find a Pet-Sitting-Service!

Answer 5

i have rabbits who our neighbors take care of when we go away and we;ve never had a problem. you should probably explain to your neighbor what it looks like when a hermit crab is molting so she can leave them alone if it happens while you're away

Answer 6

well. your concern is about your neighbors. try to find someone more worthwhile to give the animals to. my nephew had them as pets and they died when the family gave it to someone to take care of cuz they forgot to water the sponge. your neighbors cannot forget to give them water. how about taking them with you or pay a pet shop to take them in for the while.

Answer 7

I would just ask your neighbor not to bring her daughter or buy one of those nanny cams or call your neighbor when she needs to feed them so she will not forget

Answer 8

Best solution, you want them to survive, sent it to the pet boarding. The professional would be able to look after and you would have a peace of mind..

Answer 9

Hey there, let your neighbor keep the cage they are in, surely it isn't too big. That way they can put it in their kitchen or something, and they can remind themselves to water them for you. =)

Answer 10

Relax and trust that your neighbor will take care of them, if you can't then find someone else.