The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Crab The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Crab
Showing posts with label Crab. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crab. Show all posts

Sunday, February 6, 2022

Scientists were able to regrow frog legs. Will it pave the way for human regeneration?


A team of scientists at Tufts University and Harvard University "have brought us a step closer to the goal of regenerative medicine" by using a drug cocktail to regrow a frog's amputated legs. 

Only a few animals in the world are able to regrow some limbs: salamanders, lizards and crabs. They do it through blastema cells, when a mass formation of stem cells occurs at the end of stump almost immediately after the limb is lost, so the regrowth process can begin.

To read more on this story, click here: Scientists were able to regrow frog legs. Will it pave the way for human regeneration?


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Sunday, September 12, 2021

Man Grabs Crab Before Realizing What It Really Is


Huge Discovery

His eyes grew wide as he stammered his word, “Don’t move.” He then slowly backed away from the scene unfolding before his eyes.

Mark didn’t understand what his friend was talking about, then noticed claws, and many legs. He felt his pulse quicken and his legs freeze in place.

To read more on this story, click here: Man Grabs Crab Before Realizing What It Really Is


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Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Would You Ever Consider Having a Crab as a Pet?


Types of Pet Crabs

Different species of crab vary in size and behavior. Some crabs make great pets, whereas others aren’t fitting to keep as a pet. If you’re looking to keep a crab as a pet, here are some types of pet crabs that you can keep.





Rainbow Land Crab

This is a land crab (as the name suggests) but it does need a bit of water to keep it happy. And, given the name, you probably already guessed that Rainbow land crabs are very colorful.

Rainbow crabs are usually purple, blue, orange and cream in color. They are small crabs and can be kept in a small tank. However, it’s best to keep them in pairs. Ensure that the tank has a water area and a land area.


Vampire Crab

Vampire crabs are a relatively new species of crabs.  They are so named for their glowing yellow eyes. These freshwater crabs have bright orange shells and claws. Their attractive coloring and captivating eyes make them one of the most sorted after types of pet crabs.


The Halloween Moon

The Halloween Moon crab has a black shell, orange legs, and purple markings on their claws. They are also known as the Halloween Hermit Crab. While they are quite social crabs, its best to keep them separate as they will fight each other (even to the death). Short periods of interactions are fine, however.



Fiddler Crabs

Fiddler crabs can live together however male fiddler crabs can be very territorial. So, if you do decide to keep pet fiddler crabs, try to keep 1 male per tank (the others being female). They are saltwater crabs and you will need to add aquarium salt to the water and regulate the salt levels in order for them to survive. Male fiddler crabs have a single large claw. One of their main distinguishing features.



Land Hermit Crab

Some argue that hermit crabs don’t make good starter pets. The reason is that these crabs prefer to be in large groups and their environmental needs are difficult to replicate in a tank setting. However, if you’re willing to spend lots of time ensuring that the requirements for keeping pet hermits are met then they can be good pets to have in general.



Red Claw Crabs

Red clawed crabs are one of the most popular freshwater aquarium crabs. They also make good starter pets because they don’t need extensive care. These tiny crabs aren’t picky eaters and like most aquatic pet crabs, they require a dry space in the aquarium where they can come out of the water from time to time.



Panther Crabs

These pet crabs are popular because of the beautiful markings on their bodies. Panther crabs are orange in color with black spots spread about their body.

Though they are typically peaceful crabs they will eat other crabs and fish if they are not fed on time. They are also known to be escape artist so a decent and secure lid is needed to keep them in their habitat.

They can grow to a pretty big size and males are also aggressive toward each other so keeping them in a large tank so that they have their own space is a good idea.



Thai Micro Crab

Also known as the false spider crab, these are extremely small brownish/greyish crabs. They are very fragile and non-violent crabs so keeping them with other docile aquatic animals is a must. Thai Micro crabs are shy by nature and will spend most of the time hiding between plants, rocks, etc. They do, however, come out when offered food.



Pom Pom Crab

In the wild, Pom Pom crabs often run around with anemones caught in their claws. This makes them look they are holding little pom poms with their claws.

They use the anemones as a defense system. They are also known as the boxing crab as they        box with the anemones if attacked. The anemones can sting which may deter predators.




