Newbie- Saltwater Question

[Jewelrylady]

Hi, I am new to hermit crabs. We've had 2 PP's now for about a month I'd say. They seem happy and have been doing well. However...and PLEASE don't hate me....they have not had any saltwater. I didn't realize they needed it until I began reading things on here. I'm pretty sure they didn't have any in the pet store either because there was only 1 water dish in their tank and even that was empty So my question is...I read on here somewhere that I should not get the salt that's for hermit crabs, but get aquarium salt instead? Is that correct? Also, does the salt water just go in a very shallow dish like I have for the salt water? I just bought one of the super shall dishes at the pet store for the fresh water. I didn't know if it needs to be deeper so they can "get in it"? My freshwater dish has a sponge in it so they really can't walk through the water. Does the saltwater one need a sponge too? Sorry for all the questions. Our family is so enjoying these little guys!

[Rocky]

Hey, don't worry, it's not your fault Most people with new crabs are poorly misinformed, and we all started out that way.

As for what salt you use, yes, you're right The hermit crab salts and "glubs" are sadly more marketing bogus and are just sea salt or sea salt and calcium. Real marine salt replacer, meant for saltwater fish, has 70+ major and trace elements that aid in molting and help keep the crab overall healthy and allow it to maintain it's salinity levels. You can get small boxes that make 10 gallons for around 7$ But I have found smaller packs before in baggies. It's fairly inexpensive since it lasts you a long, long time. (A really common and popular brand is Instant Ocean and it's in a purple box)

On the contrary, I think your crabs would love some nice deep dishes! They do need to be able to submerge so they can maintain water levels inside their shells, and they also enjoy the occasional swim! As long as you can provide a safe way in and out you can have them as deep as you'd like (some people have elaborate 5 gallon built in pools!) but, a simple tupperware container with a plastic plant or a square of plastic needlepoint canvas will do I buy plastic food storage containers at the dollar store (they have all shapes and sizes) and plastic needlepoint canvas, and I attach the two using a zip tie. Super cheap and easy, plus I have big enough pools for my larges that my micros can still use safely

As for the sponges, they're optional in all cases Some people use them as a way in and out, some people (like me) use them in other places in the tank, either wet to boost the humidity, or dry as a snack for the crabs.
Sponges are unfortunately just one of those things they make so they can sell people more "special crab stuff" (even though the vast majority of things you actually need aren't intended for crabs. The only thing I have in my tank that was labelled for crabs is a water dish I use for food) they can be used, but you have to be careful and thouroughly clean them (that is, wash, completely dry, and microwave or bake them) regularly since they're great places for bacteria to grow, which will foul the water really quickly. You can always just pop the sponges onto the substrate and let the crabs eat them as is

By all means, feel free to look around, read around, and ask any questions you have We're here to help!

[Jewelrylady]

Wow, this was so helpful! When you say, they need to be able to submerge, are you meaning the water should be deep enough to cover them completely? sorry if that's a dumb question. And then have the needlepoint canvas making a ramp in and out of the bowl? I think I'm envisioning it correctly. haha

[DragonsFly]

RG, do you have pics of your water bowls with needlepoint canvas ramps attached with zip ties? I was trying to direct somebody how to make those just yesterday, and a picture is worth a thousand words. I like my glass bowls with needlepoint canvas attached by aquarium silicone, but those do take 2 days to make and your "quickie-cheap" version could help tons of people give their crabs better water sources faster.

And yes, it is best to have water sources deep enough for them to submerge completely. As long as you have a "climb-out," it doesn't matter if they are much deeper than your tiniest crab. An added benefit of having deeper water sources is that you can easily turn them into bubbler pools, which works wonders for humidity and helps keep the waters fresher for longer. With the plastic Ziploc or Gladware type containers, they can be deeper without even being any bigger (taking any more space in the tank) than the pools you are probably using now.

