Every once in a while we have something happen in our everyday life that becomes a huge learning opportunity all on it’s own. Becoming the owner of five hermit crabs last fall was one of those things.
When a friend asked if we would be willing to take them since her kids were no longer interested in them I though *sure, what’s another tank of critters?*. We are pretty well known in our circle of friends as The Zoo so they know who to ask LOL! Once confirming they came with a place to live, delivery was arranged.
They arrived in a five gallon tank with a soap dish for a bathtub a few extra shells, some goldfish pellets for food and a book about hermit crabs. They seemed happy enough and the kids were really excited. They named them Angel, Irma, Mr. Crabs, Pigwidgeon and Demeter.
Being the obsessive person that I am, I quickly went on-line and did some research into hermit crabs. All the sites I read said the same things; they needed more room, more stuff and more heat and moisture.
Sooooo…we headed to the pet store. We came back with a ten gallon tank, a tank warmer, some more sand, two deeper *bathtubs* (one for salt water, one for fresh), a piece of cork, calcium chews, sponges (to keep the air moist), two small pots (for hiding), one fake log and some fake plants.
Now the crabs live in the marvelous *Crabitat* you see above. Not only was a great deal of money spent, but a lot was learned as well.
The kids learned about:
Hermit Crab care
how hermit crabs breathe (with gills)
humidity and how to measure it-what a hydrometer is
best way to monitor temperature in a tank
which plants are poisonous to hermit crabs
what molting is
difference between crabs and snails
depth and volume (while filling the tank with the correct amount of sand)
measurement (of crab shells)
cost analysis of various types of sand and other substrate products, foods and decorations
where cork comes from
They even Incorporated some other subjects by:
Painting pictures of their crabs (art)
setting up the crabitat to be visually appealing (interior design? art?)
talking about the crabs to M’s class and the kids at mom’s group (public speaking, oral reports)
We even have a book list (you knew this was coming right?)
A House for Hermit Crab
Is This a House for Hermit Crab?
Hermit Crabs for Dummies
Hermit Crabs-a complete owners manual
And a list of websites
