Whole new world!!

[valleyslass]

Hi All

I'm Laura and I stumbled into your world while looking for a new vivarium for my Python Oscar. I was fortunate enough to see the purple clawed hermies when I was on a field trip to the Caribbean and was thrilled to find out that they make great pets. I have spent the last 2 days trawling the internet to fill up on information while I look for somewhere to house some crabs. As many of you have said once you start you can't stop!

Before I get some of my own I was thinking of getting my parents the hermie starter kit from exotic pets for christmas. I have read that they make noises and my mother loves talking to animals, she walks through pet stores communicating with guinnie pigs! However, I have read in a few places that the plastic faunariums are not very good but am a bit confused as they are sold as part of the starter pack and by Crabworks. I appreciate that they would not be suitable long term but do people think that they would be ok to start with and how long would you leave before upgrading to galss?

Unfortunately my cunning christmas plan is probably about to fail as the voices in my head are telling me that when I get Oscar's new viv I may as well get a crab setup at the same time - I don't think I can wait until December!!

Final question!!
I go away quite a lot, mostly for 2 nights but sometimes up to a week. For long trips I would certainly get someone to look after any crabs but how long can they be left if they have sufficient heat? I can leave my snake for up to 4 days if he has fresh water and soaked moss, would this be the same for crabs or do they need fresh water/food more often?

Thanks for such a great forum. I look forward to your replies and to exploring this strange new world of hermies Guests cannot see images in posts. Please register by clicking here to see images.

Laura

[dee]

Hi I started with the starter kit (well my daughter did) and it was only a matter of weeks before i went to a glass tank! so might be a false economy to start with?

hermies need humidity and heat to be pretty constant, i would think for your shorter periods away, with plenty of food they would be ok if you had some sort of humidity exchanger that would pump in your constant humidity, i have one from the states i am thinking of setting it up tonight when i do a deep clean otherwise you will even with moss etc probably need to mist the tat once or twice daily,
in terms of noises they make, they can chirp, i have had mine nearly a year now but have not heard them chirp but this does not make them ant the lass fascinating little critters to care for and enjoy!!

hope that helps and welcome to ab crab!!!

PS for posting members we have a special discount code for exotics!!! PM one of the admin team for the code!!

[kellysmith1976]

Hi, And welcome to Ab-Crab... And beware... Hermies are addictive!!

[valleyslass]

Thanks for that. I'm thinking forget the parents and get some for myself!! I have got the humidity control for my python working well at the moment by making a humidity box (tupperware/ice cream tub, hole cut inside, lots of moss - he loves it!). I've got people queing up to take care of Oscar when I go away but it is a bit difficult with a snake as he gets incredibly stroppy and hates my driving!! I'm sure that the neighbours wouldn't mind misting some crabs but they have put their foot down with feeding the snake, he's just a cutie really.

I'm off to read the fantastic information I have printed off and to look for a lovely big terrarium and space in my house to put it.

Laura

[neta]

welcome valleyslass any questions feel free to ask away1 look forward to hearing how you get on, we started with 10 and now have 26, 1 tat with an established group of 22, theres always activity there no matter what time of day, 3 biggies in another tat and 1 rescue hermie down under in isolation

[EmmaR]

Welcome to Ab-Crab

If your looking for something as in a starter kit you can get it from the Ab-crab shop, even if you dont get a kit you can certainly order a nice bulk of stuff to start you off.

I didnt get a plastic tank, i bought a second hnd that had sprung a leak on someone, i got it for £5. Try ebay they ave loads.

My recommendations would be

Coco-fibre brick from ab-crab store great for humidity
Cholla wood and climbing stuff
The moss is great from the store aswell
Oh and my hermes love th sweet mix

Just remember to have a small tank for your molters to seperate them.

My hermies do chirp alot, especiall if theres their fave food there, but it des just depend on you hermie

All in all everyon hasgiven you some good advice

Enjoy

[dee]

how you doing with your search for a spot in the house and a tank?? lol

[marcuslw]

Hi Laura

Good luck with getting set up with the hermies please let us know how you get on I can't really add to the great advice you have already got on here the starter kits they do on here are very good. for the glass tank I would say ebay or freecycle are good places to find one at a good rate can't wait untill you send us some pics to see Guests cannot see images in posts. Please register by clicking here to see images.

take care and good luck

M

[marg]

Hiya valleyslass welcome to Ab-Crab Guests cannot see images in posts. Please register by clicking here to see images.

[valleyslass]

What an exciting day!! Not only do I have a fab place to put my hermies but I have just talked my local reptile store into stocking them!!!! I am far too excited considering I won't be getting them for another month.

Anyway, the hermies will be going in the living room near the tv (about -3 feet away). I will be sacrificing the coffee table as this happens to be just the right size to put an Exo Terra terrarium (45x45x60) on top! I figured that this would make a great crabitat. I plan to put 5 Hermies in it so if anyone thinks this is too small please let me know!!

I popped into my local reptile centre earlier and they are expanding so I suggested getting Hermies and they thought it was a great idea. They are a highly reputable company, all animals in good condition and they give out excellent advice. Apparently they have sold Hermies before and I got my Python from them. If anyone wants to check them out they are Dragon Reptiles at Pencoed Garden centre near Bridgend in South Wales.

My next task is to get my kit together so I'll be scouring the internet for bargains over the weekend, but to start I'll probably get lots from the fab shop here. I get a bit precious about pets - only the best is good enough!! Plus I am too paranoid to experiment, I'm sure I can pick up lots of advice here once the Hermies are settled.

Thanks for all the advice, I'm sure I'll pop up asking questions on other threads soon. Pics to follow - as soon as my critters arrive.
Laura