HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I'm looking to order some Instant Ocean soon (or get it in store, whichever is more cost-effective), and I want to make sure the kind I'm looking at is the right one.



Is this it? I've seen the Reef Crystals, but I didn't think that was it. And if you use Instant Ocean and buy the small boxes like that one, how long does it usually last you? Thanks, everyone.

I use a 1/2 gallon of saltwater a week, so a box that makes 10 gallons lasts for about 20 weeks.

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Ordering online is really only worth it if you can get it with free shipping, like on Amazon Prime or as an add on with an already planned order from any of the pet places that do free shipping at a certain amount.

Yes, that is the right IO. The reef crystals are a little higher in calcium and some trace elements and is safe for hermits, but it usually costs more and doesn't give any extra benefits.

The small boxes make 10 total gallons. How long it lasts depends entirely on how big your bowls are and how often you change them. If they are one cup capacity and you change it daily it will last 160 days unless you are making up salwater for mixing sub or soaking decor.

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Thanks, you two. I'm struggling to find a small box like that on Amazon - I've found it at Petco and Chewy, but neither have free shipping. I'm hoping to get it from Amazon, because of the free shipping with Prime, but I can't find a small box for a reasonable price, and I can't see buying one of the giant tubs.

Petco and Chewy both have free shipping on orders over $49. Our poor Fedex driver probably completely hates us. We get all our food and litter for our cats through Chewy. We have 28, so it's weekly deliveries of a few hundred pounds. I feel guilty but at the same time all we have to do is walk it into the house and that makes life very nice!

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wodesorel wrote:Petco and Chewy both have free shipping on orders over $49. Our poor Fedex driver probably completely hates us. We get all our food and litter for our cats through Chewy. We have 28, so it's weekly deliveries of a few hundred pounds. I feel guilty but at the same time all we have to do is walk it into the house and that makes life very nice!

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Yikes, that's a lot of cat food! At least that FedEx driver is getting a good workout. Yeah, I don't know if I need anything that'll cost $49, all I can think of right now is cuttlebone and Instant Ocean. Luckily, I found it on Amazon, yay!

Moonlightdreams wrote:Thanks, you two. I'm struggling to find a small box like that on Amazon - I've found it at Petco and Chewy, but neither have free shipping. I'm hoping to get it from Amazon, because of the free shipping with Prime, but I can't find a small box for a reasonable price, and I can't see buying one of the giant tubs.

I'm not sure if you live near a PetSmart, but I order my Instant Ocean from them because it's a lot cheaper online, but I place the order for pickup at the store so I don't pay any shipping.

KH02 wrote:

Moonlightdreams wrote:Thanks, you two. I'm struggling to find a small box like that on Amazon - I've found it at Petco and Chewy, but neither have free shipping. I'm hoping to get it from Amazon, because of the free shipping with Prime, but I can't find a small box for a reasonable price, and I can't see buying one of the giant tubs.

I'm not sure if you live near a PetSmart, but I order my Instant Ocean from them because it's a lot cheaper online, but I place the order for pickup at the store so I don't pay any shipping.

Unfortunately, I'm about an hour and a half away from any pet store, so Amazon might be my best bet. I found some shells to order from Amazon as well, so I'll probably just pay the higher price for IO and get it faster than if I were to buy it in-store.

I only change my pools every week, because they are bigger, and the crabs don't usually get them too dirty.
My 10 gallon salt box is still half full, and I bought it over three months ago.