Monday 10 December 2007

Estrella the Hermit Crab

Littletree has been hassling for a pet for a while now. We've been getting books about animals out of the library, looking in the pet shop, and watching endless animal videos on youtube.
She really really really wants a pet. Of course, she wants a kitten most of all, and a bunny, and a puppy, and a fish, a mouse and a kitten...

We talked with her a lot about why we aren't getting a cat - because we live in a very small cottage in the bush, and there's a lot of birds and wildlife around that the cat would kill. Likewise a dog. there are wallabies and poterroos and koalas on our property. Not to mention that we often go travelling so we can't really make a commitment to a pet.

We talked about all the responsibility of having a pet; feeding grooming, litter/ cage maintenance, exercise, etc. And still she wanted one.

Since Dogs and Cats are out, and I don't want any mice, since we have enough trouble with rodents in the house as it is, we decided to get her a fish. Something small and low-maintenance. We figured; if it doesn't work out with a goldfish, then we can always put it into the pond by the pool.

So off to the Pet Shop we went, to check out how much a small tank and a couple of goldfish would cost. Lalala... We decided on the smallest tank they had; it was about 25cm x 12cm, and 2 goldfish and a little catfish to help keep the tank clean.

BUT THEN!

The phone rang, and the petshop woman went off for a few minutes. That's when we found the Hermit Crabs. Of course, it was Littletree's choice; we talked with her a bit about how to take care of it and what it will involve. But she was sold in the first second she saw the crabs.

Admittedly, it seems a little funny to be buying a crab from the pet shop when we can just go to the beach and catch one, but it was definately a lot cheaper than buying fish, what with the tank and accessories and whatnot. And much cooler ;)

Littletree named her Estrella
Estrella 5

7 comments:

  1. Oooh - great choice! I am still fighting off the pets idea - as long as humanly possible.

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  2. Adorable! I love the name. Very fitting :-)

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  3. Now that is definitely a 'cool' pet

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  4. I am a pet person, big time. We currebtly have 2 dogs, 5 cats, fish, chickens. We've had ferrets, hamsters, rats, gerbils, all sorts of birds...I really like hermit crabs. Watch the pinch of course.

    Kids and pets really go hand and hand.

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  5. I had hermit crabs for a Christmas gift as a child, but gradually they all got lost and I would find the stinky dead crab shells around my grandmas house.
    I also found that if you heat up the shells little by little you can get the crabs to come out...


    he he he

    L

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  6. Thanks Leon. You just go back to bed now and don't forget your meds, okay.

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  7. My daughter was upset because hers had came out of its shell and Looked like it was something out of a science fiction movie. She thought it was dying..
    We bought a bigger shell and left it alone and it had moved in by the next day. Those things are very hardy and live a good while.

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Thanks for your lovely words, witty banter and entertaining discussion :)