Aura's Ark, Fairbanks, AK (2024)

01/08/2024

Once upon a time, there lived a girl named Eliza who adored her hermit crabs. From her earliest memories, they scuttled about in a small, cage enclosure—the kind the local pet store assured was perfect for them. Eliza cherished her little crustacean companions, but their mysterious behaviors left her yearning for a deeper connection.

One ordinary afternoon, while scrolling through her social media feed, Eliza stumbled upon a group called "LHCOS" (Land Hermit Crab Owners Society). Intrigued, she clicked to join, unaware that her world was about to expand in ways she never imagined.

In this online haven, she found a community of passionate hermit crab enthusiasts eager to share their knowledge. Overwhelmed by the flood of information, Eliza realized the grim truth: her beloved pets had been living in subpar conditions all along.

Deeply troubled, she vowed to right her wrongs. With fervor and determination, she transformed her crabs' habitat into a paradise—a deep sandy expanse with pools of freshwater and saltwater, climbing structures, and a variety of shells for them to choose from.

As the days passed, she witnessed a remarkable change. Her once-hidden pets became vibrant and lively. They molted with ease, showcasing their radiant colors and newfound vitality. Eliza marveled at their resilience and how much they flourished in their improved environment.

Driven by her newfound passion, Eliza became an advocate for proper hermit crab care. She shared her journey within the LHCOS group, inspiring others to reassess their own crabitats and provide better lives for their little friends.

Through her dedication, Eliza not only gave her hermit crabs a new lease on life but also discovered a profound sense of purpose. She realized that sometimes, the most fulfilling journeys stem from uncovering the needs of those often misunderstood. And in doing so, she found a community that shared her love and dedication to these incredible creatures.

- Story by Chat GPT (AI) and photo by Bings Photo Generator (AI)
NOT MY WORK - Just wanted to share ❤️

Safe supplies for all animals

01/08/2024

We got new labels today! We’re obsessed!
Thanks for the continued support!

11/13/2023

11/09/2023

Who wants to vote for us ?

I made a pumpkin hermit crab for the pumpkin contest with LHCOS (land hermit crab owners society)

You can vote for mine! (Or whoever you think is best 😉)

Mine is the first option!

Vote for your favorite hermit crab themed pumpkin!

11/07/2023

Once upon a time, in a small coastal village, there was a girl named Lily who loved spending her days exploring the sandy beaches and rocky tide pools. One day, as she was walking along the shore, she noticed something that caught her eye - a small group of people huddled around a bucket, picking through the shells and pebbles.

As she approached, she realized that they were buying and selling hermit crabs, capturing them from their natural habitat and selling them as pets. Lily was shocked and saddened by the sight. She had always loved these fascinating creatures, and the thought of them being taken from their homes and sold like objects filled her with a deep sense of sadness and anger.

Determined to make a difference, Lily decided to take action. She started by researching the hermit crab trade, learning everything she could about the ways in which these creatures were captured, transported, and sold. She talked to experts and conservationists, learning about the ecological impact of this trade and the harm it caused to the fragile ecosystem.

With this knowledge, Lily began to spread the word, talking to her friends and family, and raising awareness about the cruel hermit crab trade. She also started a social media campaign, creating posts and videos that highlighted the plight of these creatures and the need to protect them.

Lily's campaign soon gained momentum, and people from all over the world started to take notice. Pet stores and online retailers stopped selling hermit crabs, and many people pledged to never buy or sell them again. Governments and conservation organizations started to take action, implementing laws and regulations to protect hermit crabs and other marine creatures from being taken from their natural habitats.

Years went by, and Lily grew up to become a marine biologist. She continued to work tirelessly to protect hermit crabs and other creatures, conducting research, educating the public, and advocating for change. Thanks to her efforts and those of many others, the cruel hermit crab trade was eventually stopped, and these fascinating creatures were able to live out their lives in peace and safety, in their natural habitats, as they were meant to be.

11/06/2023

Dear valued customers,

I want to address a product I had listed for sale - the Sunshine Lichen, which I initially believed to be safe for hermit crabs. It has come to my attention that this moss is, in fact, toxic.

It is listed on the LHCOS database as toxic.

