Hermit Crabs as Pets

We called him "Hermie". We loved him.

Hermie lived for a while, but just in the stuff you describe - the stuff our pet store recommended.

Your heart is in the right place. Good luck with the other two.

To bring some smiles into your house, check out these books (I liked them bc of the "Hermie" name):

http://www.hermythehermitcrab.com/

And this one for information:

http://www.amazon.com/Hermit-Barrons-Complete-Owners-Manu...

And the Mamapedia of Hermit Crab owners:

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?...

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/index.php

I used to have crabs and kept them in a wire cage..no heat lamp or fancy stuff and they lived a long time til we didnt shut the cage door tight and it escaped and we couldnt find it. My sister had a bunch too and a couple died randomly at the beginning and others lasted awhile. I think it is just the luck of the draw that some are sturdier than others. Sorry your little one was so upset.

I had one as a kid. I was giving it a little bath like you are supposed to do and the dead crab fell out into my hand. Yuck. Learned that lesson the hard way, and will NOT buy one for my kiddo! Hope your little guy has better luck with his remaining two!

I'm sorry. Hermit crabs are not easy. We got ours at one of those art fairs. I don't think ours ever ate so he probably starved to death. Never again.

We now have a goldfish and that's much easier.

Good luck!

I found out the hard way that an anole needs more than I was ready to provide, too.

Please also beware the pet store sale. You can get sold a lot of junk in a pet store, like salt licks and run balls for guinea pigs (as an example).

Find a reputable website and/or talk to a vet (yes, you will probably have to find an exotics vet). People who are really into these critters can steer you toward the right things and ultimately save you time, money and heartache by giving you better advice than the person in the beach shop.

Your family learned not to give in to the impulse buy, however well intentioned. I love animals as a general rule, too, but I should NEVER have gotten a lizard on a whim. Ever. Always give yourselves a cooling off period during which you research the critter.

Better luck with the rest of them. Sorry your kid is upset. Sometimes all you can do is try better now that you know better.

Ah! I was going to warn you AGAINST getting one...too late.

Unfortunately touristy beach spots really push selling these little guys and make it seem so easy, and that they are "cheap" to care for. As you found out, they are not.
They are actually quite hard to keep alive. It's sad these shops sell so many of them probably to meet an early demise! Poor little guys.
Good luck to your remaining friends :)

We had a few and they lived with whatever it was we bought at the beach store. We never bought anything else. My son enjoyed them for quite a while before they died.