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Friday, November 6, 2020

Family Shocked When Giant Robber Crabs Invade Their BBQ


While most people might encounter ants on a family picnic, visitors on Christmas Island, 1500 km west of the Australian mainland, will come across robber crabs – also known as coconut crabs.

They are the largest land-living arthropod in the world, weighing up to 9 pounds, so their size alone is impressive. But apparently they also have an incredible sense of smell.

A man who used to visit the island as a child said, “They are nicknamed ‘robber crabs’ because they will descend in the dark of night and rob campers of their pots and pans and whatever else their pincers can pick up.”

To read more on this story, click here: Family Shocked When Giant Robber Crabs Invade Their BBQ


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Thursday, September 3, 2020

How To Care For A Pet Fiddler Crab: Species Profile


The term "fiddler crab" refers to about 100 species and subspecies of crabs from the genus Uca. They’re found along beaches and brackish (a mixture of saltwater and freshwater) waterways around the world. Male and female fiddler crabs are easily distinguished by looking at their claws. The females have small claws while the males have one distinctive large claw. This large claw, held in such a way that it resembles a fiddle (violin), is how fiddler crabs got their name. Fiddler crabs are fun to watch and fairly easy to keep as pets, with few health concerns and docile personalities. Their housing takes up minimal space, and there are many commercial foods available to provide them with a balanced diet.

To read more on this story, click here: How To Care For A Pet Fiddler Crab: Species Profile

You may be interested in reading, Fiddler Crabs


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Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Fiddler Crabs


Fiddler crabs are small crustaceans with a distinctive enlarged claw. They live on beaches, mud flats and marshes throughout the Chesapeake Bay.

Appearance

Three species of fiddler crabs can be found in the Chesapeake Bay region: the red-jointed fiddler crab, Uca minax, the marsh fiddler crab, Uca pugnax, and the sand fiddler crab, Uca pugilator.

Fiddler crabs vary in color from tan to brown. Sand fiddler crabs are lighter than the other two species. Males have one enlarged claw that can grow to 1.5-2 inches long while females’ claws are equal size. The carapace (shell) is squared with rounded rear edges. The red-jointed fiddler crab’s carapace has a groove behind each eye. Male marsh fiddler crabs have a royal blue spot on the center of the carapace, while male sand fiddler crabs have a blue or purplish carapace. Carapace varies in size from less than an inch wide to 1.5 inches wide. The marsh fiddler crab is the smallest fiddler crab in the Bay region and the red-jointed fiddler crab is the largest. Fiddler crabs have four pairs of walking legs.

To read more on this story, click here: Fiddler Crabs




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Saturday, September 8, 2018

13 Facts Most People Don't Know About The Coconut Crab, The Biggest Arthropod


Although most people don't think about crabs as bone crushing, kitten-eating, mastadons of the tropics, most people have never met this terrestrial hermit crab. About the size of a small dog, the coconut crab - otherwise known as the robber crab or palm thief - is the biggest arthropod in the world, often weighing up to nine pounds. These nightmare crabs look more like an alien from outer space than a species of Earth, and their look isn't the only crazy thing about them.

There are plenty of creepy coconut crab facts. These guys can use their four-foot long legs to scuttle quickly from place to place; burrow into dark holes in the ground; and even climb soaring coconut trees. Sometimes known to take down a small mammal, the coconut crab is a true marvel of nature and one that continues to frighten and titillate anyone nearby. But while some believe they are harmless beach combers, others have suspected them of much greater crimes. If you love crabs that are scary, look no further than the coconut crab.

Life is good for the coconut crab. Found on tropical islands around the Indian Ocean and parts of the Pacific, these terrestrial critters can live anywhere from 30 to 60 years. Their days consists of napping in shady corners, looking for shiny object, and of course, finding coconuts to eat, which is their favorite food. They are the world's largest arthropods, a phylum of joint-legged creatures that also includes spiders, crustaceans, and other insects. Although the Japanese spider crab is technically larger, it lives underwater where it's weight is supported.

To read more on this story, click here: 13 Facts Most People Don't Know About The Coconut Crab, The Biggest Arthropod

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Thursday, August 30, 2018

PETA Plasters Anti-Crab-Eating Billboards in Baltimore


BALTIMORE —Crabs are friends, not food. That's what billboards near the Baltimore Inner Harbor are saying in an attempt to get people to go vegan.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has plastered billboards near seafood restaurants in Baltimore as part of a nationwide campaign to get seafood off people's plates.

