where can i get a hermit crab with the designs on the shell?

Question

i dont want an ordinary one... i want one that was painted. oh and how much are they alltogether with food and sand and cages?? i already picked out their names. mufasa and rafiki from the lion king... thank you..

Answer 1

FIrst please get more than just one land hermit crab, in the wild they live in large colonies of 100 and more and to have just one is unfair, it will not thrive nor be happy, they are wild exotic creatures that need very specific things...A plastic critter carrier tank set-up is not proper at all, those cages are for traveling NOT for an at home set-up and a total watse of money because it does not allow enough room for all that is needed. ALSO stay away from painted shells, they are highly toxic and will kill your crabs even the decorate yourself ones are very toxic,,, there is no sich thing as non-toxic paint and decos when it comes to land hermit crabs, even food coloring is toxic to them.

A proper set up will be over $100.
Land Hermit Crabs are portrayed as easy to care for, cheap and novelty pets. This is not really true! There are some basics that you need to know before actually buying your first Hermit Crabs. Read on below and then you can decide if this is the pet for you.

Sea sponges:
Natural, un-bleached and un-dyed sea sponges only. Non-man made. These can be found in pet stores and in some department stores as well.
They need to be rinsed and dried to keep bacteria and uglies away, so have an extra or two so you can rotate them. Boiling will also sterilize them.
Thermometer and Hygrometer:
Land Hermit Crabs, breathe through modified gills therfore they must have the proper humidty in order to breathe as well as the proper temperatre in order to thrive.
You need to monitor all of the tank conditions. One for the temp and one for the humidity will get you started. Keep them as close to substrate level as possible since that is where the crabs are most of the time.
76 - 80 degrees and everyone will be fine. Do not allow the Hermit Crabs to get cold for long periods or they can die. Humidity ranges should be around 76-80% relative, sustained.
With in these levels your crabs and their home will be a happy and active one. If it gets too warm, you can always prop up the lid, same if the humidity gets too high, prop the lid up.To add moisture/humidity add an extra moist sponge or even a bubbler in their water dish.

Housing:
Glass tank with lid (aquarium with glass lid is best) Can use a quality Kritter Keeper with saran wrap over the lid.
Substrate:
Options include... Calci-Sand, Sterilized playsand, Aragonite Sand, Moist coco-fiber bedding, Crushed coral.
You can mix and match, have seperate areas and containers, it is up to you. Remember there needs to be enough substrate to fully cover the "floor" or the tank. Deep enough for your largest crab to fully submerse or cover it's self. The substrate also needs to be pretty smooth, meaning little to no jaged edges to scrape or injure the Hermit Crabs Exoskeleton prior to, during and after molting.
It also must be insect and chemical free. Human or animal grade not the kind that is used for construction or masonry.
NOT GRAVEL OR PEBBLES NOR BARK.. which do not allow diggin or burrying for molting and is very bad for them and an irritant.

Light:
Hermit Crabs require 12 hours of sunlight each day. This can be a combo of natural and artificial light. The normal aquarium hood light can be good enough.
Once you are ready to get more advanced or need more heating you can buy a bi-light that has both dayglo and nightglo bulbs.. for heat and light during the day and heat during the night. Always try to have full spectrum when possible so the Hermit Crabs get enough of the proper lighting.


Water basics:
Use only de-chlorinated or bottled water for everything Hermit Crabs related. The chemicals in tap water (chlorine and heavy metals are toxic to Hermit Crabs also will burn their modified gills.)
You can treat tap water by using a water conditioner for fish, make sure their drinking water doesn't have stress-coat in it though.
Land Hermit Crabs must have both fresh and salt water for drinking. The salt should be obtained from a good aquarium store or pet department, reading the directions carefully.
The fresh water should be de-chlorinated as well. Both dishes should be deep enough for your largest Hermit Crab to fully submerse it's self, while at the same time provide items like shells, smooth stones for your smaller crabs to use to get in and out of the water. One or both water sources can have bubblers or sponges, it is up to you.

Misting Bottle:
Have one ready if your humidity drops, or to spot clean a crab who you want to play with, or to physically check. You can also have a second one with fresh salt water to control mold and fungus. This water also must be de-chlorinated and Hermie Safe.

Food:
Provide a nice selection of fresh and dried foods daily. Fresh foods can stay for 24 hours or less only because of mold and spoilage. Dried foods can stay for 2 or 3 days as long as you monitor it carefully.
Rotate food selection so that you crabs do not get bored and live a more natural scavenger type life. Check out our food lists.

