Kelli A. Wilkins - Hermit Crabs for Dummies

by Kelli A. Wilkins

Hermit Crabs For Dummies

Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
111 River St.
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com

Copyright 2007 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: available from publisher

ISBN: 978-0-470-12159-7

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

1B/RV/QT/QX/IN

Publishers Acknowledgements

Project Editor: Laura B. Peterson

Acquisitions Editor: Stacy Kennedy

Technical Editor: Christa Wilkin

Composition Services: Indianapolis Composition Services Department

Cover Photo: Dorling Kindersky/Getty Images

Cartoon: Rich Tennant, www.the5thwave.com

About the Author

Kelli A. Wilkins is a freelance writer experienced in keeping and rescuing a variety of pets. She graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in Communications and recently completed the Commercial Writers program at Middlesex County College. The former Assistant Editor of Reptile & Amphibian Hobbyist magazine, Kelli lives in New Jersey.

This book is dedicated to the whole Kelly clan and to Robert for supporting me every step of the way.

Authors Acknowledgments

I want to thank my Acquisitions Editor, Stacy Kennedy; my Project Editor, Laura Peterson; and my Technical Editor, Christa Wilkin, President of the Hermit Crab Association (www.hermitcrabassociation.com), for all her experience and help.

Chapter 1

Choosing Crustaceans: All About Hermit Crabs

In This Chapter

Using this book effectively

Defining a hermit crab

Understanding the different types of crabs

Checking out hermit crab anatomy

W elcome to the world of hermit crabs! Although they are unusual pets, hermit crabs (or hermies, as their keepers affectionately call them) are very popular with people of all ages. Maybe youre a parent buying this book for your child or a kid buying it with your hard-earned cash. Maybe you just bought a hermit crab and need the essential scoop on getting set up as well as some general care info, or youve had one for a while but want a refresher on the best way to care for your hermie. No matter what your reason, this book gives you all the information you need to choose the right crab and take care of its every need, without bogging you down in lots of technical stuff. Although several hundred types of hermit crabs live around the world (including marine hermit crabs), this book focuses on six land hermit crabs that are commonly kept as pets in the United States.

First Things First: Using This Book

Hermit Crabs For Dummies is designed so you can find the answer to a specific question easily, without reading through lots of information you dont want at that particular moment. Begin with Chapter 4 if you need basic setup information, flip to Chapter 5 if you need to know what to do with a molting crab, or head to Chapter 2 if youre still on the fence about adding hermit crabs to your family. Or if you prefer, start at the beginning and read until you hit the back cover.

As you read, keep an eye out for text in italics, which indicates a new term and a nearby definition so theres no need to spend time hunting through a glossary. The monofont points out Web addresses worth checking out for additional information. You also run into a few sidebars (the occasional gray box); although the information in the sidebars is good, its not essential to the discussion at hand, so skip em if you want to.

Be on the lookout for the following icons sprinkled throughout the text that point out important information: