Should Hermit Crabs Be Kept as Pets?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:13 pm

I totally agree with you! There really is an urgent need to change how hermits are treated and harvested. It's like with the tropical exotic birds that are available for sale in the US...in the rain forest, they cut down the trees, and of the number of birds that were alive in the tree before they cut it down, only HALF of those survive the fall. They then take those surviving birds, and smuggle them into the united states. Of those birds that survive the fall and are smuggled, only HALF of those birds survive to make it to pet stores, etc.The thing with the bird issue is it IS possible to breed them in captivity. I would imagine the hermit trade is very similar, a lot of those adorable hermies don't make it from their natural habitat to the pet store. And even if they do make it to the pet store, the pets stores are so terrible at keeping them that a number of those die as well.It would be fantastic if there was some research going on as to how to breed hermit crabs in "captivity" so that removing them from their natural habitat wasn't neccesary. There are probably a number of animal groups that would be happy to fund such research, and I hope that a couple of universities around the country might try to perfect a captive breeding program, as long as they recieve the funding.tnyfootprntz, you're totally right! The good thing is that there are many people out there who help to raise awareness of hermit crabs because we own them and love them!Hopefully sometime in the near future there might be some progress into captive breeding. Not only for hermit crabs, but for many other animals!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:13 pm

You ask a very good question. I don't agree that we are "rescuing them" from improper conditions. Because everytime that we "rescue" them, the pet stores imports even more crabs and exposes them to the same terrible conditions. Frankly, the only way to stop the pet stores from doing this is to stop buying crabs. But quite frankly, as long as us crab-lovers are taking good care of them (which 99% of the time we do!!), I really don't see a problem with it. Especially since the species seems to be perfectly okay in numbers in the wild.Frankly, I would suggest that you post on a forum for people who like to keep endagered species as pets. Why are you worried about hermit crabs when there are thousands of species out there that are near extinction because of human actions. Hermit crabs are actually one of the less-liked pets, and as far as I can tell, aren't THAT popular. Certainly not as popular as cats and dogs, and you KNOW what some people do to those poor animals. I used to work in a no-kill animal shelter and I would loved to have beaten some of these people that abuse their animals. I envy your concern and vigor, but us crab-lovers take excellent care of our crabs. In fact, we spoil them. If you want to start a campaign against dog abuse of animal spaying/neutering I'm right there with you. Thanks for your imput!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:13 pm

I made a decision not to buy any more crabs, either. I feel guilty about giving money to a business that has no concern for the numbers of crabs left on beaches, or the fact that these animals cannot reproduce in captivity. I will take care of the ones I have for as long as they're with me and then that's it. I enjoy them but I won't help feed the demand for more in the pet stores. My Indos and 2 of my 3 straws died, as well as a few Rugs, and I felt absolutely awful. They may have been stressed from capture and it probably was not my fault, but when I think of all the other crabs that this happens to every day, I think I'd rather leave them on the beaches.It was hard to pass by a tank of straws at Petco that really looked like they needed rescuing. I felt guilty for leaving them there. But I didn't want to buy any and have them just go order more. Maybe if enough die in their care before being purchased they'll stop carrying the poor things. All the straws are so large--they must be quite old. As far as the argument about keeping cats and dogs and stuff, they're not wild animals and we all know how easily they reproduce. People once thought whales and cod were unlimited in numbers, too.

tnyfootprntz · Post by **tnyfootprntz** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:13 pm

I've also been wondering if any progress has been made through breeding research. I do feel guilty about removing them from the wild and am therefore a hypocrit by keeping them. I'd feel a lot better if they could be captive bred. But right now to me there's an URGENT need to change how the crabs are harvested and sold. At least the up-side to people keeping crabs as pets is the fact that it sparks interest in the creatures and their natural habitats, which in turn leads to education, which hopefully will result in more research that will ultimately be helpful to wild and captive hermit crabs. I'll bet many of today's scientists, biologists, etc., were fascinated by hermit crabs and other such animals when they were kids.

Jedediah · Post by **Jedediah** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:13 pm

The prblem with breeding hermit crabs is that even if it could be done, the crab will take so long to reach a size that makes them "attractive" to the average buyer. And they would be quite expensive compared to wildcaught crabs. Emperor scorpions for example have the same problems and they grow up faster than crabs.Nobody wants a tiny captivitybred scorpion for say 20$ when they can get a huge wildcaught monster for 5$. (*sarcasm mode on*: doesn't matter that the wildcaught one will probably die in a few months or years - it's huge and everybody will go eeww at it *sarcasm mode off*)I'm not saying that we shouldn't try to breed the crabs, I'm all for it. But I don't think it would solve the problem. Only laws on crab harvesting and protectionnof their environment can do this and as long as those don't exist, I won't buy any more crabs.

Jedediah · Post by **Jedediah** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:13 pm

quote:Originally posted by lmachere: Especially since the species seems to be perfectly okay in numbers in the wild. A lot of people used to think that about whales, macaws, dolphins, penguins, dodos, elephants ect. Let's hope that hermit crabs won't be in the same situation one day.

Aviate · Post by **Aviate** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:13 pm

This is the reason I have stopped buying crabs, and as Kittycaller said, only would adopt unwanted crabs at this point. I will not contribute to the brutal pet industry anymore. I can feel secure that I have tried in countless ways to make a difference. But I wont be giving them any more of my money. I think a lot of us feel this way, and agree with you on this point. However, as was stated, there are already crabs in significant numbers out in the public realm, being mistreated, which is a conundrum. I am just not convinced that for the long haul these animals are going to thrive in captivity. I have seen and heard of a lot of bad molts from crabs that people have had for years, which makes me wonder what is lacking that they get on the beach that we just cannot duplicate in captivity over time.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:13 pm

"Exotics", especially Strawberry crabs, are also in danger of possibly going extinct. In PA, I never saw any up for sale, but I bet people looking for a pet for their 4 year old daughter will buy the pretty red crab and have it turn white in a week, then die in another few days, only to buy 3 more to replace the "bad egg" and have them all die from lack of kerotene, salt water, a good, safe tank, and exposure to chlorine, dry air, and probably dead crabs.The cycle goes on.