The billboard displays a colorful blue crab and says, "I'm ME, Not MEAT. See the Individual. Go Vegan."

The posters are located near seafood restaurants such as Phillips Seafood, Mo's Fisherman's Wharf, McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks, The Oceanaire Seafood Room and Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.

One billboard sits atop Silver Moon II in downtown Baltimore.

"Whatever they say, 'Go vegan,' whatever, nothing is going to work," said Nick Lentis, owner of Silver Moon II.

"Vegan is for vegan. Do what you have to do. Eat what you have to eat. Don't press the people to go do that, so leave the people alone., Lentis said.

To read more on this story, click here: PETA Plasters Anti-Crab-Eating Billboards in Baltimore

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Sunday, June 24, 2018

Researchers Want You to Keep an Eye Out For ‘Missing’ Mitten Crab


You won’t see the Chinese mitten crab’s mugshot on a milk carton, but researchers want you to keep an eye out for it anyway.

The mitten crab (Eriorcheir sinensis) gets its name from claws that appear to be clothed in algae. Like dozens of other species that have made their way into the Chesapeake Bay via ballast water or other methods of human introduction, the mitten crab is considered an invasive species earmarked for eradication.

But a renewed campaign to report sightings of the crab this summer isn’t geared at counting their abundance. Instead, scientists are asking the public to help confirm what they are beginning to suspect: that this species has disappeared from the Bay altogether — and possibly from the East and West coasts, too.

From Maryland to Connecticut, more than 150 sightings of Chinese mitten crabs were reported after a fisherman caught the first specimen in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay in 2005. But no one has reported catching or seeing a Chinese mitten crab on the East Coast since 2014.

The species is known to have boom-and-bust population cycles, but scientists say that four years is a long time for such a prolific invader to hide its beady-eyed face.

“This is the mystery we’re trying to solve,” said Gregory Ruiz, a senior scientist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, MD, where he runs a marine invasions lab. “It would be very unusual to have a crab or marine invader that was so abundant go extinct.”

Unlike the Bay’s native blue crab, young mitten crabs prefer low-salinity water, so experts say the animals could lurk in riverbanks up to 50 miles inland from the Bay. Mitten crabs are also catadromous, meaning they migrate from brackish portions of rivers into saltwater environments to reproduce — the opposite direction of anadromous fish species such as striped bass and American shad.

The mitten crab’s cute name belies its disturbing potential impact on local ecosystems and economies. They are voracious eaters of aquatic plants, algae and fish eggs that can displace local species.

Native to the East Coast of China and Korea, the mitten crab made the leap to Europe decades ago and has been spreading its territory there since the 1970s.

The palm-sized crab features long legs for walking sideways across land or along the riverbanks where it creates a home by burrowing holes. During its population booms in Britain, high concentrations of these holes have made the banks less stable in some areas and resulted in flooding.

On the West Coast, where the crab was first spotted in 1992, an outbreak of the local population by the end of the decade saw mitten crabs clogging water intake pipes along the coast as they made makeshift homes in infrastructure. The crab was abundant in the San Francisco Bay by the late 1990s, boring as many as 30 holes per square meter in some places, according to a study in 2000 by University of California researchers. 

“Our findings suggest that the mitten crab is here to stay as yet another member of San Francisco’s evolving non-indigenous communities,” the study stated.

But, a decade later, the crab was nowhere to be found on the West Coast, with the last reported sighting in 2010.

Ruiz, who runs a lab and research group in the San Francisco Bay as well, said having a species once so abundant on both coasts fly under the radar for years — or go extinct — could be a first.

On the Delmarva Peninsula, a South American aquatic rodent that destroys wetlands, the nutria, has been virtually eradicated through a hunting program that began in 2002 and will complete its verification phase in 2019. There have also been nonnative species brought to the United States in the past that never got established and faded away, such as clams imported for aquaculture.


Efforts to control invasive fish, such as the blue catfish and snakehead, have hinged on their edibility, encouraging fishermen and consumers to catch-and-eat as many as possible. But they are not disappearing.

“The mitten crab is unusual because it was so abundant on both coasts, and it has a strong record of being an invader in many other parts of the world,” Ruiz said. “In the San Francisco Bay, there were hundreds of thousands caught in some years. So we’re really interested in trying to find out if people are seeing any of these crabs on both coasts.”

