Did you know I have crabs? Hermit Crabs, that is. I was talking with my friend S today and told her that I cleaned the Hermies tank and gave them baths today and she had no idea that I had any, much less 8! I was surprised, since their 25 gallon tank sits right next to my computer desk. And she’s been here more than once! Actually, we’ve almost known each other 2 years, and I’ve had my crabbies for almost 2 years…

Jake and Patrick were our first two hermies… I’m happy to say, they survived my learning curve and are two of our most outgoing crabs. I particularly love this picture, because they are what started my hermit crab addiction. Jake is on the bottom (Jake Long, the American Dragon) and Patrick is on the top (from Spongebob). They really just want out of the tupperware bowl…. they were in there to dry off from their bath before they went back in the sand.

Anyhow… I’m not a huge proponent of bathing hermies on a regular basis, but it’s been SO hot here lately and their tank really needed a deep cleaning, so I thought the best way to get them out, and let them have some fun was to bathe them while I cleaned out their “crabitat”. Yes, owning hermit crabs comes with it’s own lingo, you’ll get used to it.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to bombard you with pictures of my hermies, as cute as they may be. However, you must endure some photos of them. Why? Well, because I take pictures of everything I do, and that goes on around me. Duh!

They loved their baths. All except for Wilma… she’s quite the shy hermie. When we first got her she dug herself underground and stayed down for nearly 6 months! She’s not used to being handled as much as the rest of them are, and is very skittish. I’m just upset with her that out of all of the beautiful, shiny, natural shells I have provided at her disposal, she chooses to remain in the chipped painted one she arrived in. I hate painted shells. I’ll save that story for another day. See all the shells she could be choosing from?

Look at these fella’s… it’s a conspiracy, I tell you. “Let’s climb on top of each other to see if we can escape this horrid tupperware bowl and get back to our crabitat paradise!” As if they didn’t see me with the big ole’ camera lens right up in their itty bitty faces!

Oh, Look who is peeking out! Finally.. this was about 20 minutes after I sat her in that very spot! She has such pretty colors, and I just know she would look spiffy in a shiny new shell *hint hint, nudge nudge*.

Jake says Hi!

Wait - STOP the press!!

Jake trampled her, and she has arrived!! Aww.

Now, go shell shopping young lady!