I believe DSs "Godzilla" (hermit crab) is leaving us

[newholiday]

came home from work last night and DS brought me over to the hermit crab tank. Seems Godzilla has left his shell. We have had a larger shell in with him but he just seems to be hanging outside his old shell - color seems to have left his body too.
We've had about 2 littler ones (Norbert & Hermit) leave us before. This is the longest one has held on for DS. I know its only a hermit crab but DS has been talking to these creatures.

 

[Pooh67_68]

Get him another one before this one goes.

 

[powellrj]

We lost ours a few weeks ago, the same week the hampster died. The kids have said they don't want anymore pets for now. I know what you mean about it only being a hermit crab, but after the others we have had, this one really seemed to have a lot of personality and the kids were really enjoying watching him.

 

[Ragmop]

Get him a "real" pet.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

DBFs nephew , 10 has a tank full of hermit crabs. He is allergic to a lot of other animals and he has taken a love to these critters. He loves watching them, holding them etc.

He has had them die before and he usually understands that it was "their time". In fact, not only has he learned a lot about science by watching them, he has learned that death is a reality of life and that when a pet dies, life does go on. I think it is a good lesson for a child to learn. It does help prepare them for the real world.

I'm sorry to hear about Godzilla. I know it's hard to lose a pet.

Re: Real Pets...

IMO, any pet is a "real" pet.
Some children are allergic to cats and dogs, or their parents otherwise cannot or will not take care of a cat or dog.
Small animals are very much "real pets" to the people who keep them. I'm an adult and when my pet rat died, I bawled my eyes out for 2 days. I have shed tears for fish, lizards, frogs, rodents, dogs, cats and ferrets in my life. And to me, every one of them was a real pet. Just because you can't see the joy in keeping them, does not mean others, especially children can't. To a child any animal in his or her care is as real a pet as a cat or dog.

 

[Jet88]

DD got her hermit crab last July and we thought they only lived for a few weeks. Well, he's still going strong and we like him alot. The other day we came home and found his big claw laying in the cage and we thought he died. We were very happy to see he's ok. I guess that's normal.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Sorry to hear that, NH. All pets are real pets, pet be the defining word. Children, anybody, can find joy and comfort in various creatures of the earth. So well said, EsmeraldaX. My best, NH, for your boy.

 

[pkasbohm]

we can see where you are coming from about losing a hermit crab. We lost ours not to long ago. He came out of his shell and would take the other one we had for him. After a few days he passed. My ds was so sad. The thing was this crab was my ds's favorite because he was the one that was most active. Best of luck on your crab!!!!

Pam

 

[Cindy'sCastle]

We've never had one but my DD wants one this year for her birthday. My friend who's daughter has one told me you have to get several shells and the crab has to pick which one they want. If they don't like the shell, they seem to go into some type of "depression" and eventually die. Her daughter has kept the one she has now for a while and they've just bought bigger shells for the crab to find the one he's "comfortable" with. I think I'm gonna get on the net and find out the facts about having one before we committ to buying one.

Cindy