Be careful what you ask for

Before the neighbors across the street went to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for a vacation last week, they asked if I wanted a souvenier. I said, partly in jest, "Sure, get me a hermit crab."

I always see these t-shirt shops and tourist traps selling hermit crabs or giving them away for free if you buy shot glass or sun tan lotion or whatever.

Long story short, they actually brought me back a hermit crab. So I did a little research into hermit crab care. I found, very quickly, that to keep these animals in an ethical fashion, they really shouldn’t be alone. And, they at least need a 10 gallon aqaurium with sand to a certain depth, specific temperatures, humidity, fresh and saltwater, special food, a calcium source, things to climb one … the list goes on and on and on.

About $35 and a very aggravating trip to the pet store later, I know have TWO hermit crabs in a simple, but I suppose adequate, habitat. I take care of my pets when I get them so it’s the least I could do, I guess.

No, of course, I will be interested in seeing how long I can keep them alive. Oh, another thing about hermit crabs – they can live for DECADES!