Jeff...the Hermit Crab... has passed away...

[ScreamingMeemie]

:cry:

And I can't believe how sad I feel. He crawled out of his shell yesterday morning... which is a bad thing for crabs to do, and despite being tempted with an assortment of clean shells to move into, he died. He ate a bunch of apple while we had him in isolation and was acting perky... and then he just stopped moving. I feel so bad for my son. I caught him several times just staring down at him while we were trying to isolate him and keep him from stressing out.

The humidity was fine...

His cage was clean...

The thing I feel worst about is that hermit crabs are social creatures and we didn't get him a friend yet. I would hate to think he died of loneliness.

RIP Jeff. Even if we didn't have you long, you were a good little crab. :(

[miss_american_pie]

1. Oh I'm sorry

Is your son okay? :hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. I think so. He and his sister decorated a box to bury him in...

But I swear, when I read his full name (Jeff Sleepyhead Hermit Gordon) on it, I got all misty again.

[miss_american_pie]

18. Oh

now I'm getting misty. That is so sweet. :hug:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

2. I used to have hermit crabs.

I remember they'd just randomly die for seemingly no reason. I mean, it's pretty hard to get a head's up something's wrong from a crab. One of them lasted for a couple years though.

I'm sorry for your loss of Jeff. I hope your son deals with it okay.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. We tried going on all the hermit forums in the emergency sections

to see what we could do. We followed the recommendations but it didn't work. :(

He's doing okay so far. Thanks.

[RandomKoolzip]

3. Aw jeez...this is really sad.

Lester Bangs, the legendary rock critic, had a pet hermit crab named Spud. I think it's awesome that someone else kept one as a pet.

Sorry for your loss, MrsG. The death of a pet, ANY kid of pet, hits harder than we think it will. :hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. I was really surprised at how engaging this little crab was...

I feel as if we should have bought him some friends. :( Thanks RKZ. :hug:

[LynneSin]

4. Jeff knows you meant well

and he's up there in Hermit Crab heaven with a 24k gold shell and smiling over your family!

[Hugin]

6. Seconded.

I too am sorry for Jeff's passing.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. Thanks Prag!

:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. Thanks LynneSin...

I just feel so awful about it. :hug:

[progmom]

5. oh no!

I am so sorry to hear this. I know you had gotten really attached to him. x(

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. He was an amazingly friendly little crab.

I think they make great pets for kids, but I'm just so sad my son had to deal with this so soon. :( Thanks so much.

[wildhorses]

9. sorry to hear this...

he was a cool little crab. Maybe, if you buy two...
Hugs to your son:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. Thanks wildhorses...

I really do think he died of loneliness. :hug: Thanks

[merh]

15. I'm so sorry, MrsG

:( Sometimes they don't make it, no matter how hard you try.

:grouphug: <<<<Hugs for the MrsG family. :loveya:

Rest in Peace, Jeff. :(

[ScreamingMeemie]

22. Thank you...

I'm actually playing "what if" in my mind today...


We tried making him go in his shell, putting him and his shell in a glass cup... Feeding him. the weird thing is, he was acting all normal until he stopped moving. He ate apple and was playing around in the glass cup. I just feel so bad.


:loveya: :hug:

[merh]

44. I worked in a souvenir store, we used to get burlap sacks

of the hermit crabs in, one of my jobs as warehouse manager was to tend to the little critters when they came in. Sometimes they just don't make it. Never play the "what if" game, not for yourself and not for Jeffery. You do the best you can do and you love as much as you can and that is all you can do.

prayers of healing and for peace :hug: :loveya:

[Whoa_Nelly]

16. So sorry!

Every pet is precious :hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

23. Thank you Whoa_Nelly...

He was a terrific crab. :hug:

[xchrom]

17. it's never easy to lose our animal friends.

i'm sorry to hear about jeff's demise.

[ScreamingMeemie]

24. Thank you xchrom...

:hug:

[zonkers]

19. Sniff. Sigh. RIP lttle Jeff.

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. Thank you zonkers.

:hi:

[mockmonkey]

20. We don't have much luck with ours

During the last moult two went under and it appears that the one that came back up ate the other one. It's odd, usually we find a claw or something but not a thing existed anymore. The one left seems content, happily climbing all over and constantly messing up the water dishes. No more Hermit crabs for us.

No more Hermit crabs.

No more parakeets...of course I say that but then as soon as one dies I buy another so that the one left isn't lonely.

No more mice...I think I liked the mice the best but they die too soon and I get too attached to them.

No more Rats...I like Rats but they need more attention then I have time for and I get too attached to them also.

No more turtles...ugh I better face it, these turtles will outlive me.

Sounds like constant animal death here, but not really.

[ScreamingMeemie]

26. I thought maybe he was getting ready to moult, but I guess not.

We even changed him out of his mesh, carry home cage, bought him climbing stuff... and kept up with the maintenance. I'm really kind of upset because I read on all the websites where we were told they were easy care. :( I feel awful for my son.

[Deja Q]

21. Oh no!

:hug:

He was a lovely critter.

[ScreamingMeemie]

27. Thank you Hypno.

I'm feeling really bad for BabyG. :hug: :(

[NewJeffCT]

28. Alas poor Jeff!

we knew him...

I'm sorry for your loss.

