During a family trip to Port Dickson, Ryean Ash Nair’s father pointed out the tiny hermit crabs scuttling along the beach and told his son how much he liked them.
“I thought they were super cute, like Gary from ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’,” Ryean told FMT Lifestyle, referring to the titular character’s pet snail from the popular animated television show.
That memory became even more precious after his father’s passing, which is why Ryean keeps his own hermit crab today – a little crustacean named not Gary, but SpongeBob!
That day at the beach sealed his fascination with hermit crabs. “I went to a pet shop after that trip and just had to get one,” he said. But why not something more popular and cuddly, like a dog or cat?
For Ryean, it’s simple: apart from the fact that he finds them adorable, they’re easy to care for.
“I only have to feed SpongeBob every other day,” he shared. The menu includes fish food, cucumbers, and the occasional treat – fruit!
He can still recall discovering SpongeBob’s love for bananas. “I was scrolling on Instagram when I saw someone feeding their hermit crab a banana. I happened to have one, so I gave a piece to SpongeBob – and he ate the whole thing!”
SpongeBob may be small, but he certainly has a big personality. Ryean describes him as “adventurous” and “a bit of a clown”.
“He’s not shy at all,” the 14-year-old added proudly. “If you put him in your hand, he’ll immediately start walking around, exploring. He’s always falling off things, though!”
SpongeBob’s antics keep his human entertained, making the crustacean even more like the cartoon character he is named after.
Indeed, Ryean’s thinks his relationship with SpongeBob is truly unique: “He’s not the best listener, but I still talk to him. He’s kind of like my little buddy.”
The two have shared some funny moments, like the time his cousins mistook SpongeBob’s shell for a regular seashell and almost threw him away – until they saw his tiny legs poke out!
“I had to stop them before they sent SpongeBob flying,” Ryean recalled.
Maintaining SpongeBob’s habitat is straightforward but essential. Ryean has set up a tank with cocopeat and driftwood, and a water bowl filled with coral stones and blue salt.
Hermit crabs love to dig and soak in water, so it’s important to keep the tank damp and spray it with water a few times a day.
SpongeBob also needs a variety of shells to choose from. Ryaen recalls panicking early on when he spotted SpongeBob’s shell without the little guy inside – until he realised hermit crabs change their “homes” as they grow!
Ryean isn’t done with his love for unusual creatures: he’s thinking about adding vampire crabs to his collection and maybe even some snails.
“I love cute animals, especially the ones people don’t always think about,” he said.
For now, though, he is happy with SpongeBob: his tiny friend who’s always up for a fresh adventure – or at least a fresh banana!
This article was written by Dinesh Kumar Maganathan @ FMT Lifestyle. Read more pet stories here.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathery friends to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.