I have not sold any of this product; as soon as I became aware of this issue, I immediately removed the product from our inventory. However, I am a trusted source, and I wanted to make a clear post stating that this lichen is not safe. Your hermit crabs’ safety and well-being is of the utmost importance to me.

I deeply appreciate your trust and support, and I am committed to ensuring that such issues do not happen in the future.
If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

You can read more about this lichen on my website.

Sincerely,
Aura

09/04/2023

Hey guys! We will be up at the creek in northern Alaska to collect supplies and mine for gold!
Our shop will be unable to ship orders September 10th-October 1st

You can still message me to place orders to be shipped out when we get back, but our shop will be closed.

Thanks for being so understanding!

07/20/2023

This is the beautiful place that I’ve been spending a few weeks at! There’s so much to collect!

07/20/2023

All parts of Alder trees are safe for hermit crabs! They produce little cones that I think are super cute! They’re also great for low PH aquariums, like for bettas.

Stay tuned for our Alder Climbing Kit!

07/09/2023

https://www.change.org/HermitCrabs-ZooMed

Once upon a time, in a whimsical land known as Petalburg, there existed a realm where animals and humans coexisted in harmony. This magical land was home to a young girl named Lily, whose heart was filled with compassion for all creatures, great and small. With her boundless love for animals, Lily possessed a unique ability to understand their needs and protect them from harm.

One day, as Lily wandered through the enchanting forests of Petalburg, a gentle breeze carried a faint whisper to her ears. It was the voice of the hermit crabs, pleading for help and yearning for safety. Intrigued and determined, Lily followed the whispers, which led her to a mystical gathering of woodland creatures, each with their own tale of despair caused by the dangerous hermit crab products sold by ZooMed.

Lily listened intently as the animals shared their experiences of how these harmful products endangered the lives of hermit crabs. The toxic substrates, the poisonous foods, the inadequate enclosures, and the lack of proper heating and lighting—it was a cruel fate that awaited the innocent creatures.

Moved by their stories, Lily knew she had to take action. With the strength of her convictions and a glimmer of magic in her eyes, she embarked on a noble quest to bring about change. She sought out the wise and mystical beings of Petalburg for guidance, including the ancient Tree of Wisdom and the Fairy Guardians who protected the land.

Armed with knowledge and a courageous spirit, Lily returned to the heart of Petalburg, where she began weaving a spell—a petition that would capture the hearts and signatures of all who cared for the well-being of hermit crabs. Her words were imbued with the truth, compelling all who read them to unite and demand justice for the vulnerable creatures.

As the petition spread throughout Petalburg, a wave of unity and determination swept across the land. Lily's petition touched the hearts of not only the people but also the magical creatures and even the sentient plants of the realm. They all recognized the urgency to protect the hermit crabs from the perils of ZooMed's dangerous products.

With each signature, the petition gained strength and power. The hearts of the people became intertwined, creating a powerful force that resonated throughout Petalburg. News of the movement reached far and wide, captivating the attention of the magical beings who dwelled in distant lands, all with a shared desire to protect the innocent hermit crabs.

As the signatures continued to pour in, the message reached the gates of ZooMed. The company's leaders, sensing the rising tide of discontent and realizing the grave consequences of their actions, had a change of heart. They understood the weight of their responsibility and the need to rectify their mistakes.

In a moment of awakening, ZooMed executives made a groundbreaking announcement. They pledged to remove all dangerous hermit crab products from their inventory, committing to thorough quality control measures and investing in research and development to ensure the safety and well-being of these creatures they had once neglected.

The news spread like wildfire, igniting a spark of hope in the hearts of all who had signed Lily's petition. They rejoiced in the knowledge that their voices had been heard and that positive change was on the horizon. The people of Petalburg celebrated this victory for the hermit crabs and the triumph of compassion over negligence.

And so, this tale became a legendary story whispered throughout the realms, inspiring others to rise against injustice and protect the vulnerable.

https://www.change.org/HermitCrabs-ZooMed

Safeguarding Hermit Crabs from Hazardous Products

05/24/2023

Have a wonderful Wednesday ❤️

05/22/2023

05/22/2023

❤️

05/22/2023

Im not sure if they found someone or not!

