HCA: Hermit Crab Association

For hermit crab substrate, does it have to be 'play sand'? Is regular natural sand fine for them too? What's the difference?

Any silica based sand is safe - play sand is just processed to be 'finer' (ie- not as coarse) as regular sand.
Calcium sand (which is often sold as 'hermit crab sand') is not safe, because it compacts and sticks together like cement when wet.

I reconmend 100% play sand. you can buy play sand at a hardware store. make sure it is play sand. DON'T BUY ANY SAND FROM A PET STORE. it is most likely calcium sand, and the added colors are bad too. some hardware stores sell sand that will get hard when it gets wet, you DONT want that. just get play sand. it will say playsand on the package, the sand is normally tan/white.

EastCoastyGhosty wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 27, 2021 11:01 am

I reconmend 100% play sand. you can buy play sand at a hardware store. make sure it is play sand. DON'T BUY ANY SAND FROM A PET STORE. it is most likely calcium sand, and the added colors are bad too. some hardware stores sell sand that will get hard when it gets wet, you DONT want that. just get play sand. it will say playsand on the package, the sand is normally tan/white.

The OP is in South Korea, so different products may be available than in North America.

Playsand (in North America at least) has been cleaned and heat sterilized, and has some guarantees that it is free from contaminates. Since it's sold for children to use, companies aren't going to take any risk making those kids sick. That makes it a bit safer for hermit crabs as well, as construction sand can have impurities and contaminates. It should all be the same thing though - quartz/silica sand.

Thank you!