As new hermit crab owners become experienced hermit crab owners, they often want to branch out and acquire different species. Many crabbers are often frustrated by the lack of availability of different species and sizes at their local pet stores and consider buying hermit crabs over the internet.

Whether or not you get hermit crabs delivered by mail is up to you. Hermit Crabs DO get mailed, that's how they get to pet stores. If you make the decision to order crabs in the mail, you need to consider the following things:

1. What conditions are they kept in at the store/location where you are purchasing them? The owners shouldn't have a problem answering your questions. If they do, then look elsewhere.

2. What are the exact methods that they use to ship their crabs? You are looking for someone who packs well, preferably insolated, moist and with a heat or cold pack depending on the season. They should also have a "no ship" policy during extreme weather seasons (even if you both are in a warm region).

3. Expect to pay considerably more than you would pay in a pet store. Expect around $20 for overnight shipping. Yes, priority or ground shipping are both cheaper methods but neither are guaranteed. I've known priority mail packages to take up to two weeks. Unless the shipping offers a guaranteed delivery time, pick someone else. Then make sure there is a person home to pick up and unpack the crabs ASAP.

4. Be prepared to ISO the hermit crabs right away and for longer than you would isolate pet store hermit crabs. This is a second stressful journey. There is a good chance that some won't make it. We only see the live hermit crabs that make it into the pet store tanks, there are many that don't. This is true for all shipped animals. Some are almost always lost in the shipping process. By choosing to order crabs by mail, this is a risk that you must accept. This is why sellers often send "extras". If you order three crabs, do not be surprised to see five or six. It is common practice to over-ship to compensate if one or two die along the way. In fact, just the other day I saw a customer comment on eBay that said "8 of 9 crabs made it, thanks!" I strongly discourage anyone from buying hermit crabs on eBay. Unless they can offer proof that they are licensed to sell hermit crabs, they may be getting them from anywhere, including nearby beaches. (eBay sellers are often located in Florida). Also, pet-store owners are required to pass inspections by state and local government organizations and private citizens are not. You will have no real information about how those hermit crabs are being cared for.

Once you have made your decision to ship you need to abide by the self imposed "no ship" window, which
takes place from October through April. This ban is important regardless of the point of origin or the point of delivery. For example, you might
think it's okay to buy hermit crabs in winter because they are being shipped from Florida and you live in Texas. However, the post office in it's infinite
wisdom, often routes packages (even overnight) through other major Post Office hubs. Those can be states away. A good example is Chicago and Omaha, both are very cold right now. This is also true for FedEx and UPS. If you are desperate the best thing to do is to look into a courier service like Airborne express or talk with the Post Office about routes. It's possible that it will stay in good climates but it is just as possible that it will not. If it goes through a cold city, a heat pack cannot fight the temps outside. Packages are shipped in unheated trucks and are often left to sit on airport tarmacs unprotected for long periods of time.

So be careful, don't make a purchase in haste. Consider all the potential risks before you make that purchase.