Chewin’ the Choya » Hermit Crab races Miss Crustacean Pageant

Does anyone here live in, or not far from Ocean City N.j.? A few people from the Hermit Crab Association are going there for the day, August 6, 2014 to hand out care sheets, etc. at the Miss Crustacean Pageant and Hermit Crab Races. I thought maybe we could help out, (of course I am going) to show support to our “kids”, and that hermies need alot more than wire cages, and gravel. Its an education for the public. People need to be made aware that hermit crabs are not throw away pets! So far, some ideas are, Care Sheets, safe food list, proper tank set up, (with posters) even a 10 gallon tank to show set up. Any ideas would be great!

Yes, it is sad. I am going to have to hold my tongue and be nice. People will listen to you if you are educating them, not yelling at them. What the vendors don’t understand is that they can make more money with the proper set up! Glass tanks cost more than wire cages, sand, more than a handful of gravel, etc. I know they are trying to make a fast buck, but giving the crabs what they need to flourish in capivity makes everyone a winner!

Great point! I never thought of it that way….You are right, how can they be taken seriously the way they are sold? Much like goldfish in the tiny bowls at carnivals. I did know that parents thought its a great way to “quiet” the children who want the crabs, this way they won’t bother their parents on vacation. The kids will be playing with “hermie” instead of bugging mommy and daddy. Sadly, I too am (well, my parents are) guilty of this. I had a few hermies growing up, they never lasted more than a few months. I always thought they don’t live very long, and got another. I love animals so I did feed, and change their water 2 times a day, always checking on them. Hermie would sleep next to my bed in that awful wire cage………I hate thinking about it. I was 7 or 8 years old at the time. 3 and 1/2 years ago, I started to do research on them, I wanted another one, remembering how much I loved them, and soon realized why they passed in such a short time. Now, at almost 50, I have 3 very healthy, loved, spoiled rotten crabs. 40 gallon tank choya wood huts mopani wood corkbark tile for second level hermit hotels, food from hermit crab patch distilled drinking fresh water instant ocean salt water plenty of shells organic fruits veg eggs chicken wings baked salmon, etc. Far from the little wire cages with gravel………I really hate thinking about that….But, my big girl and 2 boys are happy, and the littlest one was given to me and was spared the wire cage (after 3 years) I begged a friend to PLEASE give the crab to me, you are doing it all wrong! So, from small wire cage to 20 gallon tank, and after 3-4 weeks, got him acclimated to the other two, and now happily living it up in the 40 gallon with a brother and sister to play with him. I love my little family!

Yes! You can post it on Twitter or wherever you want! I would love to have the hats! I will give you my address on your pm…thank you!!! I will reimburse you for the cost of shipping. I thought if the parents could see how fun it could be to have a tank, and watch natures miracles (molting, changing shells, etc.) they would be interested in the crabs and know they are more than just throw away pets! I already have my hermit t shirt picked out for the event, from cafe press- I will proudly be wearing- Hermit Crabs Rule t-shirt with a cartoon pic of a HC! There will be plenty of pics!!! And actually, we cannot go up to people and give them the info, (soliciting is not allowed), so, we want to draw attention to our table by having balloons, posters, etc. this way, people will come to us! I have a seperate email address I am using for this event. It is:

HermitCrabCrusaders@gmail.com

Thanks Stacy!!!

I was turned down for a permit to distribute info for the crabs. Why? Because I mentioned the Hermit Crab Patch foods, etc. The admins are “afraid” it will hurt boardwalk business, those who sell crabs and the horrible pellets that are used as food. (poison) So, I asked if I omit that info, could I re apply. I was told I could. So, going over every bit of info I have, making sure no mention of food from other sources. I will fax the rest of the info tonight or tomorrow. I will let you know………….

Well, the time is almost here to go to the Miss Crustacean Pageant! Next week I will be there, handing out info sheets to new crabby moms n dads! I sincerely hope the info is utilized by people. I am making some last minute changes, I think too many pages will be overload. I am trying to condense material without having to miss important details, as I want everything to be perfect. Of course, I am putting this website info on the handout, along with a few others. I will be posting pics! I’m sooo excited!

As promised, I went to the Miss Crustacean Pageant. And, well, suffice it to say, it wasn’t that bad. Of course, if I had my choice, it really should not take place at all, it must be really stressful for the crabs. The pageant is a themed event, meaning the contestants have to have done something like a project your kids might have to do at school. Such as the cardbaord box with the planets/solar system thing. Only it has to be all about the crabs. So, the kids parade around the judges with the crabs on the box. The judges look for most unique decorated boxes. The winner was Crab Wars (star wars themed). There are 2 runners up in the competition. The winner gets a trophy with a cucumber inside. (Coveted cucumber rind cup) and walks down runway bedecked with flowers. A woman sings the miss crustacean song. Rice was thrown while the crab walked down the isle. I was not happy about that. AND, the woman who entered the crab, for her kids, kept dropping the poor crab onto the sand. SHe dropped it about 5 times. I stood up, my boyfriend grabbed my arm and said, keep calm……..so I got her attention, and gave her an info sheet. I then asked her if she was keeping her hermit crab, (I wanted to get that crab as far away from her as possible) She told me she has the crab at school (she is a teacher) and is using it to teach the children. Teach them what? How to drop a hermit crab? Did I forget to mention that she wanted to make the crab come out of its shell for the hermit crab races, so she poured bottled water on it, that was when I stood up and gave her the info sheet and asked about her keeping the crab. I almost lost my mind………It was very hard for me to not raise my voice….I cannot believe a school teacher would have NO REGARD for an animals life…..Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised that the MC of the event stated that the Hermit Crabs need specific care, heat and humidity and such. He told the crowd that they cannot let the hermit crabs go on the beach, they will not survive and if after the event they no longer wanted the crabs, to bring them to the office and they will find homes for them. He also said they have info on crab care that they will hand out. So, I gave him my info sheets, and he brought them back to his office. I handed out my info, as the contestants left the beach, each person thanked me, no one was mad, no one said, no thank you, they took the info and left. I didn’t really talk that much, I figured it was better if I didn’t pester them. I also left info sheets at various stores that sold crabs, and if I saw people purchasing them, I waiting until they came out of the store, and handed them an info sheet. I did go into one store and noticed no water for the crabs. Crabs were in the water dishes, so I mentioned it to the man behind the counter. He said he does usually give them water in the morning, but it got busy in the store. I waited until he gave them water. They piled into the dishes…….The guy was nice, he was not mad at all, and I left a care sheet with him. You can bet I will be there next year……….Me in the white hermit crabs rule t shirt, with a mom and daughter, the mom holding the info sheet, and her daughter with wire cage and crab.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by  Beth. Reason: add info