06/18/2026
The Outer Banks hits a lot different when you’re fully aware of the cruelty happening at almost every single beach shop. By purchasing these exotic creatures, we are only perpetuating the inhumane and unethical poaching of hermit crabs from the wild so they can be “souvenirs.” I won’t lie, it’s incredibly difficult for me to not want to take them all home. I went to one shop and kindly asked the manager if she would consider adding at least sand to their enclosure and I was met with “do you know what that would mean for my business!?” Insinuating that by allowing the crabs to molt would reduce her profit because they wouldn’t be visible. 😤This is abuse. She also said she wouldn’t be able to contain the smell….
Fun fact: Hermit crabs don’t smell. Their enclosure smells like literal sand when properly established. Wanna know when they do smell? When they’re dead. So what she is referring to is the dead crabs smelling which means she keeps dead crabs in her enclosure (if you even want to call it that).
I went to another shop and educated the manger and she was lovely and she agreed to hand over (I did not pay) 4 hermies that were in terrible shape. She didn’t know anything about them but said “they seems so sad and they never eat.” I gave her some information and she said “take the 4 that are in the worst shape and please help them.” 😩 I had a tank in my car jusssst in case my empathetic heart overtook my rationale (it happens!😂🥴) and one died almost immediately. The other three are doing ok. 2 of them are teetering on death.
We buried “Piggy” deep in the sand and told him we loved him. 🌊
I’m hoping to rehabilitate the 3 remaining babies and place them up for adoption eventually.
📸: Heavenly Hermit co