To that end, SERC’s invasions lab has been spreading the word.

“Have you seen me?” reads one of the flyers circulating on social media with a photo and description of the crab. Others will be posted at fishing docks along the Chesapeake Bay with instructions for what to do if one is found: freeze the crab rather than throw it back, note the exact location where it was found and take as many photos as possible.

Photos and other information can be submitted to SERC’s Mitten Crab Watch website. The website was established soon after the first Chesapeake Bay sighting in 2005, and is still a good place to click through mugshots of the furry-clawed creature that members of the public have sent in over the years.

Researchers say that the mitten crab is easy to spot. The creature’s claws, covered with algae-like hairs, set it apart from the Bay’s other crabs. Other distinguishing features include four small spines along the front of a brownish-green carapace, which measures 3–4 inches across.

The crabs can be eaten and are grown on aquaculture farms in Asia for that purpose, but their small frames make them a lot of work for a small amount of meat.

It once seemed inevitable that the mitten crab would go the way of the blue catfish, the zebra mussel or the emerald ash borer, slowly but surely taking over an ecosystem to the potential detriment of native species, fisheries and infrastructure. But that doesn’t seem to be happening — and it could change researchers’ assumptions about invasive species.

“We tend to think about what the impact will be when it arrives, but population dynamics are unpredictable,” Ruiz said. “It doesn’t change our approach, but it broadens our perspective about what’s possible with how a species will play out in a location.”


Ruiz said another lesson from the mitten crab case is the importance of engaging the public. When an invasive species has just been introduced or possibly eradicated, research can benefit from a wide swath of people keeping their eyes peeled for it.

Almost all of the records of the mitten crab in the Chesapeake Bay were reported by the public, not scientists collecting samples. Now, researchers hope that crowdsourcing will help them close the case of the missing mitten crab, for good.  

If you find a mitten crab, fill out a report on the Mitten Crab Watch website. If you think you have a Chinese mitten crab, but aren’t sure, contact the Mitten Crab Hotline at 443-482-2222 or email SERCMittenCrab@si.edu.



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Thursday, August 3, 2017

Octopuses Are Marine Animals and This One Proves That Land is Not a Problem When Hunting for Crabs


Octopuses are Marine animals, that live and breath underwater, so at low tide one would expect them to be imprisoned in rocky pools. This extraordinary species found in Northern Australia is like no other Octopus, and land is no obstacle when hunting for Crabs.











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Monday, February 8, 2016

Hermit Crabs Make Adorable Pets: But These Little Packages of Cuteness Are High-Maintenance


Hermit crabs make adorable pets but these little packages of cuteness are high-maintenance and require very exacting care

Hermit crabs are widely believed to be easy to care for, and ideal first pets for children. Neither of these beliefs is true. Unfortunately, hermit crabs are very difficult to keep healthy, and they should be kept in groups. Not only are hermit crabs are not hermit-like at all, they are gregarious partiers who will keep a crab-party going all night.

You’ve probably seen the clear plastic critter-carriers and one-gallon fish tanks where hermit crabs are sometimes displayed. These are not safe homes for hermit crabs. In fact, if the critter-carrier has a standard “berry-basket” top for ventilation, the crab inside is probably already dying a slow and painful death. Hermit crabs breathe air through modified gills. They will drown in water, and they have no lungs. If the gills ever dry out, the animal is in serious trouble. The resulting death by suffocation can take months, but it is inevitable. Therefore, maintaining sufficient humidity in the hermit crab enclosure is very, very important.

This brings us to the topic of equipment.

ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT

This list is a very rudimentary introduction to the equipment needed to keep crabs healthy.

  • An aquarium tank, marine terrarium, or large covered enclosure strong enough to contain wet sand. Be sure the cover is tight enough to prevent the crabs from pushing their way out, that some air can get in, and that it keeps moisture inside the tank;
  • Water-conditioning fluid, to neutralize chlorine and its by-products in the water;
  • Safe sea salt, of the kind sold for marine fish and crustaceans;
  • Safe sand, enough to be a few inches (15cm minimum) deep in the tank;
  • Water dishes, sea sponges, shallow food dishes, and a slotted scoop to remove uneaten food from the sand;
  • Quarantine tank, which is basically the full set-up in miniature, for safe moulting;
  • Hidey-huts for the crabs to relax in, during the day;
  • Extra shells of the correct sizes and shapes, at least three per crab;
  • Thermometers for the sand and hygrometers for the main tank and the quarantine tank;
  • Branches and rocks to climb on;
  • Moss and extra sea sponges for soaking, to help keep the humidity above 75%; and
  • Heater for one end of the tank: most hermit crab species like a temperature of 75-80F/24-27C on the warm end of the tank.

