Favorite Saltwater mix?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 15, 2006 8:46 am

Mine is API! (I knew it was a bunch of letters, lol) Good to know that it is safe to use. I'll probably dump out the stuff I mixed up already. It's a waste of stuff, but I'd rather make sure it's right.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 15, 2006 10:31 am

I've always used IO...

From what I've read, it seems hermies like other brands of seasalt other then IO? I'm in need of some more... (only have a little bit left) So do ya'll think I should try out some other brands?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 15, 2006 10:56 am

My next box will be Bio-Sea Marinemix (if I can find it) or if not Red Sea salt or Oceanic.

Willow · Post by **Willow** » Tue May 16, 2006 11:01 pm

API is the same stuff as Doc Wellfish---they changed the name.
I highly recommend Catalina company Real Ocean (real ocean water!, you can get it at PetCo), at least for hermie drinking water purposes. You'll still need to have a salt mix for boiling crabitat decor in....unless you want to boil it in real ocean water that costs $2.00 a gallon! But I think it's worth it, my hermies have been a lot happier and more contented since I switched.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 17, 2006 6:45 am

$2 a gallon.... I would have thought it would be more... I may get some. It doesn't have anything in it chemical wise that is good for the fish but not good for the hermies? I assume the answer is it is fine for hermies or you wouldn't be using it. I could always boil my shells in the Doc Well fish. I keep it for my goldfish anyway.

Willow · Post by **Willow** » Fri May 19, 2006 8:46 pm

Ah, well, its $9.99 for 5 gallons (works out to about $2.00 a gallon), and it is a little tricky getting it out of the big container without spilling, but I do think it's worth it. After all, I pay more than that for a gallon of milk, or orange juice, and way more than that for gasoline, and even white vinegar is $1.86 a gallon, and I slosh that around like crazy when I'm cleaning. You just have to keep things in perspective.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat May 20, 2006 8:47 am

Where do you get salt water at? I'm new to this and need all the help I can get. Thanks!

Ciscokid

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat May 20, 2006 12:32 pm

Hi, Cisnegra! I switched to Doc Wellfish salt water (brine shrimp mix 8 tbsp to a gal) and since then I've had three perfect molts. Just thought I'd pass that along. Good luck with your research.

Willow · Post by **Willow** » Sat May 20, 2006 9:28 pm

Ciscokid---you can get salt water mixes at just about any pet store that sells fish. The 3 products I have had the best experiences with are Doc Wellfish (or API Aquarium Salt---same thing, name changed), Red Sea, and Real Ocean. You can also get API Aquarium salt at Wal-Mart. And the only place I know of that sells Real Ocean is PetCo, but maybe you could find it elsewhere, too.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun May 21, 2006 8:16 am

Willow...Thanks for the information. I'll have to go this week and get some. I have another question. My one crab just lost a leg. I don't how. I'm trying to leave them alone for awhile and see what happens. I know they've been eating and drinking. All 3 for them are pretty active in the evening. I'm just trying to figure all this out.

ciscokid

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun May 21, 2006 8:21 am

ciscokid, why don't you post in the new members section and fill out the template for your crabitat conditions? Then we could help you figure out why your crab has dropped a leg. It's usually a sign of severe stress so examining their conditions would be a good idea.

It could help you figure out what's wrong. It may just be post-purchase stress from the store, in which case you should make sure your crabitat is nice for them

We're only too happy to help.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 22, 2006 9:22 pm

I've used HBH but our petco didn't have it anymore so i switched to Oceanic Natural Sea Salt Mix (it's way cheaper) at first my crabs loved that new salt thing but know they are acting weird

and hate to go in the salt water maybe i but to much salt in there

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 22, 2006 10:04 pm

Mine never bathe. They just sit at the edge of the salt pool and drink it. Maybe mine's too strong as well...? (I use IO

but I'm about to change to Red Sea as soon as the pet-store gets it in)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue May 23, 2006 8:42 pm

I have heard of crabs gleefully bathing in water that's at 100% salinity before, so I doubt that too much salt is the issue, though it could be. Sometimes mine will just climb around the top of the dish and drink, too, rather than submerge. If they have sufficient salinity, they don't need (unless they're C. Perlatus) to bathe in saltwater, just drink it. Plus, depending on season, molting status, etc etc, salt needs change. Maybe they're "going through a phase"?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue May 30, 2006 4:43 am

AHHHH!!!

I have been using Coralife, and the first post says it has 80% mortality rates!

I need to run to PetSmart. I switched to it, because the little tiny HBH container ran out too quick. I guess I was better off with it, though.
I think I like the idea of catalinas real ocean water. I may look for that next.