[ScreamingMeemie]

30. Thank you Jeff.

:hug:

[jobycom]

29. Awww, G, you are so sweet, so sorry this happened

Anyone that moved by a hermit crab and his possible loneliness just wins my heart. :hug: What a compassionate example you are for your son!

[ScreamingMeemie]

31. When he was in the glass and out of his shell, I started talking to him

and stroking his head. He got really attentive and his antennae started waggling like crazy. I thought to myself that maybe he had left his shell for attention and that everything was going to be okay...but it wasn't. My son standing there in front of his glass cup broke my heart.

Thanks joby. :hug:

[jobycom]

33. That's so sweet.

You're getting me choked up, imagining someone talking to a hermit crab. Poor little creature. :cry:

My spouse just gave away a kitten my daughters had helped rescue and raise, that they thought they would get to keep. I had to comfort them while the cat was being taken away. It's harder to watch them hurt than to suffer any pain, isn't it?

[China_cat]

34. Aging a crab is very difficult

Jeff may have been the equivalent of 125 in human years. Not that it makes it any easier to take, but could make it easier to understand.

[ScreamingMeemie]

37. THank you China_cat.

I appreciate that.

[anarch]

32. damn, I'm sorry to hear this

It always hurts to lose our little friends.

RIP, Jeff.

[ScreamingMeemie]

38. Thank you anarch...

I know it sounds silly, but he was really sweet. :hug:

[WannaBePassingFair]

35. what?? Jeff died?

I just saw him. this is sad.

[ScreamingMeemie]

39. It's really much sadder than I thought it could possibly.

But BabyG was so upset about it, he drew us all in. With the possible exception of WannaBeGrumpy, but she helped him decorate the box we put him in. :(

[WannaBePassingFair]

41. i guess I wasn't

invited to the funeral? ricky must be crushed. Did you cry? did louise cry?

[ScreamingMeemie]

42. I got really misty. Ricky cried a bunch... MrG wanted to toss him

out... The funeral was quick and there wasn't enough time to call. :( :hug:

[WannaBePassingFair]

43. thats ok.

only the good hermit nd ls die young. poor jeff.
:hug:

[WannaBeGrumpy]

60. EXCUSEZ-MOI!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was sad about Jeff Hermit Sleepyhead Gordon. I just never really got the chance to bond with him. I didn't know my good name would be shattered like this! I care and fell sad about all the animals that die. So thanks Mom thanks alot for turning me into some kind of monster!!! Good day to you!!!

all my love,
WBG
RIP JEFF HERMIT SLEEPYHEAD GORDON the hermit crab!



:nopity: :shrug: :cry:

[WannaBeGrumpy]

61. SORRY but i had to........

break up this little pity party that was ruining my reputation!!

[Taverner]

36. Probably just his time

He had a good enviro, and people who loved him.

Not your fault

[ScreamingMeemie]

40. Thank you Taverner...

I kind of got obsessive over taking care of him once I read up on hermit crabs. I keep wondering if maybe we shouldn't have gotten another crab.

[PassingFair]

47. Maybe if you would have popped for that expensive operation...

Jeff would still be alive today.
But OOOHHHHNO! $2,000 was just
TOO much.

Too much for LIFE?

You will never again see his little eye stalks well
up with tears of joy. Never again hear the clacking
of his little claws.

Guess you CAN put a price on love. :nopity:

:)

[ScreamingMeemie]

49. Honest to Gosh... I spent the whole day trying to save him...

The kitchen table became an ER... It was horribly sad watching BabyG... :cry:


Psst... Aug 5 is BabyG's Bday party if you wanna come over and help celebrate. :(

[WannaBeGrumpy]

62. That's right PARTY!!!!!!

P-51 Mustang party!!!!! I still think the Smee party took the cake..( pun very much intended)

[Crabby Appleton]

45. RIP, Bro

[ScreamingMeemie]

50. Thanks Crabby...

You don't perchance own hermits, do you? Maybe you could tell me what we did wrong? I'm afraid to get another one because I don't want BabyG to hurt like that again, and they are wonderful little guys.

[Dangerously Amused]

46. Awww, I'm so sorry.

Love is love; sometimes it comes in the form of a person, sometimes a dog or cat, and sometimes a hermit crab.

So sorry, sweetie. But please don't beat up on yourself, you did everything you could.


Here's a big hug for you and the other Grumpies:




And a candle for sweet Jeff Sleepyhead:

[ScreamingMeemie]

51. Thank you DA...

We buried him in the backyard under a maple tree. MrG thinks I'm a little nuts, but BabyG and I got really attached to him. :(

[scarlet_owl]

48. Rest in peace, Jeff.

:cry:

[ScreamingMeemie]

52. Thank you scarlet...

:hug:

[GOPisEvil]

53. RIP Jeff.

:(

[ScreamingMeemie]

55. THanks...

:( I had no idea I would feel like this. :(

[RevCheesehead]

54. Aww, I'm so sorry.

Is Kid Grumpy OK?
Oh, hell, are YOU OK? :hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

56. He's doing okay...

I'm doing okay... We buried him in the back yard... :( :hug: I am amazed that this had that kind of effect on me.

[RevCheesehead]

57. I'm not surprised.

You're just another life-loving liberal. :hug:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

58. I'm sorry for the loss of Jeff -that's so sad

:hug: And my prayers to your son:hug:

Thank you for providing this crab with a home and providing for its well being. I'm sure he did appreciate it in his own way:hug:

[Lavender Brown]

59. I'm sorry

:(