Helping Alaska’s Furry Friends since 1997. About GRRF View Our Dogs Ways you can help Adopt!Bring home your newest best friend! view our dogs! Foster!Foster one (or more!) of our dogs while they look for a furever home! apply to foster! Volunteer!Help us run events, transport dogs, facility mainte...

05/22/2023

Ooo

Black and White Pet Portrait Session
Come by Dog Mushers Hall 925 Farmers Loop Road from 10 -5pm
This is also during a fundraising event hosted by and 20% of the proceeds will be donated to help the rescue.
5x7 prints are $20, 8x10 prints are $35 and digital copy is now included!

By appointment only! $50 session fee.
Credit cards are accepted. Get your appointment at Alaskapetportraits.com/book. (Link in bio)
Keep in mind there are other dogs present and another event is going on simultaneously.
*cats, parrots, hamsters, snakes are all welcome

The Dog Mushers Hall does not allow dogs inside. This is an outdoor event and photo session is sectioned off in a covered tent in the parking lot to allow a more secluded space for each individual portrait. Please leave your pet in your vehicle until you have checked in.

05/22/2023

❤️

Our House is built on a foundation of Education, Conservation, and Captive-Breeding.
Here's a little bit more about these key aspects of our mission!

Hermit House's mission is to keep wild crabs wild through education, conservation, and captive-breeding. Hermit House supports aspiring captive breeders and hermit crab lovers searching for a way to change the hermit crab industry and keep wild crabs wild.
Invite a friend to like our page to help spread the word!

12/12/2021

Meet Alba! She just came up from molting! Alba means white in Latin; She always chooses white shells!

12/05/2021

Tiny Leaf Litter! They’re poplar leaves!

11/26/2021

This is the before photo of the crabs thanksgiving meal!

Veggie mix, millet, sweet tooth mix, brine shrimp, oyster shell, birdseed mix, omnivore mix, eggshell, hibiscus powder, Chia seed, seaweed, acorns, turkey meat and turkey skin!

11/21/2021

25 Days of Crabmas! 125$ worth of food!

This is a kit is one of a kind; for the 25 days leading up to Christmas! This is great for adding festivity even if you don’t celebrate Christmas!

These are additions to add to the plate every day; not a whole meal for each day! There is no particular order! You get to sprinkle some new food into the plate each night!
Each ball is filled at least half way- most 3/4 way due to ease of removing food from ball

Coconut

Acorns

Leaf Litter

Trail mix

Mealworms

Veggie mix

Oat hay

Eggshell

Flax meal

Sweet Herb mix

Sunflower seeds

Candy corn

Steel cut oats

3 Bear Oatmeal

Timothy hay

Orchard grass

Beet root powder

Rose hips

Millet

Ash seeds

Oyster Shell

Oat flour

Dandelions

Oak moss

Chia seeds

11/21/2021

These are Oak ladders for a custom order!
They are for bearded dragons

Wood that needs pruning is trimmed with garden shears, brought into our garage, and trimmed to the size chosen. It’s inspected and gets a quick run with sandpaper!

All the sticks are then placed in a boiling pot of water! Once they’re nice and soaked (completely sanitary) I plop them onto a cookie sheet in the 250 degree oven. They spend 15-20 minutes drying and making the house smell like oak!

They are stored in glass jars until it is time to get weaving!

Once the ladder is complete with Jute Twine, they soak in hot Seachem Prime water and are stretched out on a blocking board overnight! This step is important so they hold their pretty shape!

Let us know if you’d like a custom order!

11/21/2021

Candy Corn! For Hermit Crabs

Inside these cute candy corn dishes, there is organic corn kernels sprayed with cane sugar and honey water! It’s dehydrated at a low temperature for preservation

This is a set of two!

The container has paint only on the outside; there is no risk of paint in the food:) The container is NOT SAFE to place inside the habitat; only for food storage

Store in a cool, dry place!

All items are free of preservatives!
For a full list of sources for my items, please see my website*!

All products are made in a home containing shellfish, nuts, soy, wheat and both cat and dog fur.
The kitchen is always sanitized and is following all food safety regulations that Alaska requires, but we can never guarantee prevention of cross contamination.
If you have allergies, contact us when placing your order! Your items will be packaged with the utmost care!

11/21/2021

This is a plastic pinecone full of flax! Pinecones are something that are everywhere we look, and holiday themed, but they’re not safe for hermit crabs. With this awesome pinecone container; we can bring the festivities to the crabitat!