EXERCISE

These cute little crustaceans will keep themselves fit, presuming their tank is big enough. They love to climb, and crawl, and pull. If you are very careful, you can “walk” them across your hands held low over a soft surface. As the crab moves across one hand, bring the other one around in front. To do this, your hands need to be positioned side to side, and not fingertip-to-fingertip. Otherwise, the surface will be too narrow and the tiny crab will become frightened.

FEEDING

Hermit crabs are beachcombing scavengers. As omnivores, they require both meat and plant-matter in their diets. Unfortunately, the commercial crab foods do not make a good diet for hermit crabs. They tend to contain preservatives, but some are safe enough: read the ingredient list. The real problem is that commercial foods are boring. Crabs don’t like to smell the same meal twice in a row. They will be happiest if every meal is a little different: some fish and a touch of apple today, perhaps some chicken and seaweed tomorrow.  (Thacker, 1998).

Wash all fruits and vegetables before feeding them to your crabs, and use de-chlorinated water to do it. Always do everything you can to keep your crabs away from chlorine. Meat can be raw or cooked, or even freeze-dried, but avoid preservatives (including salt).

That’s not to say that everything always needs to be fresh. Stock up on an assortment of jars of baby foods. Keep some freeze-dried daphnia, bloodworms, tubifex, and shrimp on hand from the aquarium section of the pet store. Offer a few pieces of low-salt cat food.

Crabs need calcium. The simplest way to provide it is to drop a couple of cuttlebones onto the floor of the tank. Cuttlebone is sold in the pet-bird section of the pet store.

Unlike many animals, hermit crabs need two kinds of water bowls: one with freshwater and one with salt water. The salt water cannot be made with table salt, because of the iodine in it. Both bowls need to be big enough for the crabs to submerge themselves, and easy to crawl out of so the crabs don’t drown. A piece of sea sponge in each bowl makes a convenient safety raft.


GROOMING

The hermit crab tank needs to contain a conditioned freshwater bowl and a conditioned saltwater bowl. The precise details of these will vary with the particular species you keep.

Along with the water that the crabs will use for “grooming” themselves, these creatures must be provided with an assortment of appropriate shells. The shapes will vary, again according to species, but whatever the species you should provide at least three shells per crab in your tank. The shell sizes should be slightly smaller than, equal to, and slightly larger than the crab’s current shell. Please, please, please stay away from painted shells. The “non-toxic” paints are meant to be non-toxic to your children: they are generally not safe for your hermit crabs.

HOME ENVIRONMENT

Hermit crabs are primarily nocturnal. They enjoy exploring their home, re-arranging things, and seeing how many of them can sit on a perch before it falls over. You’ll hear them clacking away with their claws through the wee hours. If you do most of your sleeping at night, you probably don’t want to put the crab tanks in the bedroom.

Also, keep in mind that hermit crabs are invertebrates who are subject to the same kinds of poisons that are used to kill insects and spiders. If people in your neighborhood spray their lawns, or if someone in your house tends to go after spiders with a can of “bug-spray”, hermit crabs are not for you.


TRAINING

There is no training required for hermit crabs. While you will need to rescue them from time to time, especially during moults, and you’ll need to provide appropriate shells for them to choose from, they will act according to their natures.


WHERE TO NEXT?

Are these little guys right for you? They are adorable, no question, but they are very difficult for beginners to keep healthy and happy. In many ways, parrots and the licensed exotics are easier to maintain. Perhaps consider a dog instead? Or a pony?

If you have decided that hermit crabs are the right pet for your family, the next step is to do some reading. This care-sheet has only introduced you to the barest skim off the top of the information you need. Investigate the details of putting together a proper enclosure, and the details of shell replacement, and the details of temperature and humidity. Next, put together the main tank and a quarantine tank, and monitor the humidity and temperature for a week or two. Once that is stable, seek out several healthy crabs and a nice assortment of high-quality shells for them.






