I got me some hermit crabs today.

2 of them - Jacques (not named after the crab in finding nemo) and Martin. 

I had to go to 2 pet stores to get them - the first one I went to was really not very nice.  The crabs were kept in a tank with gravel in the bottom (not the best environment for them) and the employees were cleaning the tank out and just tossing the poor little crabs around in there.  You're not supposed to do that, their little internal organs can rupture quite easily.  So, I didn't purchase any crabs from there.  I went to another pet store, my favorite, and got my crabs and supplies from there...I got a plastic tank for them to start with (I'll look for a bigger one at yard sales and such over the next couple of weeks), some cocnut fiber for their tank floor, some coconut matting to hang on the side of the tank so they have something to climb on, a water and food shell, a couple of spare shells in case they decide they want to move house, some water, some crab cake food, and 2 hermit crabs...all for under $30.  I didn't get an under tank heater, I want to see how well they do without one first...if they're not too active I'll go get one this weekend.  That's the most expensive thing, actually, and even it's under $20.

I found out some interesting stuff about crabs this week.  They're scavengers, and will eat almost anything.  As I write this, Jacques is sitting in the food shell, stuffing his face with yummy peanut butter.  Other crab owners have reported their critters enjoying pizza, hot dogs, fruit, vegetables....you name it, they'll probably eat it.  They make noises too, they were squeaking in the car all the way home.  They're nocturnal, they like to climb, and you have to give them a bath once a week or so, not only to get the dirt out of their shells but to moisten their gills as well.  When they get bigger you can even put them in one of those hamster balls and let them run around the house for a while.

These really are cool little dudes.  Martin is still a bit shy, and has buried himself in a corner, but Jacques..well, I picked him up in the store and he popped out of his shell to check me out, and he hasn't really stopped moving since.

So, that was my birthday present to myself.  My kids have said that they're going to get me some painted shells as their gift to me for my birthday, and if I can find a bigger tank I'm going to get a coco-hut and some air plants for them to play with.  If you're looking for a not-too-expensive, fairly low maintenance pet I'd highly recommend hermit crabs.

Thanks to Casey Quick for introducing me to the world of crabs!