We just got back from Myrtle beach with 6 new hermit crabs. My 3 sons asked for hermit crabs and we thought we would get them each one. Stopped at one place and they were $3.99 each. Told the boys we would get them the last day so they could just ride home.
I started finding info online before we even bought them. Crazy how bad the conditions are in the stores where the crabs are sold. I think we ended up in 4 different stores and they all had almost the same setup. We had everything we needed at home except for salt water.The instant ocean from eBay arrived just 2 days after we got home.
Being the bargain shopper that I am, I was looking thru a coupon book. Lots of stores had a "free" hermit crab when you bought a cage. I realized the cage was too small and overpriced. I then found one place that had a coupon for .59 cent hermit crabs. We ended up getting 6 of the .59 cent crabs.6 of them for less than the price of one at the first store we stopped at- and I thought $3.99 was a good price.They are micro or mayby small PP's I believe. The smallest has about a one inch shell and the largest a 2 inch shell.
All 6 of them are now in a covered 10 gallon aquarium with fresh and salt water, 4 inches of moist sand, and a light for heat. 2 of them have already switched shells and 2 are buried, I'm guessing to molt. The smallest one is only partly buried- you can just see the tip of his shell. He didn't move much the first 2 days and then buried down. He hasn't moved in almost a week now. I know better than to dig him up. One other one is buried deep. The other 4 seem to be doing well.
The boys and their Dad have been enjoying their new pets and we have already been discussing moving them to a larger aquarium.
I feel like I know what I need to too keep these guys alive,but if anyone has any advice I am more than willing to listen.
Myrtle Beach vacation= 6 new hermit crabs
Re: Myrtle Beach vacation= 6 new hermit crabs
They may outgrow the 10 gallon quickly, but if there's a Petco near you, they're having a great sale on aquariums right now, $1 a gallon. There have been several topics lately on where to get shells, you're going to need quite a few options for them so they don't try to steal from each other. Have fun!
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Re: Myrtle Beach vacation= 6 new hermit crabs
Welcome! Wow, I need to go shopping with you, what a deal! 
I'm relatively new here, but like you, all the information available really helped me feel confident starting out. Some things that helped me when I first joined:
The care sheets here are chock full of great info, though I'm guessing you've already read them!
When I first started I learned a lot by reading the "emergency" forum threads. I wanted to be able to recognize and catch potential problems right away!
The forum search in the top right corner of the screen is also a great tool. When I have a question, I use the forum search and nine times out of ten someone else has had the same question and there is already an answer.
I printed the safe food list and hermit crab nutrition pyramid (just the image) and keep them in my basket of dried foods for quick reference. The pyramid tells you how many times per week to offer various foods (protein, calcium, etc). It also makes it easy for my husband and son when I'm not home.
Craft stores are a great source for cheap shells. Using coupons for Michaels and Joanns, I picked up three bags full of about 50 green turbos and magpies for a total of $8 (mostly with shell opening sizes 3/4" and under). I've since bought from Naples and Richards and like them both.
As MamaKelly said, there's a great aquarium sale at Petco right now through the first part of May. When I started with 2 medium PPs in a 10gal, I was going to rush out and get a 20L but I'm glad I made myself wait. The general advice around here is to get the biggest tank you can afford/fit in your space. We learned this the hard way as my husband (the minimalist) picked up a 5 gallon terrarium and now we own a 5, 10, and 20... you run out of room fast! I think he is finally on board because I'm cleaning out our back room to fit the 55 gallon he offered to pick up at the Petco sale, LOL.
I'm relatively new here, but like you, all the information available really helped me feel confident starting out. Some things that helped me when I first joined:The care sheets here are chock full of great info, though I'm guessing you've already read them!
When I first started I learned a lot by reading the "emergency" forum threads. I wanted to be able to recognize and catch potential problems right away!
The forum search in the top right corner of the screen is also a great tool. When I have a question, I use the forum search and nine times out of ten someone else has had the same question and there is already an answer.
I printed the safe food list and hermit crab nutrition pyramid (just the image) and keep them in my basket of dried foods for quick reference. The pyramid tells you how many times per week to offer various foods (protein, calcium, etc). It also makes it easy for my husband and son when I'm not home.
Craft stores are a great source for cheap shells. Using coupons for Michaels and Joanns, I picked up three bags full of about 50 green turbos and magpies for a total of $8 (mostly with shell opening sizes 3/4" and under). I've since bought from Naples and Richards and like them both.
As MamaKelly said, there's a great aquarium sale at Petco right now through the first part of May. When I started with 2 medium PPs in a 10gal, I was going to rush out and get a 20L but I'm glad I made myself wait. The general advice around here is to get the biggest tank you can afford/fit in your space. We learned this the hard way as my husband (the minimalist) picked up a 5 gallon terrarium and now we own a 5, 10, and 20... you run out of room fast! I think he is finally on board because I'm cleaning out our back room to fit the 55 gallon he offered to pick up at the Petco sale, LOL.