HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Is well water okay for the crabs to drink? We have never had it tested that I know of. But I do know that it does not have chlorine in it. It is a little on the hard side and we do not use a water softner. Should it be Ok for our hermie?

Yep, well water is fine. I use it too.

Thank you. I was getting concerned that I was going to kill him.

ALL water should be dechlorinated. It may not have chlorine but it has other nasties in it! There are old posts on this that can explain better. Dechlor is very cheap why not play it safe

Declorinator is always a good idea because it neutralizes heavy metals. I would recommend getting your well water tested. It's not that expensive and it will have good info for you too. My major concern for well water would be pesticide runoff.

Very good point on the pestiside. I didn't think about that one. I can get the diclorinator at any pet store. When I boil the shells before putting them into the tank, should I use the declorinator in the water. When I boil the water it tends to leave a film on the bottom of the pan.

That's pretty true for most waters. I usually boil in declorinated or distilled water even though as long as you empty the shells is shouldn't matter too much. I usually wet my shells with salt water before putting in the tank.

When you say salt water, I know that it would not be iodized salt. Are ther specific types of salt that I need to purchase? Is there a difference between the sea salt that you cook with and one that you put in the aquariam tanks?[/img]

There is a difference between the seasalt for cooking and aquarium seasalt. Crabs should have salt water (the kind for aqauriums) available to drink in addition to fresh water and you can use it to rinse the shells too.

I use a couple of different kinds. For washing, soaking and things I use an Oceanic mix. For my crabs water pool I use a filtered sea water I buy at the petstore.