Hermit Crab

Pagurus berhardus - Common Hermit Crab

Status: common and widespread

There are various types of Hermit Crabs including aquatic (water) and terrestrial (land) species. They inhabit areas from rocky shores, shallow, sandy bars to areas of greater depths.

More closely related to lobster than other crabs, the hermit crab lacks a hard carapace. Therefore they must adopt the shells of certain molluscs and will swap them for larger shells as they grow. There are times when hermit crabs will gather together and either fight for a particular shell (as seen in the picture below) or swap out each others shells.

When out of their shell, they can be vulnerable as their abdomen is soft and actually curls. The curling feature is what helps them hang on to their shell home. Typically the hermit crab is reddish-brown in color. They have larger front pincers which are used for defense.

Several species are used as pets with the most common being the Caribbean Hermit Crab. Hermit crabs can be quite useful in aquariums as they are scavengers that eat algae and debris. With the proper care, they can live several years as a pet.

With that being said, please do NOT remove hermit crabs from the wild. Usually the types of hermit crabs found in tide pools or in shallow water (like in my pictures) are aquatic hermit crabs. They will NOT survive in a home environment. If you come across hermit crabs in the wild, look, but don't touch. The reason my pictures are not detailed is because I did not pick them up for the sake of getting "a better picture." Enjoy them in their natural home.

Fun Fact:  Fossils of hermit crabs go all the way back to the Late Cretaceous Period!!

**All photos taken by me at Bolsa Chica State Beach.**

Poseidon's Noble Creation

 The HORSE!

First off, I have been away from this blog for far too long! So many things had me swimming around like a mad-mer! Some may know that I am a high school teacher and that plus taking sign language classes, surfing, swimming and volunteering had just kept me away. Now that summer is here I will be more devoted to the weekly sea critter posts.

Second, I know that the horse really isn't a sea critter, but many people don't realize that the horse is a creation of the sea god Poseidon (Greek)/Neptune (Roman). But why would a sea god create a land animal?
One story is that Poseidon created the first horse because he had desired the goddess Demeter (Greek goddess of the harvest; a land goddess). Demeter wasn't too keen on this crush and in order to put him off, she asked him to make the most beautiful animal the world had ever seen. Thus, after a couple of tries, he created the horse!

It is also believed that the horse represented the breaking crest in a wave. Horses, or  the Hippokampoi (fish-tailed horses) are often seen pulling Poseidon's chariot in art.

I have loved horses ever since I was a little girl. How could I not? They have been breed to help humans from day to day activities before the invention of machines. They have won wars, and also delivered peace. They have carried royalty on their backs. They are playful, sometimes stubborn, but if given the right love, they will love you back, and give you a special kind of trust, an earned one.

Sadly, not everyone feels the same way about horses as I do. Too often these animals are the subjects of abuse and neglect. People find themselves overwhelmed with the amount of care, time and money a horse takes and will just abandon their animal to die a slow death. Or, if a horse can no longer preform a desired function they will be auctioned off for slaughter, even though they have years of love and companionship to give.

Luckily for some of these horses, they are found and rescued by places like The Red Bucket Equine Rescue.
RBER takes in abused, neglected and slaughter bound horses, rehabilitates them and then adopts them out. They are an organization based on donations and volunteers. In August, I will be going to their volunteer orientation to work closer to the animal that I love. I am also hoping to adopt one of their horses. Please take a look at one of my prospects before and after pictures.
*Pictures are by the RBER - not taken by me*

Willow Before: 

Willow After: 

Isn't that amazing?!?! Go on, take a second look, I'll wait a minute!

With that I am asking for YOUR help! After all the years of wanting a horse, I am in a place in my life where I have the time, money and energy for a horse. I am just $500 short of adopting one of my prospects from RBER and would like your help. I am running a "fundrazer" (link below) and I also have an Etsy shop (site below). Any and all money from these two sites go directly toward my horse fund. If you don't wish to help me, you can still help the RBER by visiting their site:   www.redbucketrescue.org and give a donation through Paypal. In advance, I want to thank you!

Fundrazer:  https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/bJk8a?psid=1267c609433844c890842cf51303b790

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/HBMermaidAngela  (please keep in mind I take custom orders, if you have any questions email me at: HBMermaidAngela@gmail.com)