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Saturday, June 13, 2015

Thousands of Tuna Crabs Have Invaded the Beaches of San Diego Bay


The thumb-sized crustaceans started washing ashore further up the California coast earlier this year, but turned up this week in San Diego in unusually larger numbers, officials said.

They’ve washed ashore periodically over the years because of any number of natural effects, but research scientist Michael Shane of the Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute in San Diego cited El Nino as the phenomenon that might have pushed the crabs up from their normal habitat far offshore.

The result is certain death and nothing can be done to save the crabs.

“The crabs start to die because the local waters are much cooler,” Shane told ABC News today. “Local animals have begun to eat the crabs and they have been found in the gut contents of sea lions, fish, and birds.”

The remaining carcasses will remain on the shore until they decompose or are swept back into the water.



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Saturday, March 14, 2015

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Minor League Baseball Team Will Not Be Giving Away Hermit Crabs At Their Opening Game - Auctioning Off Special Jerseys to Benefit the Herman Crab Association


 Waldorf, Maryland - A Waldorf minor league baseball team is abandoning a plan to give away 1,000 live hermit crabs on Opening Day.

After announcing the plan, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs received thousands of emails, calls and posts on social media-- both for and against the promotion.

In response, the team says it will change its name to the "Southern Maryland Hermit Crabs" for Opening Day, which is April 24.

Players will wear special jerseys that day, which will be auctioned off to benefit the Hermit Crab Association. Members from that organization will be invited to throw out the first pitch.

Hermit crab activists will also be given the chance to speak to fans attending the game.

You can read my previous post here:
Have You Heard? The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Minor League Baseball Team Will Be Giving Away Hermit Crabs As Pets, At Their April 24 Opening Game



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Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Hermit Crab Association Statement on The Blue Crabs Giveaway at The Team's Opening Game on April 24


The Hermit Crab Association and its members are extremely saddened to hear of the planned promotional event for the opening day game of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. The decision to keep hermit crabs should warrant the same amount of consideration as owning any other type of pet and we believe they should never be given away as prizes because of this. Hermit crabs require specialized care and when given the proper environment should live for decades in captivity - they are not in any way a short lived pet.

Lacking the proper care, these hermit crabs will not live for more than a few weeks or months, which will lead to heartache for the small children of hundreds of fans. The plastic terrarium they will be sent home in is only a temporary transport container, and the initial set-up costs of a proper enclosure with new items will generally start at $100 for anyone receiving one of these "free" hermit crabs. This will place a financial burden on the fans of the Blue Crabs, or on the local animal rescues that will be asked to take them in once the details of their needs are learned.

The Hermit Crab Association is an online international community of hermit crab enthusiasts and owners, and we are not opposed to the captive ownership of hermit crabs. However, we are concerned about the lack of proper information that is provided by pet shops, and from the distributors that import the crabs into the United States.

The fact is that millions of hermit crabs are collected from the wild every year, as there has only been a handful of people in the world who have been successful with breeding them in captivity. Smaller crabs are already 5 years old, and the biggest are well over 40 years old. Many do not make it through the collection process and the transport to stores, and others will succumb from the stress of adapting to life in captivity. Many more will die slow deaths in the following weeks and months in tiny plastic cages from a lack of basic care.

Their needs include an enclosure that is large enough for the crabs to move around comfortably while providing enough space for all of their requirements. They dig underground and stay there without surfacing for months at a time to molt, which is how they repair injuries and grow larger. This requires six or more inches of moist cocofiber or silica-based sand, based on the size of the hermit crab. They need to be provided with dechlorinated freshwater and marine grade saltwater deep that is enough to completely submerge. Their temperature requirements are higher than room temperature at 78-85 degrees, and because of having modified gills for breathing they require humidity that is constantly above 70%, or they will slowly suffocate. They are omnivorous scavengers and their diet consists of fruits, vegetables and plant matter, seafood, insects, meat and poultry. While they are a communal species and should always be kept with others of their kind, they do need to be provided enough individual space that they can retreat from disputes, and so they are not discovered and dug up by other crabs while vulnerable from molting.

We are very much hoping that the team will reconsider the giving away of living animals as thank you gifts at this event. There are many other options available, such as plastic figurines or plushies that can become a permanent reminder of what is sure to be an amazing opening game.

