HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So I’m changing the water bowls and cleaning them and when I removed them I discovered this substance against the tank wall and I don’t know what it is. Could it have formed because of the UTH being placed there?




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I would guess it's some kind of mold. Mold likes warm/moist environments. The spores were probably nice and warm up against the uth, and moist from any water overflow from the pools.

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Is it solid?

Looks like the hardwater build up I get on the glass lid on my fish tank, I also get it by the crab pools. Usually lift them out with a spoon.

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If those giant white things aren't rocks or sand then it's mold. If they are rocks or sand then it's hard water residue.

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I had something that looked similar...Wode helped me out with it!

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=121640&p=1090119#p1090119

It looks like dried sea salt


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I get dried sea salt where my uth is. But it's not that thick, I'm able to scrape it off with a chopstick. Is this the first time you've noticed it?

Maddamay32 wrote:I get dried sea salt where my uth is. But it's not that thick, I'm able to scrape it off with a chopstick. Is this the first time you've noticed it?

Yes


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Julsie wrote: Yes


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If you change your water every few days and this is the first time you've seen it then I don't think it would be dried salt or any water stain really. Honestly I have no idea. It doesn't really look like any mold I've seen either.

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Did you check out the link to the post I made? Part of Wode's reply:

However, playsand does contain limestone, which is calcium based. RO water would easily dissolve limestone, and the evaporation effect around the UTH would cause it to concentrate in that area. It could certain be or contain the salt mix from the pools, but I still think it's likely from the substrate instead.

And yes, you can just pop it off and discard it when it gets bad! Anything stuck to the glass should come off easily with a razor blade or vinegar. (Once the UTH has been off for a little while so there isn't a temperature difference in the glass.)

curlysister wrote:Did you check out the link to the post I made? Part of Wode's reply:

However, playsand does contain limestone, which is calcium based. RO water would easily dissolve limestone, and the evaporation effect around the UTH would cause it to concentrate in that area. It could certain be or contain the salt mix from the pools, but I still think it's likely from the substrate instead.

And yes, you can just pop it off and discard it when it gets bad! Anything stuck to the glass should come off easily with a razor blade or vinegar. (Once the UTH has been off for a little while so there isn't a temperature difference in the glass.)

Yes I did. I only have EE for substrate not mixed with any playsand.


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