Crabnapped

02/08/2025

Wish I was there!

23/07/2025

Article from SBS about land hermit crab harvesting and export
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/australias-hermit-crabs-are-in-demand-but-some-want-the-trade-banned/7fx0yvnsq

Article from ABC Australia about Merv Cooper and his exporting license
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-17/crazy-crabs-trader-denies-exploiting-australian-hermit-crabs/105537982

A West Australian businessman licensed to collect and sell thousands of hermit crabs as pets rejects criticism he is a threat to the crustacean's population.

22/07/2025

I’m working on publishing a colouring book with my illustrator Anastasia Obrucicova. This is the page in “Crabnapped: A land hermit crab story” where the two hermit crabs Rocky and Crusty are kidnapped off a beach in Broome, Western Australia.

Please feel free to download it and colour it. I’ll be publishing the colouring book this year. If you do colour it please share it in the comments below.

Crabnapped: A land hermit crab story can be purchased on Amazon Australia https://amzn.to/4d1BGqH

Hardcovers are available from Amazon UK https://amzn.eu/d/04GvAaAK

USA https://amzn.to/4dojKq4

22/07/2025

Cute shirt

https://www.zazzle.com.au/hermit_crab_bodysuite_and_one_piece_baby_t_shirt-256315761786194363

20/07/2025

Love this!

From collection to conservation, it's a big pivot!
Today we returned shells to the beach (safety checks & sanitisation complete) 🐚
We're encouraging everyone to because shells are shelter, not souvenirs 🐚
It's really hard not picking up shiny things ✨️
So do pick them up but
Leave them on the beach where they look their best 🤩
Every shell 🐚 makes a difference 🙌🏾

20/07/2025

Love this shirt? You can buy it on Zazzle

https://www.zazzle.com.au/im_a_little_crabby_before_my_nap_toddler_t_shirt-256078747914862839

19/07/2025

I love this video by Taryn The Shell Walk Show & Tell. Taryn is based in Broome Western Australia which is where Rocky and Crusty are Crabnapped from in my book, Crabnapped.

Follow the page for more information about the walk, show and tell

19/07/2025

Colouring competition time! 🏆

I’d love it if you could download and print this colouring competition page. 1st prize wins a hardcover copy of my book. 2nd prize wins a softcover copy and 3rd prize is some hermit crab stickers!

Entrant must be under 12 years of age to be a valid entry. Please don’t add surnames - just their first name and initial eg Vanessa P.

Email me at [email protected]

Competition will be drawn October 17th at 9pm 🕘 Good luck! 🤞

Don’t forget Crabnapped is available for sale on Amazon or via Vanessas Crabitat

https://www.vanessascrabitat.com.au/shop/books/crabnapped-pre-order/

19/07/2025

19/07/2025

With The Crab Street Journal – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

14/07/2025

Did you know? 🦀 Millions of hermit crabs are taken illegally from beaches around the world every year for the pet trade.

This is called poaching—and it's pushing wild populations toward collapse.

Poachers are operating a hermit crab black market on Facebook. You can help stop them.

🌴 Leave wild crabs where they belong: in the wild.

09/11/2024

Beautiful lady with a great book all about hermit crabs