ocean water/water spoiling

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 1:05 pm

I just spent a weekend at the coast, and while I was there I filled up several plastic bottles with seawater thinking that my crabs would enjoy having the real deal. The water is currently in my refrigerator. Does anyone know if this water is safe for the crabs directly out of the ocean, or if I need to do anything to it to make it safe?

I also brought back several pieces of sand dollar that I found on the beach, and wondered if I need to do anything to these or can I just crush them up and give them to the crabs as they are?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 1:06 pm

I went to Lake Huron and found some drift wood. I just boil it before I give it to them right??

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 1:59 pm

regarding the ocean water: I would think it would be totally fine to give to them. i don't think it needs to be refridgerated either. i think i'd try to get it to room temperature before presenting it to the hermies.

Drfitwood: i think rather than boiling it, i'd bake the driftwood. bake it on a cookiesheet at 350 for about 45 minutes. keep an eye on it, but generally at this temp and time, you shouldn't have any problems. depending on age (since i don't know and we do have some children posting on HCA) have mom or dad help out.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 2:23 pm

Ok, I have to butt in.......doesn't ocean water have many "other" things in it other than just salt? I mean micro organisms and even small animals we can't see? Even seaweed, fish poop and such, I would think would be there to some extent.

Wouldn't leaving it at room temp "spoil" the water? Especially if it has no access to air? I know I've left plain old bottled water laying around to long, and it went bad.

Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I wouldn't even give it to them unless you have access to the beach daily to get "fresh" water.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 2:28 pm

newcrabbyowner wrote:Ok, I have to butt in.......doesn't ocean water have many "other" things in it other than just salt? I mean micro organisms and even small animals we can't see? Even seaweed, fish poop and such, I would think would be there to some extent.

Wouldn't leaving it at room temp "spoil" the water? Especially if it has no access to air? I know I've left plain old bottled water laying around to long, and it went bad.

Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I wouldn't even give it to them unless you have access to the beach daily to get "fresh" water.

Dont the hermit crabs come from the wild where the ocean is?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 2:31 pm

How does bottled water "go bad"?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 3:19 pm

bottled water - if it's purified through ozone (as most bottled water is) shouldn't go bad. if it's been opened and some bacteria gets intorduced into the water, then i could see it 'going bad' but if it's purified and bottled properly, it should be fine. as for ocean water - i suppose it depends on your style of keeping. for me, i'd think it would be fine. but then again, i leave food out for the hermies for long periods of time, i let them molt in the main tank and a number of other things that isn't often recommended i suppose. initially, if it's something you're not comfortable with, then i'd be hesitant and probably hold off, but i feel comfortable in the approach i've chosen to take and know that it's a concious choice in the the way i've decided to maintain my tank. i think it's a personal choice i guess. i think that all the elements and wide variety of micro-organisms and vitamins and other stuff found in ocean water would be elements that they would encounter in the wild, and that because of this, it would be fine. it might not be sw from the same reigon, and there might also be some risk that because of the reigonal difference and temperature difference and other variances that would come into play, the water would be different, but i'd still present it to the crabbies and see what they think of it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 3:46 pm

Yes, but the water they have access to is fresh ocean water, not bottled and stored, without any sterilization. The ocean has it's own cleaning system and is constantly moving, so it is definitely not the same.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 3:49 pm

Oh, and I'm not trying to disagree with anyone, I'm just giving my thoughts and opinions on the subject [smilie=grouphug.gif] .

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 3:51 pm

One more.... yes my bottled water did go bad, but it had been opened. All things will go bad if left out long enough, except maybe a twinky

.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 4:09 pm

Thanks for all the thoughts--I'm pondering.

I don't know newcrabbyowner--I've never had a bad piece of chocolate.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 4:42 pm

choclate go bad it turns into a nasty powder tasting thing. But i dont think water goes bad...it has nothing in it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 5:02 pm

I once had a piece of chocolate that had bugs in it!!!

!

And water will get "slimy" on the bottom and sides of whatever it is sitting in. I've also seen "floaties" in some bottled water that I have found that were "missing" in the car for who knows how long. Don't think I'd want to be drinking that!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 5:26 pm

~~~Chuckling about the Twinkie comment

Ummmm....I may not be an expert, but I do that there are some unsafe things in ocean water that can wipe out fish & other sea life. Here in the Tampa Bay area, we are currently experiencing "Red Tide", which has killed thousands of fish, and some sea turtles in the area. Florida's east coast often deals with sea lice ~ not as deadly but can still cause some health issues. Even though I live about 15 minutes from the beach, I personally would not give my crabs the sea water. Yes, they would have it if they were in the wild, but then again...do we know their life expectancy in the wild?

But that is only my oppinion.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 5:36 pm

Considering the Jumbos and larges come from the wild i say like 10 - 20 yrs which isnt to bad

but you did bring up a point