HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I have searched and I haven't found a question quite like mine answered, so here goes...

I have two crabs, one down and one up. I made a moss pitt and netting second level using things from the local dollar store. Should I be misting with saltwater or freshwater? Side question, how much instant ocean should I use to make this salt water? Another side question, is there a way to make it easier for a crab to climb out of an elevated moss pit? Or should I put the moss pit on the substrate, because I was hoping to avoid that.

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You always spray with dechlored fresh, because salt doesn't evaporate and you don't want the salinity to get too high in the substrate or it can cause chemical burns. However, the correct ratio for drinking water is a half cup to a gallon.

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As @Rawrgeous said, mist substrate and moss pits with dechlorinated water, not SW. To prepare SW, use 1/2 cup of Instant Ocean, Seachem Marine, Coralife (all are saltwater aquarium mixes) to a gallon of dechlorinated water; if you're mixing less than a gallon at a time, just do the math to reduce the amount of mix used: 1/4 cup for 1/2 gallon, 1/8 cup (2 tablespoons) for one quart, etc.

To help the crabs access a suspended moss pit (or shell shop), you can use fish net, a small branch from a non-pesticide-treated "safe" tree, a piece of mopani, cholla or grapewood or a plastic/cloth vine or plant. Anything that will give them something else to climb is always a plus!

Thank you both! I don't know why but I just didn't realize salt wouldn't go anywhere once there, unlike the water. I have switched to FW in my mist bottle.

I can't figure out if my crabs can actually get up there though. I wrapped the sides of the moss pit with netting, but idk...something about it seems off. Suggestions?

Ooops...edit to add photo.







Photos taken through the sides of the tank so as not to disturb my one hermie that's up, Violet is the big white shell next to the green plant. Buggie has been MIA since mid march. Fingers crossed he's molting. He's my first hermie and first molt. He was missing a BP. Just in case you were wondering the blue is an LED tank light. It just helps me see them at night and it's not for heat. I have a UTH on the back wall for that.

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