[Rocky]

I kinda have some shots where they're in there, but none like a tutorial or anything (I have to make new ones for the violas, so I guess a quick how to is in order )
You can kind of see it here:

The needlepoint canvas leads all the way to the bottom, and they seem to prefer it very wide. This way there's a shallow end and a deeper end. Often I find crabs hanging out around the middle with their faces poking out.
Here's a better one Although they used it more when I made the canvas strip wider

[Jewelrylady]

Thanks! I found a video on youtube as well that shows how to build the salt water pool using these ramps. About how wide across are your bowls. I only have a 10 gal. I feel like I'm going to crowd it too much but am also hoping to add second levels...now that I realize that's even a possibility! haha
Also, if my little guy is molting and hasn't had saltwater...will he be okay when he comes back up?

[DragonsFly]

You can get square Ziploc containers that are about 4 inches wide and about 2 inches deep. Because they have flat sides, you can put them right against one side of the tank, so they don't take up much space. You are going to quickly find out, though (you are already ) that a 10g tank really is too small for any but very tiny crabs; by the time you get deep enough substrate, deep enough/large enough water sources, a shell shop, and something to climb on, there's no room for crabs anymore. . . just another of the thousands of misconceptions the stores sell you, that they are "low-maintenance" pets that just need some tiny little plastic box to live in. . .

[Jewelrylady]

Yes, I'm learning that quickly. At this point, a bigger tank is not an option. I need to do the best I can with what I got for my 2 crabs.

[DragonsFly]

I know, and I THANK you for doing the best you can! You can look around here for other people's 10g tanks that have really made the most of that tiny space. Climbing nets and other ways to use what vertical space there is without taking up a lot of ground space are very helpful. Good luck!

In the meantime, when you are ready, you might be surprised, with a bit of resourcefulness, how you can find a much larger tank for not very much. Flea markets, craigslist, ebay classifieds (kijiji), freecycle, yard sales. Sometimes people will have a "leaker" that they think is no good, and it isn't any good as an aquarium, but would be fine for crabs. Sometimes people are just sick of that big tank taking up space in their house and want to get rid of it; if you are willing and able to come haul it away, they will let you have it for very little.

[Jewelrylady]

Thanks so much for your help! At this point, I just don't have space for a larger tank...3 kids 5 and under, play pens, etc...lol But we are having a ton of fun learning and are up for the challenge of remodeling our crabitat One quick question...I noticed my question about will my crab be okay if is molting and didn't have salt water wasn't answered???? There's been no sign of him now for over 24 hours...very unusual for him in the month we've had him. I am planning on making a saltwater pool tonight.

[DragonsFly]

Sorry; guess it slipped through the cracks. They do need marine salt water, made with a mix intended for salt water fish, like Oceanic or Instant Ocean (the "hermit glub" and "hermit salt" sold for hermit crabs does NOT have all they need to be healthy). They need these salts and minerals for general health, and in order to molt properly. However, if the crab is already down molting, then he will have to do the best he can with whatever preparation he may have had before; there's nothing you can do for him this time. Just provide it in the tank a.s.a.p. and make sure you keep a deep enough/large enough source of it fresh for them. He may be just "de-stressing," or frankly just hanging out underground; he may come up in the next day or two and take some water and then go back down to molt (or, he may already be molting). Either way, all you can do is provide the best conditions you can and leave them undisturbed.

Remember they need fresh water, ALSO--they need both types of water in order to properly regulate the salinity in their shell water. So you will always need two deep enough/large enough dishes of water in there, one with fresh water (must be dechlorinated; you can buy a dechlorinator at the fish store and use tap water, or you can buy filtered spring water by the gallon and use that) and one with marine salt water (made with dechlorinated water, or I use distilled water, and a marine fish salt water mix, like Instant Ocean or Oceanic). Also note: the marine fish salt water mix is NOT the same thing as "Aquarium Salt," that is something else and nothing you need for crabs.

[Jewelrylady]

Is this what I need?
http://www.petco.com/product/5694/Insta ... =LookAhead

[DragonsFly]

Yes, Instant Ocean is great.

[Jewelrylady]

If my water pools are not the same size, will it matter which water is in the bigger one?

[Careyenz]

It depends on what kinds of crabs you have. If they are just PPs, the fresh can be larger. E's or any other exotic should have salt larger. You should try to get your pool deep enough to submerge your biggest crabs shell.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk