Purpose

The Land Hermit Crab Owners Society (LHCOS) maintains online communities to support ethical hermit crab care, education, and respectful discussion. These Community Policies govern participation, content standards, and moderation practices across all LHCOS-managed platforms.

These policies exist to protect animal welfare, educational integrity, and the safety and focus of the community.

Relationship to Other Policies

Community Policies operate alongside, and in addition to, LHCOS’s:

Participation in LHCOS-managed communities is contingent upon compliance with all applicable policies.

Scope

These policies apply to:

  • Members, contributors, and participants
  • Moderators and administrators
  • Posts, comments, messages, and shared content
  • All LHCOS-managed Facebook groups and Reddit communities

Participation in LHCOS communities is a privilege, not a right.

Definitions Used in These Policies

For clarity and consistency, the following definitions apply throughout these Community Policies.

LHCOS Approved Rescue
An LHCOS Approved Rescue is an independent rescue organization that:

  • Is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Has submitted valid proof of 501(c)(3) status to the LHCOS Board of Directors
  • Has been reviewed and approved by the LHCOS Board of Directors

Approval confirms nonprofit status and eligibility to participate in LHCOS-managed community spaces under a rescue designation. Approval does not imply shared governance, operational control, or endorsement beyond the scope reviewed.

Community Standards & Expectations

Community Culture

LHCOS communities are mentorship-focused and education-driven.

Members are expected to:

  • Be respectful, welcoming, and constructive
  • Disagree without personal attacks
  • Avoid judgmental or hostile language
  • Prioritize education over correction

Harassment, bullying, or abusive behavior is not tolerated.

Posting & Participation Guidelines

New Members & New Posts

Members should read posts carefully before responding.

If a member is not explicitly asking for help:

  • Do not immediately offer corrections or advice
  • Welcome them and allow time to explore group resources

When help is requested:

  • Read existing comments before responding
  • Avoid overwhelming the original poster with repetitive or conflicting advice

Moderators may apply a “Team Members Only” designation when focused, evidence-based guidance is required.

Private Messaging

Members may not:

  • Send unsolicited private messages offering care advice
  • Use private messages to bypass moderation
  • Send harassing, insulting, or promotional messages

Violations may result in immediate removal.

Business Pages & Commercial Participation

Purpose

To preserve the educational nature of LHCOS communities and prevent misuse for marketing or traffic diversion, participation by business pages and commercial entities is restricted.

Definition of a Business Page

A business page is any account operating under a name other than an individual’s legal name where the name implies a business, rescue, organization, brand, or commercial activity.

Eligibility for Participation

Approved Participation

The following business or organization pages may participate in LHCOS-managed communities under their organizational account name:

  • LHCOS Approved Sellers
  • LHCOS Approved Rescues, defined as independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit rescue organizations that have submitted proof of status and received approval from the LHCOS Board of Directors

Participation remains subject to all community rules, moderation standards, and ongoing compliance.

Prohibited Participation

Business pages that are not LHCOS Approved Sellers or Approved Rescues may not:

  • Join LHCOS Facebook groups or subreddits
  • Remain as members if previously admitted
  • Participate under a business-branded account

Personal Accounts of Business Owners

Business owners may participate using personal accounts provided they:

  • Follow all community rules
  • Do not engage in spam-like or promotional behavior
  • Do not repeatedly direct traffic to their business or products

Using a personal account to bypass commercial restrictions is not permitted.

Promotion & Self-Promotion Standards

To protect the educational mission of LHCOS communities:

  • Promotions, sales posts, and product announcements are permitted only from LHCOS Approved Sellers and Approved Rescues
  • Posts created solely to promote a business or service are not allowed
  • Repeated sharing of business links or traffic-driving content is considered spam

Occasional, organic mentions of a business may be acceptable in comments only when directly relevant, non-repetitive, and educational in nature.

Spam & Prohibited Commercial Behavior

Prohibited behaviors include, but are not limited to:

  • Reposting similar promotional content repeatedly
  • Excessive link sharing across posts or threads
  • Commenting promotional links on unrelated posts
  • “Bumping” posts solely to increase visibility
  • Tagging moderators or members repeatedly for attention
  • Redirecting members to unvetted external resources

Buy/Sell Group Clarification

LHCOS operates a separate Buy/Sell group for listings and shop updates. Participation in that space is governed by its own rules.

Spam and abusive behavior are not permitted in any LHCOS-managed space.

Content Ownership & Legal Compliance

Content Ownership

Members may not post content they do not own or have permission to share. Unauthorized use of images, documents, or media may result in removal and banning.

Legal & Ethical Compliance

LHCOS communities may not host or promote illegal activity, including:

  • Wildlife collection without permits
  • Release of captive animals into the wild
  • Promotion of abuse, neglect, or harmful practices

Members are responsible for knowing and complying with applicable laws.

Moderation & Enforcement

Enforcement Actions

Moderation actions may include:

  • Informal guidance
  • Warnings
  • Content removal
  • Temporary or permanent bans

Some violations may result in immediate removal without warning, including harassment, spamming, or illegal activity.

Misrepresentation of rescue status or nonprofit designation is grounds for immediate removal.

Appeals & Rejoining

Members removed for violations may request a review after one year by contacting the LHCOS Board of Directors through official contact channels.

Authority

These Community Policies are established by the LHCOS Board of Directors and enforced by designated moderators.

Moderation decisions are final. Concerns must be submitted through official channels; contacting individual moderators or Board members directly is not appropriate.

Policy Updates

These policies may be updated as needed to reflect platform changes or community needs. Continued participation constitutes acceptance of the current version.