My hermit crabs smell and I want them to GO AWAY. What do I do?

Question

I bought these three hermit crabs over a year and a half ago, in the naive manner that all children do. In my past experience, hermit crabs have died within a couple months, and it's not like I wanted *that* to happen, I just never realized what the long term effects are of managing them.

Anyway, I've grown more and more tired of feeding them and giving them water, and their cage is impossible to clean because it is a metal grate cage, so I can't pour out the gravel to clean it. The worst part is the fact that they are growing progressively more stinky. Yesterday, I preceived a tremendous stench from the cage, and it's getting worse. I can't stand being in my room! I think one must have died!! It's hard to tell because they are all capable of pulling far back into their shells. And I'm scared to check.

I feel bad, but these are NOT happy crabs, and I really want to get rid of them!! Can I give them to a pet shop or something?? What do I do!?

Answer 1

Call around to animal rescues and pet stores to see if someone would be willing to take them as a surrender, and they will find a home that they will be cared for. And for goodness sakes if you think one is dead you actually need to find out for sure.

Answer 2

I would suggest rehoming them ideally to someone who has other hermit crabs and has experience caring for them.



Hermit crabs shouldn't smell unless they are dead or there is something dirty in their cage.



I would try the Crab street journal. Or a local online classified like Kijiji. I've adopted a few hermit crabs I've found though online classifieds myself so if you want to rehome them quickly that may be your best bet. Just be sure to ask for experience and maybe photos of their enclosure. Things to ask would be: How many moults have you had, how old are your hermit crabs, do you give them salt and fresh water, what foods do you feed them etc.



If your pet shop has a notice board post an ad for shoppers to see.

Answer 3

It is better to give them up if you know you can't/will not give proper care.

Do find the crab that's passed and properly dispose of it. Dead animals carry loads of harmful bacteria and diseases, which could potentially harm your still living boys and make it difficult for the person/store that will get them.

You could try giving them to a pet shop, but realize they probably won't give much better care than you have. I'd suggest you try putting setting them up for adoption on either the Hermit Crab Association or Crabstreetjournal adoption board. It'll be easier to give them a better home.

http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=13&sid=8dc373d803a244824c2ebf56f82a7366

http://crabstreetjournaladoptions.com/

You could also try Craigslist or other websites of that nature.



I WOULD NOT recommend a mall pet shop like Earthbound as don't take care of their hermies and will give your crabs worse care than you did(considering all the children poking, prodding, and stressing them out).

Answer 4

Call a pet store and ask if they will take them. Also, if there is an Earthbound Trading Co. around you, I know they sell hermit crabs and might take them. Not really sure tho.



As far as the one you think is dead, try scooping a little water from their bowl or whatever into the shell it's inside of. this will usually make them come out of the shell if they are still alive. Otherwise, it's dead I can almost guarantee you.

Answer 5

i know exactly how you feel. when a hermit crab dies, it will either come out of its shell and bury itself in the sand/dirt, or will simply die inside its shell. another way to check is to pick up the shell and turn it upside down. with bottled/filtered water, pour some water into the opening of the shell, where the crab would normally come out of. if it reacts in any way, it is alive. if not, it may be dead. if it does not react, hold the crab by the back of the shell and shake it over a trash can. if the crab is alive it will not fall out, they will hold on very tight. if it is dead, it will simply fall out of the shell. (this part always freaked me out) but then atleast you know if it is dead or not. Yes, most pet stores will accept your crabs. just say that you cannot care for them anymore, and for no charge, they will put them up for adoption. I was able to return my hermit crabs to petco.

Answer 6

I had a salt water aquarium that became too pricey to keep maintaining. I donated the fish back to the shop I bought them from. Maybe call a local pet shop and see if they will take them.

Answer 7

determine you keep a lot of extra shells to your crabs (different thickness, shapes, sizes) in the different case they're going to attack one yet another in an attempt to take the each and each others' shell. additionally, attempt to get crabs that are comparable in length. greater crabs can grow to be bullies to little crabs. one in each of my greater Ecuadorians snapped off one in each of my Carribean's claw this week, maximum possibly using bullying. procuring crabs in communities of two or extra can ease their creation to the different crabs at abode. in case you notice the crabs being detrimental, or if one is able to molt (digging, eating a lot of water, uninteresting exoskeleton), do away with him from the different crabs and placed him in a quarantine tank. For this i take advantage of somewhat 2 gallon tank crammed approximately 2 inches with moist sand, salt water, nutrition, and somewhat hermit hut. Watch them, and if the crab isn't attempting to molt, then you could reintroduce him to the tank and notice how they get alongside.

Answer 8

Give them to a pet store, they will most likely take them for you. Or maybe you have a friend who wants a pet lol