18_793795 bindex.qxp 3/16/06 6:48 PM Page 121

Index

abdomen, 12, 15 breeding, salt water requirement, 17–18 activity level, health indicator, 41–42 buying hermit crabs, 37–39 adoptions, 39 age, selection, 42–43 calcium, food sources, 67 aggression, behavior traits, 102 Caribbean ( com- anatomy, illustrated, 12 pressus), saltwater guidelines, 71 shelters, adoption resource, 39 Caribbean land crab (Coenobita clypeatus), antennae, 12, 15 18–19, 40, 74 health indicator, 42 celebrity crabs, 25 illness indicator, 81 children, hermit crab interaction, 34–36 socialization behavior, 98 children’s books, 25 appendages, regrowth, 15, 85 chilling, heat maintenance, 82 appetite increase, molting sign, 91 chirping, communication, 17, 103 aquarium gravel, 48–49 chores, daily/monthly care, 34 aquatic hermit crabs, saltwater aquariums, claws, 12, 15 20 clicking sounds, communication, 103 Arthropoda phylum, 13–16 climbing attention, ownership, 29–31 behavior traits, 100–101 playtime guidelines, 109–110 bark climbing sticks, 55 dietary guidelines, 66–67 coconut/robber hermit crab ( substrate pros/cons, 49 birgus latro), 22 baths, humidity, 83 Coenobita compressus, shell preferences, 74 behavior traits commercial foods, 61–62 aggression, 102 concave/red hermit crab (Coenobita climbing, 100–101 cavipes), 21 digging, 101–102 crabitat eating, 99 climbing mats/sticks, 55 hiding, 104–105COPYRIGHTEDdecorations, MATERIAL 57 nocturnal , 99 extra shells, 56–57 self-grooming, 99–100 food bowls, 54 shell swapping, 105 fresh water/salt water, 70–71 socialization, 98 full-spectrum lighting fixtures, 53 vocalizations, 103 heat (temperature) guidelines, 82 bonding, owner/crab interaction, 108 heat sources, 49–51

121 18_793795 bindex.qxp 3/16/06 6:48 PM Page 122

122 Index

crabitat (cont.) foam board, tank insulation, 50–51 hiding places (shelters), 54–55 food bowls, 54, 94, 113 humidity gauge, 81–82 food refusal, illness indicator, 81 humidity sources, 51–53 foods hygiene importance, 89 calcium sources, 67 isolation tanks, 57, 59 commercial, 61–62 location, 58 dairy products, 66 mite infestations, 85–87 fish/turtle, 65–66 molted crab return guidelines, 95 fruits, 63, 64–65 molting tanks, 93–95 hand feeding, 108–109 newcomer acclimation, 59 herbs, 63, 64 playtime environment, 109–111 insects, 66–67 shopping list, 52 leaves/bark, 66 substrates, 48–49 malnutrition indicators, 83–84 tank guidelines, 46–47 molted exoskeletons, 95 travel carriers, 111–113 people foods, 66 water conditioners, 56 protein sources, 65 water dishes, 53–54 purchasing guidelines, 55–56 crab racing, 110 recipes, 68 , 14–15, 23–24 serving guidelines, 69–70 cuddle factor, ownership, 32–34 travel carriers, 113 cuttlebones, calcium source, 67 vegetables, 62–63, 64 4-H clubs, meeting others, 114–115 daily care, 29–31, 34 Fruit and Nut Salad recipe, 68 dairy products, avoiding, 66 fruit, dietary guidelines, 63, 64–65 decorations, 57 full-spectrum lighting fixtures, 53 dehydration, 81–82 diet, 89 gastropods, shell source, 16 digging, 91, 101–102 gel limbs, molting sign, 92 gender, 41 eating, 99 genopores, 41 Ecuadorian hermit crab (Coenobita com- gills, 12, 15 pressus), 19–20, 40 goldfish bowls, inadequate homes, 47 environment gray/white hermit crab (Coenobita rugo- crabitat location guidelines, 58 sus), 22 habitat concerns, 25–27 playtime guidelines, 109–111 habitat. See also crabitat equipment/supplies, shopping list, 52 environmental concerns, 25–27 exoskeleton, molting process, 14, 91–95 health indicator, 42 eyes, 12, 15 hamster balls, playtime uses, 110–111 hand feeding, 108–109 females, 17–18, 41 handling, 106–108 fighting, shell, 78, 79, 102 health problems financial commitment, ownership, 30 chilling, 82 fish/turtle foods, diet guidelines, 65–66 dehydration, 81–82 18_793795 bindex.qxp 3/16/06 6:48 PM Page 123

Index 123

lost limbs, 84–85 lighting fixtures, full-spectrum, 53 malnutrition, 83–84 limbs, 81, 84–85, 92 mites, 85–87 molting, 91–95 males, 17–18, 41 out of the shell, reasons, 89–90 malnutrition, illness indicator, 83–84 shell disease, 87–88 mats, climbing, 55 heat (temperature) misters, 53, 113 chilling, 82 mites, 85–87 crabitat guidelines, 49–51, 82 molting health importance, 88–89 crabitat return guidelines, 95 heat lamps, 50 dead/near dead appearance, 92 heat rocks, 50 exoskeleton shedding process, 14 heat sources, molting tanks, 93 isolation tanks, 93–95 herbs, dietary guidelines, 63, 64 mid-molt indicators, 93 Hermit Crab Association (HCA), 115 preparation signs, 91–92 hermit crab conventions, 115 monthly care, chores, 34 hiding behavior, 104–105 mouth, 12, 15 hiding places (shelters), 94, 113 mulch, substrate pros/cons, 49 household products, health risks, 89 mythology, hermit crabs, 24 households crabitat location guidelines, 58 National Association of Professional Pet terrarium space requirements, 30 Sitters, 111 human garbage, shell source, 16 natural habitat, 25–27 humidity natural sea sponges, 53, 113 bath, 83 nocturnal animals, 99 care, 31 dehydration concerns, 81–82 ownership habitat sources, 51–53 children’s responsibilities, 34–36 health importance, 88 cuddle factor, 32–34 humidity gauge, 53, 81–82 daily care chores, 34 meeting other owners, 114–115 Indonesian hermit crab (Coenobita monthly care chores, 34 brevimanus), 20–21 reasons for, 28–29 insects, dietary guidelines, 66–67 responsibilities, 29–32 insulation, foam board, 50–51 Internet, meeting other owners, 114 painted shells, 76–77 Internet sellers, 38 parasites, 42, 85–87 intertidal hermit crab, 20 people foods, dietary guidelines, 66 isolation tank, 59, 93–95 pericardial sac, molting sign, 92 pets (other), predatory concerns, 31, 60 larvae, breeding process, 17–18 pet sitters, 111 leaves, dietary guidelines, 66–67 pet stores, 37–38 legs, 12, 15 physical health, desirable traits, 40–42 lethargy, molting sign, 92 playtime, 109–111 18_793795 bindex.qxp 3/16/06 6:48 PM Page 124

124 Index

pollution, 27 multiple pet benefits, 39 protein, food sources, 65 vocal communications, 17 sticks, climbing, 55 recipes, 68 strawberry hermit crab (Coenobita perla- red/concave hermit crab (Coenobita tus), 21 cavipes), 21 stress, prevention, 89 reproductive organs, 41 stridulation, chirping sounds, 17, 103 rescue groups, 39 substrates robber/coconut hermit crab (Coenobitidae mite infestations, 85–87 birgus latro), 22 molting tanks, 93 purchasing, 48–49 salt water, 70–71 travel carriers, 113 saltwater aquariums, 20 supplies/equipment, shopping list, 52 sand, substrate, 48 scientific classification, 13–16 table salt, avoiding, 70 sea sponges, 53, 113 tankmates, 20, 78, 79 seawater, 70–71 tanks. See crabitat self-grooming, 99–100 temperature (heat) shell disease, 87–88 care consideration, 31 shell leaving, 89–90 chilling, 82 shells crabitat guidelines, 49–51, 82 acquiring, 16 health, 88–89 cleaning activities, 99–100 terrariums. See crabitat cleaning process, 77 thermometers, 50, 51, 113 crabitat accessory, 56–57 tide pools, 20 entering techniques, 75 travel carriers, 57, 111–113 environmental concerns, 25–27 tree bark/leaves, diet, 66–67 fights, 78, 79 Tuna and Veggie Casserole recipe, 68 growth factors, 72–73 turtle/fish foods, diet, 65–66 interior remodeling process, 74–75 moisture requirements, 79 undertank heaters, 50 paint, 76–77 purchasing, 76 vacations, travel guidelines, 111–113 selection process, 73–74 vegetables, dietary guidelines, 62–63, 64 species preferences, 74 vocalizations, 17, 103 varieties, 75 shell swapping, 105 water, 70–71, 79, 89 shelters, 54–55, 94, 113 water conditioners, 56 Shrimp and Egg Feast recipe, 68 water dishes, 52–54, 93, 113 size, selection element, 42–43 water intake, molting sign, 91, 92 sluggishness, 81 weight, health indicator, 42 socialization West Atlantic hermit crab (Coenobita behavior traits, 98 clypeatus), 18–19, 40 breeding process, 17–18 white/gray hermit crab (Coenobita meeting other owners, 114–115 rugosus), 22 18_793795 bindex.qxp 3/16/06 6:48 PM Page 125

Photo Credits: Isabelle Francais: 10–11, 14, 19, 25, 28, 32, 37, 49, 58, 62, 67, 77, 84, 90, 96–97, 103, 107, 111, 114 Teresa Lenihan: 3, 6–7, 13, 17, 21, 23, 26, 30, 34, 35, 38, 40, 42, 44–45, 46, 47, 51, 54, 55, 56, 57, 61, 63, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 78, 79, 80, 82, 86, 87, 91, 94, 98, 100, 101, 104, 106, 108, 112, 126, 127, 128

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