her name is bettie. lol. well all she does is just lay around, closed up in her shell. when i first got her from the mall, she was climbing all over the rocks and stuff in her tank but now she dosent. at an imports store from the mall, we got her and another crab but after a few months he died and she didnt. then, we got another one from petsmart and that one died too but she didnt. do you think that she was traumatized by the deaths?? or is just something wrong with her?? how can i make her more active?? plz help me!!
2007-02-18 10:34:45 · 10 answers · asked by gratzie 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Well, hermits are more solial animals than most people realize, so friends could make yours more active.
Since you say the eactivity level has decreased since you got her, the cause is probably something in her environment. Therre are a few different kinds of hermit crabs, so knowing what she needs will partly depend on the kind of hermit she is.
One thing I know is that you can't trust people in most pet stores to tell you how to take care of animals properly. Regardless of the type of crab you have, you should make sure she's in a warm and humid environment. She should have a place to dig so that she can get completely underground. She should have a place to climb (for exercise and something to do), a place to hide (a little hut or box), and weekly baths or a water dish deep enough to get into, but easy to get back out of. After a bath is when most hermits are active - they breathe through gills, so they need to keep them moist. If this is a purple-claw hermit, she should also have saltwater available for drinking and bathing.
I'm attaching two websites with even moer info on hermit crabs, including how to tell which kind you have.
http://www.hermit-crabs.com/
http://www.thecrabbagepatch.com/
2007-02-18 10:44:55 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hermit crabs are ectotherms. External conditions must be optimal for them to be active - they rely on external heat to warm up their bodies and increase their metabolisms. Make sure that her enclosure is a minimum of 80 degrees during the day and cooler at night. Also, give her a place to "bask" (where there is intense heat under a lamp... such as on top of a log or a rock) - they basically know when their bodies are getting cold, and will either 'close up' or go and find some more heat (their basking place).
Additionally, make sure that she is getting good quality food - the pellets you can get from your pet store are a start, but they thrive when you add freeze dried brine shrimp (or mysis shrimp) to their diet. They also love some fresh veggies (ie lettuce) once in a while.
Because they are technically marine creatures, add a sprinkle of non-iodized (ie sea salt) to their water to ensure that their body retains the right amount of salt and hydration.
Hope this helps...
Oh, and to the person who commented on "not being able to trust pet store people" - I work in a pet store. Dare you to try and prove me wrong on this one.
2007-02-18 11:06:30 · answer #2 · answered by Kaili 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
She might be molting. Do not bother a molting crab - they can die from that! Hermit crabs go through stages in which they switch from being active, to be lazy and almost non-existant for weeks at a time.
Just let her be along until she starts being active again.
2007-02-18 10:39:32 · answer #3 · answered by Susan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
HAHAHA. sorry but i'm not sure hermit crabs can be traumatised by death.
Umm, maybe Bettie crawls around when you aren't looking!! I'm sure she will be fine after a while! She's probably just a shy little crab.
Your question was very cute.
2007-02-18 10:38:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got my hermet crab at the mall too! i had the same question, all u have to do is get another one and they will both be active! also, it will
be more happy if u give it a chunk of banana!!!:)
2007-02-18 11:42:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hermit Crabs are very social little guys. It sounds silly but she could be sad that her friends are gone. I would try getting another one and see if that perks her up.
2007-02-18 10:40:15 · answer #6 · answered by bluemysti 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds to me like she needs a better environment - two dying in such a short span sounds like their tank isn't set up correctly (not humid enough, not eating the right foods, not having dechlorinated water, etc. etc. etc.).
2007-02-18 11:02:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
it sounds as if bettie is molting i would just keep her area as clean as possible and maybe get her some of her favorite treats to help and perk her up a little bit
2007-02-18 11:13:11 · answer #8 · answered by jeff c 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
maybe get another crab so they can play together or maybe hes just lazy?
2007-02-18 11:09:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
try feeding the animal...it tends to give them more energy...good luck
2007-02-18 10:42:37 · answer #10 · answered by Michael K 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