Swim Time!
This is my biggest Straw, Pickles, in the new saltwater bubbler pool. I was concerned that the pool wouldn’t be deep enough for him to fully submerge, but it seems to be. Here he is hanging out by the bubbles. This pool probably won’t be adequate for any larger straws, but he’s my biggest crab right now and I don’t plan to put any bigger crabs in this tank.
On Sunday I went to the Martinez Petco. They’ve had problems maintaining proper conditions in their crabitats; so much so, that I wrote a letter to the corporate office. Needless to say, I no longer get a very warm reception when I go into the store. I’ve been asked repeatedly if I’m from the Hermit Crab Society and I’m no longer allowed to get in the tanks to pick my own crabs.
Anyway, when I went in on Sunday they had three Straws left and they were on clearance for $6.29. I decided to buy them because they’ve been living in 40-45% humidity for long enough. When I asked for help with the Straws I was told, “just a second” by the reptile manager, and then he told me “you can’t buy them now, they’re sick”. OK, I should have pushed the issue and told them I would take them anyway, but I was flabbergasted at being told I couldn’t buy crabs there AGAIN.
So I talked to Vicki the next day and told her that I thought they were just not selling the crabs to me. She offered to get the crabs for me and called them to ask if they had Straws available and was told they did. I didn’t want her to have to drive all the way out here, so I said I would have a local friend go get them. I was also thinking I could go on a covert crab rescue mission that night when the store management was away. Before I got a chance to tell Vicki my plan she was gone, off to Smart and Final with her hubby.
Within an hour I had a call from Vicki that she went and got the Straws and they looked great. She does not think any of them are sick. I’m going to go over on Sunday and pick two of them up and help her with setting up her crabitats and photographing the new crabbies that she is getting from a woman in Southern California. Meanwhile I have my 10 gallon ISO running and I will now set back up the 29 gallon to house the new straws. I’m thinking that I may get a couple of large/jumbo crabs to go in the 29 gallon also. I would really like to get two large E’s.
I just can’t believe Martinez Petco, it’s bad enough that they treat me like mud when I go in the store, but to not sell me crabs? Some punishment they’re inflicting on me; I think I’ll punish them back by not spending my money in their store and telling my friends to do the same.
Lord knows there are enough online stores that welcome me, here are just a few that I like to shop at:
