u/Present_Argument2254

These pics are of my new Pp in an Eccie preferred shell. Second pic is him/.her coming out of its shell for the first time to see me, listening to my voice and getting ready to explore. The first pic is of him/her resting on a stick in my tank. It never went to hide or bury itself after I brought it home, becauseI spent 1 hour talking to it. I have a unique way to introduce crabs to my Crabitat and none of my crabs HIDE !!

Not many would agree with what I do when introducing a new Hermie to my group of Eccies & PP. when I adopt or rescue a new crab, I place my crab in a container along with popcorn or other interesting food. Then I sit with the container on my lap or beside me on the couch. I sit with my new crabs (s) and talk to it for 1 hour. Sure it Will be frightened and tucked securely in its shell. As I talk to it and mmmmake some of my strange sounds, the crab will come out, very slowly. It’s adorable and amazing to watch as you will see the claws one by one slowly come out. It’s not until you can see its eyes and it can see you, is the a connection made. There is nothing like it. Such a fascinating little creature coming out to the sound of you speaking gently to it. There is lots for me to say. I tell it about its new home and that it is safe with be, that I’m going to look after it. My new crab found the the food, often popcorn because they love it and would start eating . Then it would go about trying . climb out of the container where I would put my hand to block it. Sometimes it would turn around and explore more and sometimes it wlll crawl on my hand and arm. II would let it do that for a bit then back into th container. That hour goes by so fast my little guy now it’s time to put you into your new home. Because of spending 1 hour with new crab, it has gotten to know me a bit. It will still be frightened but it wont hide hie from myself or other
Crabs. Here is a picture of my most recent little guy who I spent time with and handled only long enough to place in my tank. Then hands-off !!!

Yesterday, I noticed one of my PP, Pirate, covered in sand and sitting in one of the food dishes. He was having some breakfast at 8 am, just like I was. I passed by several times and he was still there eating quite a mixture of egg powder, soy flakes, seeds, eggs I had cooked with dried bloodworms, ground dried shrimp, ground nuts, calcium, powder, a dab of Raw Unpasteurized Honey, and some rice flakes. I usually provide 3 food dishes throughout the tank. 2 - 3 hrs passed & he was still eating. I thought how strange as none of them had done this before. I checked on them his morning and didn’t see him but I could hear a scraping sound on the end of the tank. There he was, buried against the glass in a hole he had burrowed. That’s why all the food he ate; stocking up to molt. I could see him moving around and then he seemed still and all I could see was his shell against the glass. I wondered if he was going to leave a window. I checked on him again but he had closed the window, I decided to draw a circle around the area he tucks away, using black marker, and wrote the date. He could be there for weeks or months, who knows. Couple of pics of Pirate, doing his crab things. I pray he molts okay.