Sea Sponges Still OK to Use?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 12:58 pm

I have read that crabs like to drink from the sponge. But I have also read that they CANT drink properly from them. I have one in each of my water dishes. I have 2 sets so that I can change them out and clean them regularly. They take up maybe a 1/4 of the room in the water dish so there is plenty of room for the crabs to drink and soak. I see my crabs drink from the sponges and straight out of the dish. My question is-its ok to have them in there? And I would like to hear feed back on your personal choices-do you use them or not?Thanks!!

spidtat · Post by **spidtat** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 1:19 pm

It is okay to have them and most people use them so the little crabs have a way out if they happen to fall in the water. I do not use them I just drape a vine into my water dish and I also have a ramp out of my bowl. Main reason I do not use them though is they are just a pain to clean and my crabs would always drag them out of the water anyway and then I would have a sandy beach ball instead of a sponge.

Crabby Abby · Post by **Crabby Abby** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 2:25 pm

Crabs do not/cannot drink from a sponge. They dip their claws in the water and bring the water droplets to their mouths.If you wish to use a sponge to boost humidity, put it in the fresh water only and make sure to steralize it frequently. Squeeze it repeatedly while pouring your dechlor over it, give it one good final squeeze to get all the water out, allow it to *fully* dry on a counter top (might take a day depending on the sponge size) and then microwave for one minute.For anyone using them so little ones can get in and out of dishes more easily you can replace it with aquarium pebbles, a plastic vine draped over the dish or a scallop or spikey shell.

Nicole · Post by **Nicole** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 3:08 pm

Ivy, they are probably eating the sponges (which is OK) when it looks as though they are drinking from them.A sponge tossed on the substrate is a nice snack for the crabs, but I never use them in my dishes. When my guys were little enough to worry about the dishes being too deep, I lined them with blue aquarium jewels.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 4:16 pm

While on the topic of sponges, can you use normal ones from grocery stores? I know most come with some treated lotion, but you can buy plain sponges where no lotion/ preservatives are added... is that still an option? "sea" sponge sounds pretty specific.

Crabby Abby · Post by **Crabby Abby** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 4:23 pm

I'd be reluctant to because my fear would be that even though the package didn't indicate any kind of treatment that they would likely contain some kind of antibacterial properties to repel germs.I once bought large sea sponges in the paint dept of my local hardware store for reasonable money.

KittyCaller · Post by **KittyCaller** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:10 am

I once (when I still used 'em) got a bag of natural sea sponges from the craft store for a couple of dollars. It came with two large sponges that were very easy to cut as needed.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:20 am

hm, I was always worried if they treat the sponges with any kind of chemical? Afterall it is organic matter and it would decay or get moldy, smelly after a while. Especially if they get wet.If they just naturally dried, I'd like to give them some sponges too.

lpshiner · Post by **lpshiner** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:57 am

I am not using sponges now, but when I did I used the natural sea sponges purchased from the Crabbage Patch or HCA, and I never had any trouble with them getting moldy or nasty. I kept one in the fresh water dish, and I cleaned it every time I cleaned/changed the water in the bowl, (every 1-2 days). I rinsed it in hot tap water then rinsed it *copiously* in dechlor water several times, and they stayed in good shape. I never let it sit in tap water, always made sure to rinse heavily.... I quit using them when I put in a bubbler pool, as the crabs never seemed to like them one way or the other...