If you want to hang or place in habitat, you must remove the metal lid.
We were super excited when we saw these, as we have always wanted to add pinecones to crabitats. This can be hung or placed in the floor like a dish. It can be refilled and reused with anything you like. They are food safe.

The flax is ground into a powder with a professional mill! It came from a local farmer at our farmers market!

Store in a cool, dry place!

All items are free of preservatives!
For a full list of sources for my items, please see my website*!

All products are made in a home containing shellfish, nuts, soy, wheat and both cat and dog fur.
The kitchen is always sanitized and is following all food safety regulations that Alaska requires, but we can never guarantee prevention of cross contamination.
If you have allergies, contact us when placing your order! Your items will be packaged with the utmost care!

11/17/2021

The Starry Nighttime Kit - for Hermit Crabs

A Star of Bee Pollen - Bee pollen is a magical powder. If You haven’t tried it for yourself or for your hermit crabs yet, You definitely want to. They will hunt down even the tiniest crumbs of it. It’s really fun to watch your hermit crabs take tiny bites, and get to feel like you’re interacting with them! There is a LOT in this little star!

These Star dishes are super cute but I do not recommend placing them in the habitat full! They will definitely be knocked over, spilt, or buried by excited crabs. You can however use the stars for dishes after put the contents in the extra bags provided.

A Star of Chia Seeds - Chia are nutritious as whole seed, and as sprouts! You can sprinkle them directly on the substrate and they will sprout; otherwise You can mix them with water to create a jelly and place the sprouts where ever you’d like!

Bedtime Cookie Snacks - These are first baked goods we are adding to our shop! They are made of oat flour, pure cane sugar, and egg!! They’re baked at 350 , and then dehydrated for several hours to become rock hard! You can either break them up, or place in the habitat whole!

Crickets - Moving from Alaska to Oregon I’ve gotten to learn the magic of hearing crickets when it gets dark; Your crabs can also learn the magic of eating them.

Mushrooms - Everyone knows that mushrooms grow at night; therefore they’re a need for a proper nighttime experience.

Bed - Wool that is directly from a sheep, unwashed, and unprocessed makes for a great bed in a hermit crab tank. I recommend making this a rectangle like a mattress, and stacking the jute and cotton on top to make a cute little bed.

Covers - Jute twine woven into burlap makes the perfect blanket!

Pillow - Cotton from a balsam poplar tree! Every year, cottonwood trees make a sticky, cottony seed pod. I remove the seeds from the stem and it makes the perfect cuddle buddy for hermit crabs.

08/17/2021

Deluxe Natural Cat Toy Kit! $15
Oregon driftwood sticks wrapped in jute! One large, one medium, and three small! In addition to the toys, you also get a catnip mix that includes chicken bits!

Jute is a twine that cats have a strong reaction to! They LOVE to rub on and play with it; they show a similar reaction to it as catnip. The frayed ends on my toys give them something to pick at; these toys give them an alternative to negative things to chew, such as carpet or clothes with a similar texture. We try to discourage unwanted cat behavior with similar things that are okay to display that natural behavior on!

The catnip was hand raised by me, and the chicken encourages cats to ingest the catnip instead of just smelling! Eating vs smelling bring about different reactions to the catnip!

We also have a smaller size (Mini Kit) available!

All items are free of preservatives. For a full list of sources for my items, please see my Site.
Shipping flat rate costs us 8$ to do. We are looking at new ways to ship, but this is the safest route for your items currently. If you are local, we can arrange pick up or drop off and waive the 8$ shipping cost!

All products are made in a home containing shellfish, nuts, soy, wheat and both cats and dog fur. The kitchen is always sanitized and following all food safety regulations that Alaska requires, but we can never guarantee prevention of cross contamination.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1048580914/driftwood-jute-cat-toy-activity-kit-for?ref=shop_home_active_15&frs=1

https://6hs8l3igbqgdxh95-50818154688.shopifypreview.com/blogs/news/articles?preview_key=e9a193c6a6778649b9d106c757e0810b&fbclid=IwAR0bFe18RG-PgIdFmJrK0e0MyOj4dxzkU40XCc4exv9Cnh4B0GrkFCM47Q4