First he conquered both bridges, then explored the climbing wall—and now he has officially claimed the hammock. 🥹
Watching him confidently use everything I built for them is the ultimate proud crab mom moment. The upper level belongs to Chili now!
This big guy came home in a shell so heavy he could barely move. Now he confidently wanders his crabitat, visits the buffet whenever he pleases, and poses like the entire place was built exclusively for him.
Honestly…he may be right. 😂🦀
When I brought Brutus home, his shell was so heavy he could barely move. He switched into a lighter one pretty quickly, but even after he started eating, he stayed close to cover.
Last night, he went all the way across the crabitat to check out the shell shop—his longest adventure here yet. And he didn’t run back into hiding because I was watching.
I was so excited. It wasn’t about whether he picked a shell. It was seeing this big guy moving around, exploring, and getting a little braver.
He has friends, food choices, and room to wander now. Watching him slowly settle into his new life has been such a good feeling. ❤️
The new food dish received its first official nighttime inspection.
I love being able to offer several different foods separately instead of combining everything into one pile. It gives each crab the opportunity to choose what it wants, and it lets me see which foods disappear first.
I rotate their complete meals and fresh foods, while calcium, greensand and worm castings remain available in a separate essentials bowl at all times.
Judging by the thorough inspection, I think the new buffet passed.
What food disappears fastest in your crabitat?
This is Brutus, one of my recent rescues.
When I brought him home, he was living alone in a tiny enclosure with no substrate or water and carrying an enormous polished shell. He could barely move in it.
I knew the shell felt ridiculously heavy, but curiosity got me after he finally changed out of it.
108.4 grams.
The natural shell he chose? 15.4 grams.
Almost seven times lighter.
The difference in him since that shell change has been incredible. He’s moving around, exploring, digging and finally getting to behave like a hermit crab.
He’s also turned out to be an unbelievably gentle giant.
Seeing this big guy peeking out at me like this makes me ridiculously happy. ❤️
Caught these two hanging out together this morning. I swear, with all the hides, climbing stuff, food and other places they could be…they still manage to pick the exact same spot.
I’m starting to think half the fun of keeping hermit crabs is giving them an entire enclosure to explore just so they can collectively decide, “Nah. This leaf. We like this leaf.” 😂
I love seeing them get more comfortable and start showing their personalities.
Hercules is by far my least shy crab. Most of mine will retreat into their shells or head for a hide as soon as I open the doors, but not this guy. 😂
I opened the enclosure to take this picture and he just kept doing whatever Hercules was doing. Completely unbothered by me or the camera.
It’s amazing how different their personalities can be. He’s definitely become the unofficial spokesperson of the crabitat.