Lauren Bailey

My interest in hermit crabs started when I was about five years old. I checked out a storybook at the local library, and from then on I was hooked. I had no idea at that time hermit crabs could be kept as pets.

A few years later, I happened to be browsing through the tourist shops in Biloxi, Mississippi, when I came upon a tank filled with the little critters.My fascination with hermits once more came to the surface. I went online and started researching them. That's when I found Vanessa's page and joined Hermies. Reading up, I bought the necessities and purchased three shelled friends naming them Tiny, Shiloh, and Speedy, and later I adopted more little ones. From then on I tried my best to learn as much as I could.

Hermies provided me with a lot of experience, and the little guys flourished. However, there was one thing I had overlooked. Because we have such mild winters in the southern United States, I thought I did not need an under tank heater. It ended up snowing my first winter crabbing. and I stayed up many a night tending to the little guys, making sure the portable heater I was using until the UTH came in, did not catch on fire. My advice to newbies is to always have one on hand. Better safe than sorry.

Since I bought my UTH, my crabbies are better than ever and are constantly amusing me with their antics. In one instance, two mischievous guys decided to make a run for it one night. In the morning, doing my usual head count, I came up two short. Looking frantically I realized they had escaped! They had climbed the thermometer out of the tank. I then began searching high and low for them. One hour later, no crabs… Two hours later, no crabs…. Three hours later, no crabs…. I finally found them behind the couch. One had gotten stuck, and his companion wouldn't leave him. He's still causing mischief in the tank today, and I've had no escapes since I've repositioned the thermometer. As time passed, I decided to expand the space in my crabarium. I moved my Purple Pinchers into a thirty gallon and then decided to use the ten gal for my Ecuadorians. Both species seem more relaxed in the separate habitats than they were together. At this current point in time, all is well. Anytime I have had a problem, the care and support of the people on Hermies has been invaluable.

My little critters are as lively as ever and are providing me with tons of enjoyment in exchange for the care I give them

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