The worst pets! They only come out at night. If you go near them, they huddle up in their shell for a long time. If you are looking for something fun, it isn't a hermit crab!

Anonymous wrote:I’ve got two - or maybe 3 - if you want them.

We also got them at the beach and then read up on how to outfit them properly. That was over three years ago and we’re pretty over them though they are still going strong. Good news is once you have a proper set up (sand, glass tank, warming pad to keep humidity up) it takes nearly nothing to keep them going. Every couple of weeks I throw some dog food in and make sure they have salt and fresh water. That said, I have no idea if all 3 are still living since one spends his life buried in the sand. Hermit and all that.

That made me laugh.

I had to google them to see what they looked like. Too ugly for me to want one as a pet.

Ocean city md at sunsations.

Don't. It's cruel.

I’ve got two - or maybe 3 - if you want them.

We also got them at the beach and then read up on how to outfit them properly. That was over three years ago and we’re pretty over them though they are still going strong. Good news is once you have a proper set up (sand, glass tank, warming pad to keep humidity up) it takes nearly nothing to keep them going. Every couple of weeks I throw some dog food in and make sure they have salt and fresh water. That said, I have no idea if all 3 are still living since one spends his life buried in the sand. Hermit and all that.

Anonymous wrote:Can you just buy pretty shells and move them occasionally instead? I mean, it's kind of the same thing without the cruelty.

lol, this is pretty accurate. Years ago I bought one on an impulse buy with my preschooler. Got home and then read up on their care. Felt awful. Ran out and got the proper set up and another hermit crab. Pretty much never saw them move.

Can you just buy pretty shells and move them occasionally instead? I mean, it's kind of the same thing without the cruelty.

We bought a 2 last summer from the shore because my 8 year old had been begging for years. I didn't realize until I started reading about them after getting home the process of harvesting them is cruel and most die immediately. Animal advocacy websites all recommend strongly against buying hermit crabs.

Ours are still alive 15 months later but we invested in a decent tank, a warmer and a humidity and temperature monitor.

If you do end up getting one--get two for sure. They are social creatures.

You know those little guys, with proper care, can live for 20 years? In the wild they live for as long as 30 years. Isn't it sad that they typically receive such poor care in captivity that they only live 1 year?

I was hoping to not find such a biased source, but it provides good information.
https://www.peta.org/living/animal-companions/7-reasons-never-buy-hermit-crab/

Please get a fish.

They do actually require more work than you think if you are going to have it live any length of time.

They really do not belong as pets, imo.

That said, any cheap souvenir shop at the shore will sell you one without a second thought.

Read up on the proper care of them before coming home with one in those tiny tanks.

Title says it all! TIA!