Emergency Road Trip

So I am thinking I may need to take an emergency road trip.  To the beach that is. 

 

It isn't for me you see, it is for Hermie my hermit crab.  It all started two years ago when my friend talked me into bringing home two hermit crabs from the beach for my classroom.  Sweet Mama and Crab Daddy were quite the pair for about 6 months until one of them died.  I don't even remember now which one it was.  I felt sorry for that one lonely crab and went to the pet store to buy a new one, Hermie.  Hermie was small and he turned out to be a very slow, timid and unsocial pet.  This past school year the other beach crab died leaving Hermie alone.  When a co-worker brought two new crabs from the beach for our classroom, Hermie permanently moved home with me.  It was for his safety because the new crabs were big.  I mean BIG like I would not handle them and I was afraid he would get eaten.  Hermie has continued to be a quiet pet.  I usually pick him up every few days just to see if he is alive because he is usually in the same spot.  But about three days ago something changed. Hermie has been on the move constantly. He climbs, moves rocks, tears up the water sponge, and appears to be looking for a way out.  I can hear him at all hours of the day moving about in his cage. 

 

So this has stressed me out a bit.  I keep wondering "What is going on?"  I have spare shells in there but he hasn't changed shells.  I keep freshening the water and food.  I cleaned out the cage in case it was stinky. He seems so desperate to get out. Having very high empathy I so want to relieve him of his anxiety.  I keep thinking "I need to set him free."  Thus this has lead me to seriously consider making the 6 hour road trip to the beach for the sole purpose of releasing the hermit crab.  It just seems only right.

 

Tonight I began to wonder if it was mating season and maybe I just need to go to the pet store and buy another crab or two.  It would be cheaper and less time consuming but doesn't sound near as adventurous as driving to the beach to set Hermie free.