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Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Have You Heard? The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Minor League Baseball Team Will Be Giving Away Hermit Crabs As Pets, At Their April 24 Opening Game


Blue crabs logo
Waldorf, Maryland, - The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Minor League Baseball Team has a special surprise for their fans. They have announced that each of the first 1,000 fans at the April 24 Opening Day game presented will receive a live hermit crab and terrarium container as part of the home opener festivities.

Under the banner of "Anchors Away on Opening Day," fans can expect a plethora of nautical-themed promotions, including the introduction of the entire Blue Crabs roster as players are brought onto the field in luxury sport boats. Fans will also have a chance to win nautically inspired giveaways throughout the night to celebrate the start of a new baseball season.

In addition to live hermit crabs, the first 1,000 fans at Regency Furniture Stadium for the April 24 opener will receive a 2015 magnet schedule presented by Community Bank of the Chesapeake.

Following the inter-divisional matchup between the Blue Crabs and the Somerset Patriots, fans will be able to enjoy a fireworks display and take part in the return of the popular "Launch-A-Ball" promotion.

Tickets for Opening Day are only available at the official Blue Crabs website which can be accessed at www.SOMDBlueCrabs.com.

"How crazy is it that we are giving away live hermit crabs for our first game of the 2015 season - said Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Assistant General Manager Courtney Knichel. "The craziest part about this promotion is the fact that we are doing something that has never been done before, and it is just the first of 70 home games. Fans will just have to wait to find out what else we have in store for them for the other 69 games, but I know that they will not be disappointed."

What are your thoughts?

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Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Giant 50ft Crab Seen on Coast of Whitstable? Hoax


An image of what appears to be a giant 50ft crab on the coast of British town Whitstable is flying across the Internet, spread largely through tabloid online news sites.

The crab was apparently spotted on satellite imagery by one Quinton Winter, owner of a blog called Weird Whistable which details other oddities in the Whistable area. Winter also claimed to have seen the giant crustacean himself in “the flesh”, so to speak.

To read more on this story, click here: Giant 50ft Crab Seen on Coast of Whitstable? Hoax

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Could a Monster-Size Crab Spotted in UK be Real? (Video)


The crabs human see or eat are usually only six or so inches across their shells. An aerial image taken in the UK captured a massive crab, and is now garnering a lot of attention online.

The aerial shot enables viewers to see the full body of the crab, including its pinchers and legs. It’s estimated that the beast measures 50 feet long.


To read more on this story, click here: Could a Monster-Size Crab Spotted in UK be Real?

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Saturday, October 1, 2011

Have You Ever Had a Hermit Crab as a Pet?


Have you ever had a hermit crab as a pet? I did…well it wasn’t exactly mine. I don’t remember where I got the idea to get my son a hermit crab. I think it was because he wanted a dog, and we were living in an apartment that did not allow dogs. He was very young maybe around 4 –5 years old.

I got the aquarium and everything all set up and showed it to him. His first response was that he took off running when he saw it move!  He came back into the room and looked at it closely and gave me that…what is that look. Then it moved again…and off running he went!

I started to let him watch it eat and he became a little more comfortable with it, however, it didn’t come out of its shell much. I didn’t realize at the time that they are nocturnal.

It’s been years…so I have no idea what happened to the hermit crab. I can assure you as an animal lover, no harm was done to it. I probably gave it away or took it back to a pet shop. We ended up eventually getting him a fish aquarium…and a dog!

Hermit refers to the fact that the crabs borrow the shell that they are in.  They have no real "home" of their own, they are hermits. As the hermit crab grows in size, it must find a larger shell.

Hermit crabs are nocturnal scavengers that will eat almost anything. They live in large groups in the wild, and do best in groups of three or more.  They wear the label “hermit” because of the shell they carry on their back that they hide in when sensing danger.

Pros
low maintenance
inexpensive
have colorful shells

Cons:
nocturnal
no bonding
not interactive

Anatomy: Hermit crabs are invertebrates, animals without a backbone. They have an exoskeleton, an outer shell that provides support for their body but does not provide much protection from predators. They vary widely in color, from red to brown to purple, with stripes, dots, and other patterns. They have ten jointed legs; the front two legs have large, grasping claws (called pincers or chelipeds) and the rear pair of legs are very small. They have a flattened body, sensory antennae, two eyes located at the ends of stalks, and a soft, twisted abdomen (which the hermit crab keeps hidden inside its shell).






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