I need help with hermit crab care!?

[Rachel]

Ok hermit crabs are social animals and DO need company, humans handling them is actually stressful for them and not at all a substitute for a species buddy. I would suggest showing your mum the basic equipment list I am linking below, maybe asking her to sign up to one of the care groups on facebook and talk to other keepers. Before talking to her again get reading up on them some more and trying to do things to show you are going to take care of them yourself. Keeping on at parents constantly usually puts them off even more and will just annoy her, showing you are responsible and being mature about it means she is more likely to take the time to listen to what you say. She may be worried about you losing interest in a while and her ending up having to take care of the crabs herself but unfortunately without the right care the crab will end up passing away even if it takes a few months. Stuff like the right humidity and substrate is absolutely vital for these and despite what some stores say they are exotic pets and as such need more care.

IF she won't let you get what is needed for the crab as hard as it is it may be better to find him a new home with somebody that has an established healthy colony and will give the varied diet, water and other care that he really needs.

If you shop around on sites like preloved and in charity shops you can find a nice sized tank or even clear storage box which can be used for them. At least part of their diet can be little slivers of your own food (tops off carrots, little bits of chicken or other meat you have, apple cores, bits of fruit and veggies, plants from the garden etc) and they only eat a tiny amount which makes feeding them economical. Eggshells for instance make a good calcium source and a single cuttlebone can last months if broken up into little bits and given a piece at a time. This is also probably why you think he is not eating, the amounts can be so tiny it barely shows. Keep trying different bits of natural foods (not pellets and commercial stuff, overpriced and just not great for them) and you should hit on something he needs for this stage in the moult cycle soon. Coconut is always a favourite.

Once everything is set up there should be no need to change the substrate (playsand is also very cheap which is a bonus) or anything in the tank bar food and water so yes, it costs money at first, but afterwards its mostly shells and salt (a box of this lasts months too so you could use pocket money for this). I have three very large tanks with different species now and it costs me barely anything to maintain the habitats and feed them. Hermit crabs can live years, potentially decades, with the right care so this could end up being lifelong pets so please bear that in mind while deciding what to do.
I hope this helps and whatever happens the little one has a long healthy life.