Hermit crabs do not grow their own shell. They take them from dead gastropods like snails. In captivity, you need to ensure that there is a wide variety of shells to choose from. You can tell if a hermit crab's shell fits if it can seal the opening of the shell with its large claw and armor leg (back left). As a general rule, land hermit crabs prefer shells with round openings. You can get inexpensive shells from craft stores. Another great place is online. Boil the shells for 20 minutes & drain them before putting them in the crabitat. If its legs stick out a bit and you can still see its eyes, the hermit crab will be on the market for a new shell. Simply drop some shells in the tank and the hermit crab will change when ready. You can dip the shells in salt water periodically to draw the crabs' attention to them if you wish. A clean tank will keep your crabs healthy and happy. Use a kitchen strainer or fish net to strain the sand at least 3 times per week to remove crap poop, exoskeletons, and buried food. Wash the dishes with a damp paper towel every few days. Rearrange their climbing toys every few weeks to give the crabitat a new look and keep the crabs interested in them. You should replace all the substrate every 6 months. Every month, take all the shells and dishes out of the crabitat and boil them in dechlorinated saltwater to kill any mold or bacteria. Although you can generally let the crabs bathe whenever they feel like it, if you are introducing a new crab to the crabitat, or one of your crabs has just emerged from molting, you should give it a quick bath. Pour some tepid, dechlorinated saltwater into a shallow dish and place your hermit crab in the water. Let it sit fully immersed in the water for about 1 minute. Then, take it out of the bath and put it in a safe, enclosed space to dry. Once it's fully dry, you can put it into the crabitat with the others. Try to get your hermit crab to walk down your arm or hand and get into the water himself. If that doesn't work, gently lift him by the shell and lower him into the bath. Always supervise a bathing crab. It can get really active after bathing, so even if it's sitting at the bottom of the water at one moment, it might be scurrying out and getting lost in your house in the blink of an eye. Your drying off area can be as simple as a cardboard box lined with paper towels to absorb the excess moisture. Avoid touching or handling your hermit crabs as much as possible. It can stress them out or even cause injury if you touch a molting crab. If you must pick them up or handle them, always grab them gently by the shell. Even if your hermit crab knows and likes you, it may still pinch you if it becomes frightened. Be sure to handle the crab gently and carefully. Hermit crabs don't get sick very often. However, if you notice signs of sickness, like dry skin, or if your crabs are acting especially lethargic, they may be sick. Start by isolating the sick crabs and cleaning the whole tank. If that doesn't solve the problem, consult with a veterinarian. The trip to the veterinarian may be quite stressful for the crabs, so be sure to only take them only if absolutely necessary.

Summary: Add shells to the crabitat so the crabs can upgrade their housing as necessary. Clean the crabitat often. Bathe new hermit crabs and recently molted crabs. Keep handling to a minimum. Consult a veterinarian if you see signs that your crab is sick.

" People are often told to face their fears by doing something that would normally terrify them. For someone suffering from a fear of heights, this could mean something like riding a roller coaster, going skydiving, or looking over the edge of a cliff. Recent research has shown that acrophobia is an innate, rather than a learned condition, which means that pushing acrophobics "in to the deep end" may have no effect at all. It may even aggravate the fear. Further research is needed to find a definitive cause for acrophobia. Until the fear is fully understood, it is not a good idea to expose acrophobics to extreme heights without first treating the fear with therapy, medication, etc. If a fear of heights keeps you from working, relaxing, or doing the things you love, it's a genuine condition and not something that you should try to tolerate. "Getting tough" or "just dealing with it" aren't good strategies for living with a real phobia. You can actually create extreme stress and make poor decisions if you try to hide your fear of heights with a tough exterior. You are stronger than you realize. Show strength by seeking real treatment. Meet with a doctor, psychiatrist, or experienced therapist to begin overcoming your fear.

Summary: Don't "jump in to the deep end. Don't simply tolerate your acrophobia.

Show those around you that you care by offering them assistance when they need it. Help them without expectation of repayment so you can feel connected to them in a generous way. For example, you may go see a family member who is feeling ill or unwell. Bring food for them if they are too sick to cook. You can help your neighbor by trying things like shoveling snow for them or taking care of their pet while they are away on vacation. You can also spend time with a friend dealing with a recent break up. Cheer them up by inviting them out or by taking them on a special friend date. Look online for local organizations and charities in your area that need volunteers. Pick up a volunteer shift at your local homeless shelter or women's shelter. Donate your time to a charity drive or at a local arts festival. Volunteering your time can help you feel connected to others in a positive way. Volunteering is also a great way to meet like minded people and make new friends or acquaintances. This can broaden your social network and make you feel less alone in the world. You can also put your money towards a cause you believe in. Give a donation to a local advocacy group in your area or to a national campaign that speaks to your goals and values. You may try donating money to a worthy cause once a year or once a month, based on your income. Look for mentoring programs in your area at local community or arts centers. Check your local schools for mentoring programs where you work with young people. Try mentoring in a program like Big Brother, Big Sister, where you are paired with a young person and act as their mentor. You can also mentor others by being a volunteer tutor at an after school program. Some alumni associations at colleges and universities have mentorship programs for students to connect with professionals in their field of interest. Give back to your local economy by frequenting local businesses in your area. Seek out local businesses and support them by spending your money there. Get to know local vendors so you can feel in sync with your community. For example, you may shop at your local farmer's market and get to know the vendors who sell their goods there.
Summary: Help a neighbor, friend or family member in need. Volunteer at a local organization. Donate money to a worthy cause. Become a mentor. Shop at local businesses.