KittyCaller · Post by **KittyCaller** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:13 pm

Part of the problem with breeding in captivity is the salt level, but that's not the only problem. These guys hatch in tidepools. Getting the levels of everything in the water stable and correct is very difficult, then you have to factor in things like plankton, whirlpools if there are any, temperature, and so on. The closest I've heard about is that someone did manage to get the eggs to hatch, but when the water turned bad, the zoea died. I think breeding in captivity would begin to solve a lot of problems, but I don't think it's going to be easy.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:24 pm

LOL!I guess the main thing that bothers me is that we're taking breeding stock from the wild, and we can't replace them. From all the posts I read about crabs dying in captivity, I worry that we're eventually going to decimate the wild population. It's not like a cat or a dog or most any pet that humans keep, that have no trouble reproducing in captivity. I want to get a few more of the little buggers but I feel like I'm fighting with myself between wanting to give them a good home and feeling like I'm part of the problem by contributing to demand for a wild pet. ???My husband says I'm being ridiculous. heh

Jedediah · Post by **Jedediah** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:24 pm

I forgot something: for me, buying pets from pet shops that don't care for them properly is not rescueing because the pet shop will only get more animals and they will suffer, too. I'm opposed to pet shops selling live animals at all and I think that everyone how keeps pets should be obliged to get a license for it, with a test depending on the type of animal you want to keep and a fee at least as expensive as a serious vet visit with the animal. Won't happen of course, but I wish it would.I have found one pet shop that sells very few live animals, no exotics at all and keeps those animals well. That's where I buy stuff for my animals when I can't get it from an online shop.

TheGreyRonin · Post by **TheGreyRonin** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:24 pm

Decimating the breeding stock isn't a problem. There are literally billions of the little guys in the ocean. What concerns me more is environmental damage that could affect their reproduction in the wild, especially since they can't breed in captivity.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:24 pm

I think the best way I can describe my feelings about captivity is in that poem I wrote, you can find it on here if you just look down there and find "My Poem." If you can't find it I'll paste it again.I'm with the majority of crabbers on here that go with the principle that they are saving the crabs from the petstores. And I believe in that principle. I can't tell you how many times I have picked up a tiny, scared, defenseless crab from a tankful of their dead friends. I find so much joy in being able to provide them with food, care and co mfort. I have not had a death in four months (i've only been crabbing for six months) and have gone through eight successful molts (as far as I know), so I must be doing something right.The knowledge and care of these creatures are evolving, thanks to many dedicated people like us here on LHC. Call me crazy, but I DO believe that eventually the logistics of breeding crabs in captivity will be learned because with the popularity and focus on Hermit crabs growing, it's inevitable! And you know what, who's to say that the crabs don't enjoy their lives in "captivity" rather than on the beach? Helloooo....tons of shells, plentiful food (even if they don't always eat it...) and great water...they're not exactly stupid. Think of the strays on the street. We could actually assume that they're in their "natural environment" but we all know for a FACT that they're better off with a responsible caretaker? To me, the same goes for crabs. I do not oppose owning crabs, for me it's a science and an art that is being perfected every day.Does that mean I'm saying take in a jaguar and make it a domestic pet a la Josephine Baker? Heck no! I'm saying, crabbing is a hobby, a serious one. While the moral, ethical and even scienctific aspects could be discussed endlessly, this is simply a surface explanation to Jordo's question. I'll just scurry off to boiling my shells again.....

KittyCaller · Post by **KittyCaller** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:24 pm

Well, I do believe more strict restrictions, or restrictions at all, need to be placed on harvesting and importing. But I will not/cannot condone captive crabs being rereleased. Why? It would completely mess up the ecosystem, possibly introduce new diseases and be cruel to both wild populations and the former captive crabs. If I thought it would make my crabs happier and be safe to release them, would I do it? Yes. I think so. But I don't believe it will and it's certainly not safe. So why do I keep buying and supporting the trade? I guess I'm cruel and selfish.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:24 pm

if native populations start to dwindle to the point of being endangered in any way, i'm sure my stance on this will change.i for one see them not breeding as a good thing. there have been many studies that show breeding in species significantly lowers an organism's life span. i also don't plan to breed, so i harbor no deep held desire to project my need for children on my crabs and instead of seeing them pining for crabby babies, i see them living it up and having a good time. of course, they're being taken out of their native breeding population, but as of right now, there are plenty of other crabs to replace them. the only problem i can see in this is the gene pool might become polluted because there isn't as much mate competition so the weaker males will be able to breed more.also, removing them from their natural environment completely eliminates predation (other than in tank canibalism) and starvation. i'm sure in the wild many crabs simply starve to death or are picked off my birds, in a way we're preventing that. although i'm sure the mass scale of crab deaths from the harvester to your tank makes up for that. and the deaths that come from people not knowing proper care.and considering how tiny their brains must be, i doubt they even realize they're not at the beach. they just recognize that they have everything they need to survive and keep seeing the same crabs over and over again (if they can even remember that far).i can't say that i would want to give them up, nor that i would want to kill the crab trade, because they make me and so many other people so happy. i don't really care how selfish that sounds. it's a symbiotic relationship.