Heating:
Land Hermit Crabs live in tropical areas, there for it is quite warm and humid. First there is the heat. Sometimes the lights you use give off a fair amount of heat, yet that does not reach the depths of your substrate when some crabs may be burried.
A UTH (Under Tank Heater) will answer this issue. Found in the reptile area of most pet stores and available in a variety of sizes.. once firmly attached to the bottom of your tank, it will provide heat to the substrate which some crabs prefer.
Make sure you have a cool side and a warm side. UTH should not be used on plastic Kritter Keepers due to warping and the toxic fumes some plastics can give off.. so watch where you stick it!
Dishes:
You will want at very least 3 dishes. 2 are for water and one will be used for food. Sometimes it is good to have extras due to seperating wet and dried foods or to switch out for cleanings.
They are to be heavy and sturdy, non-porous and NON-METALLIC. Remember there is to never be any metal within your crabs home, especially that may come into contact with water or moisture.
Extra shells:
Rule of thumb, 3 per crab.. one larger,
one about the same and one slightly smaller. Do not offer painted or decorated shells if you can help it, the paint is toxic. Wash them and offer them different ones from time to time. If the crabs do not have a proper shell they will die.


NOW ABOUT PAINTED SHELLS>>>>
Seashells are not fashion accessories - they are vital to the well being of land hermit crabs. The natural seashells that land hermit crabs use to protect their vulnerable abdomen and store shell water to prevent drying out.

Painting a natural seashell with bright colors and attaching jewels or ears, tails and pats from other animals encourage people to see these precious animals as novelties rather than living creatures. Decorating a seashell to sell a hermit crab with a 'Finding Nemo' theme, or other attention-grabbing popular theme of the time is a marketing ploy that can be harmful to the very animal it is trying to sell.

1) Often the paint cracks or flakes off, tainting the water dish or crabitat
2) Sometimes the paint or lacquer build-up can block the entrance of the shell, trapping the crab within it or causing irritation and stress.
3) Many hermit crab suppliers force the hermit crabs to move into the painted shells, removing the natural seashells and keeping the painted crabs in a separate tank so that they cannot change into an unpainted shell.
4) There have been situations in which a land hermit crab is trapped within a shell that is too small and has become trapped within the shell, unable to come out and walk or eat. There are graphic photographs available which show this sad reality for hermit crabs that are forced into poor fitting shells

Please view the link below if you are not yet convinced that painted shells should be avoided with land hermit crabs, an animal that should be treated with dignity and respect, not dressed up to the nines to make them an impulse buy.

http://crabstreetjournal.com/articles/lhcosociety/paintedshells.htm

THEY WILL EAT THE PAINT AND IT IS TOXIC, they groom their shells.
THey are not fashion accessories and they need to have a variety of shells at least 3 per crab to switch into.

DO not pick out shells that are painted and decorated because YOU like them that way, that is not what is best for your pet and it is a live creature and not a novelty item or a toy!! so do not treat them as such.

Answer 2

You need to do a lot of research before you just go out and get a hermit crab. You do realize that they won't stay in those shells forever, don't you? They grow and they have to get new ones. They don't make their own shells. So if you're buying one because you like the shell, you're buying one for the wrong reason.

Answer 3

I love hermit crabs & have heaps in a tank. You can sometimes buy the hermit crabs at a local pet shop with coloured shells. To set up depending on how many crabs you get it will depend on the size tank you should get tanks range in prices. It doesnt cost much to feed hermit crabs as they are scavengers they eat cuddle bones, fruit,vegies, nuts, heaps of diffrent things. I did have sand in my tank but then decided to have small pebbles as they are easier to clean. Make sure you get a heat pad from the pet shop to stick under the tank as this will keep them warm during winter as if they crabs dont have the warmth during winter thats the time they can die easy. Have one small bowl for fresh water, another for beach salt water, another for food. Make sure you have a few extra shells in the tank cause hermit crabs like to change there shell. GOOD LUKE WITH IT ALL I LOVE HERMIT CRABS TO.

Answer 4

Okay, first things first. A good plastic started kit (sponge, tank, artificial decor and substrate) would be about 20.00. Food variety will cost about 10.00 and will last for weeks. Painted shell hermit crabs can be bought at petco and they have plain shells and paint you can decorate yourself.

Answer 5

Not an expert but pls chk carefully into the dye. All the other info will come.

Answer 6

Ocean city, maryland

Answer 7

well u can get them at the mall usually

Answer 8

you usually have to buy those shells separately