HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Posted: **Mon Jul 05, 2010 1:33 am**

Hi I was just wondering if anyone from Oz could help in regards to buying anything Hermie eg. tank needs, shells, moss, etc etc

Are there any good online stores, even if they are O/S but will ship to Australia for certain things?

I've had a quick look, but can't really find anything. Hmm, might be an idea to set up a store??!!!

Posted: **Mon Jul 05, 2010 2:37 am**

Ebay has a few sellers that supply things for hermit crabs. I don't use moss, so I'm not sure where you'd get that from. The marine salt can be bought from aquarium places in bulk. If you're desperate, you can order stuff from Crazy Crabs in Perth, but I don't like to give that guy business if I can help it - he puts out false, harmful info about crabs and owns the company that supplies painted shells here

Posted: **Tue Jul 06, 2010 2:01 am**

Thanks!

Geez, if I could get supplies in, it would be an awesome business to start. Oz doesn't seem to cater for the little hermie crab apart from crappy coloured shells and a bit of reptile gear they've adapted.

I take it we can't get any of the other species here??

Posted: **Tue Jul 06, 2010 11:07 pm**

Yes, it would be great if there were more hermit friendly supplies available here - I think it would help improve the attitude toward them and help people see that they aren't just a cute throwaway pet.

I haven't heard of any other species being available here, except for marine varieties. Too bad, because I'd love a purple pincher! But given how strict the quarantine laws are here, I don't see it happening.

Posted: **Wed Jul 07, 2010 6:38 am**

ummm this might sound strange but i got all my shells, salt water, climbing stuff from the beach. i got my heater at the pet store and I'm not quite sure where i got the tank as we have had it for ages

Posted: **Wed Jul 07, 2010 4:42 pm**

*LOL* Its not strange, however I live nearly 4 hours drive away from the beach...so its not something I'll be able to do everytime I need something for the hermies!

Our pet store is extremely expensive.

I found a place that supplies sphagnum moss -
www.easyorchids.com.au

Feel free to add any websites you come across!

Posted: **Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:00 am**

i get my sphagnum moss from the local hardware store k'n'd which also sells plants it about $10 for 6lt

Posted: **Thu Jul 08, 2010 3:48 am**

Cool. *LOL* I can't get moss where I live either!

Wouldn't Tassie have wild moss?? It would be cold and wet enough down there eh?

Posted: **Thu Jul 08, 2010 4:04 am**

tassie does have wild moss but i would not use the common sort of moss that grows in the garden and it only really grows at least 1mm high. so it isn't really that useful.

fact

Tasmania has 1300 ha of peat-lands to harvest sphagnum moss most is in national parks so it is unharvestable.

Posted: **Thu Jul 08, 2010 7:33 pm**

Nice fact! I didn't even think about the amount of national park down there.

Posted: **Fri Jul 09, 2010 3:13 am**

i would suggest that you could try to get climbing things from outside( things like sticks and rocks i don't think crabs can be around eucalyptus )make sure that they are safe for crabs. as for moss i don't use it and i even when i have i prefer to not use it. you will most likely need to buy your shells from either eBay or your pet store. and lastly i wouldn't bother ordering from overseas as it most likely wouldn't get through customs.

Posted: **Fri Jul 09, 2010 3:48 am**

Yep got plenty of driftwood

And a half a coconut they love to climb aswell.

I'm having major problems with humidity

So I'm really hoping the moss will help with that. I tried calibrating the stupid guage and I'm still unsure if its correct or not - gonna post another topic about that!

I actually contacted customs yesterday -

Thank you for contacting the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS).

Sending shells to Australia is permitted by Quarantine, providing they are free from contamination and/or infestation by extraneous materials (live insects, seeds, soil, mud, clay, and animal/ plant material). If on inspection contaminants are found the item must undergo treatment at a cost of $42.50 to the consignee. The consignee will be notified by AQIS before any treatment is carried out. Once payment and treatment has been completed, (approx 5 weeks) the items will be handed back to Australia post for delivery.

Information regarding import conditions for specific products can be found using AQIS's Import Conditions Database (ICON). ICON is a simple and convenient way to access information about Australian import conditions for many thousands of commodities. ICON can be used to determine if a commodity intended for export to Australia needs a quarantine permit, mandatory treatment or if there are any other quarantine requirements. ICON can be accessed via the internet at the following address http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon.

All mail items entering Australia are assessed and if items of quarantine concern are identified, they will require inspection. It is important that all declarations on mail parcels are true and provides sufficient detail about the goods inside. There is an opportunity to list all the contents of the parcel on the Customs Declaration that is available from post offices around the world.

Regards,

AQIS
Mail and Detector Dog Program

So it seems we can get shells from O/S. I just placed an order with Elsshells.com for some more shells and a net for them.

Posted: **Sat Jul 10, 2010 8:44 am**

bindyangel wrote:Yep got plenty of driftwood And a half a coconut they love to climb aswell.

I'm having major problems with humidity So I'm really hoping the moss will help with that. I tried calibrating the stupid guage and I'm still unsure if its correct or not - gonna post another topic about that!

I actually contacted customs yesterday -
So it seems we can get shells from O/S. I just placed an order with Elsshells.com for some more shells and a net for them.

What was the shipping cost like? I've seen some fantastic deals on shells from overseas places, but the shipping made it unaffordable.

Posted: **Sat Jul 17, 2010 3:56 am**

I'm sorry I havent replied. Things have been a bit busy here lately.

12 shells, plus a net, plus a new hygro/thermometer and postage was about AU$12. Not too bad I thought.

Posted: **Sun Jul 18, 2010 1:16 am**

where did you get them from?

HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Anyone from Australia - Where do you get supplies?

Anyone from Australia - Where do you get supplies?