A tribute to Tarquin, Pinder, and Minnie

When I was about seven years old I really wanted a hamster. After adding up the costs of hamster supplies, and finding out how to care for hamsters, we decided that a hamster would be too expensive for me.

When I was eight (almost nine) one of my cousins got an adorable baby guinea pig. I decided that I "had" to have one. But that was even more expensive than a hamster.

I was feeling disappointed until Dad suggested that I get a hermit crab. He had had one as a boy and it was very cheap and easy to keep. After some research, I found out that hermit crabs like to be with other crabs. They are not really hermits at all!

 Not long after my ninth birthday, we brought home Tarquin and Pindar. We put them in a five gallon tank with some gravel, food, water, and a stick to climb. After a few days I had tamed the crabs. I would let them crawl around my room (yes, sometimes they would get lost ), or hold them while I watched T.V. Sometimes I would take them outside to climb trees.

Tarquin loved climbing!

Pindar loved exploring!

 Eventually Pindar died. :( Apparently, it had something to do with him molting.

I bought another crab (Minnie) to be a friend for Tarquin. I chose Minnie because she was the smallest crab and she was in with crabs up to ten times her size. After examining her later, I discover that she had some leg joints missing.

Minnie was a lot of trouble. She was hard to tame and once she pinched me really hard. Those tiny claws are powerful! Another time, she escaped! Outside! In the rain! It was mom that eventually found her.

 Minnie, very sadly, did not live long after that. :(

 Tarquin continued to be a great pet. Early this year I found him dead in his tank of unknown causes. :(

 Overall, Tarquin, Pindar, and Minnie were great pets and I would like to get some more crabs soon.

When I get them, I will be sure to post about them on this blog!