HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Does anyone know the safe kinds of rock I can put in? Sandstone, lava, Texas holey rock...etc

On a side note, can I lay my cuttlebone directly on the sub

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I'd like to know this too. I have quite a few rocks in my tank but never thought of it until this post. I don't want any unnecessary harm.

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I'm not 100 percent positive, but I've never heard of any "harmful" rocks being mentioned on the forum...I'm sure others will chime in later if I'm not correct. As far as cuttlebone goes, I stick it up in the sand like a surfboard. I think I got he idea from Crabinski? Some have said it can mold that way, but mine has been like that for a few months and it seems fine.

Pretty much all rocks are game. I tend too stick with the vinegar method, not bubbling then its safe... and if its fish safe, its crab safe.

I have smooth black river rocks from Home Depot in my water bowls with no apparent ill effect.

I saw an Arizona sandstone arch piece on etsy and it looks awesome. I don't want to spend the money if it will hurt them. I've seen lava rocks with a hole in the middle that crabs where climbing in, but can't find any to buy less than 50

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kieagcarm wrote:I saw an Arizona sandstone arch piece on etsy and it looks awesome. I don't want to spend the money if it will hurt them. I've seen lava rocks with a hole in the middle that crabs where climbing in, but can't find any to buy less than 50

Maybe it's because I'm in Arizona (lots of volcano cores) but my Petco (horrible crab conditions but cool aquarium/reptile stuff) carries those lava rocks -- aka basalt -- with the holes in the middle and the sandstone arches cheap. The lava pieces are usually under $10 and the sandstone, depending on size, run from $10 on up. My guys were always so-so re the basalt...I was surprised because I was sure they'd love the texture. The sandstone piece I had, although not very large, was quite heavy but they loved it! Someone was always sitting in the arch on the low ledge while another crab would be waiting in line for the spot .

Ooh thanks I'll defiantly order the sandstone

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Lol definitely, not defiantly

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River rocks in the Dollar store are fine. I boil in msw for 10.mins to remove any chems used in polishing.
You can put cuttlebone on the sub but it may get moldy. I put a "surfboard" in the shell shop off the floor or wedged in a net. If it does get moldy use a butter knife and shave it off till you see white.

Thanks guys. I'm looking to buy a bigger sized rock that the crabs can climb, I'm buying things to completely redo the set up in spring when the weather is nicer. Got some barnacles today, crossing my fingers and my toes it's safe to use. Here is a pic in case someone doesn't see my big post

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I have some sandstone rocks from the yard I used to have in a fish aquarium. Boiled them and then used them in crabitat. A piece of shale sits on top of their big log and they love hanging out there. The log was a steal, 16.99 at walmart. It was for fish and is about 10x6x6" the are 2 openings one large and one smaller on the ends. Also one in the bottom that they use like a basement stairwell. Their tunnels usually start from there. Also some small colorful grass and stuff attached. Also lots of paper birch branches from my tree.

Any rocks from the wild should be fine, but be careful of rocks you find in craft stores. I bought some colorful rocks in Michael's that came from China but I thought rocks are rocks, right? I used them in my crabitat, but the green tinted ones turned out to be painted! They looked so natural but I dug up some that had gotten buried for a month or so and they had turned completely white. I had seen one crab leave a Technicolor poo behind so I'm pretty sure whatever the heck it was (paint, colored wax, stain, whatever) that crab had been eating it. I was mortified and removed all the remaining colored rocks right then, but I did lose that crab shortly after to an unexplained ailment that I blame on the rocks. That was about a year ago and all has been fine since, no more losses, but I still warn crabbers to beware of rocks that look especially colorful. The reddish ones in the same bag turned out to be natural and didn't become white but I removed them anyway.

kieagcarm wrote:Thanks guys. I'm looking to buy a bigger sized rock that the crabs can climb, I'm buying things to completely redo the set up in spring when the weather is nicer. Got some barnacles today, crossing my fingers and my toes it's safe to use. Here is a pic in case someone doesn't see my big post

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thats so cool! where did you get barnacles?

i just make sure i boil rocks and dont get any that arent natural for the above reasons.

Just Jay wrote:

kieagcarm wrote:Thanks guys. I'm looking to buy a bigger sized rock that the crabs can climb, I'm buying things to completely redo the set up in spring when the weather is nicer. Got some barnacles today, crossing my fingers and my toes it's safe to use. Here is a pic in case someone doesn't see my big post

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thats so cool! where did you get barnacles?

i just make sure i boil rocks and dont get any that arent natural for the above reasons.

I found them at joann fabrics. I was so excited and they were only 5 bucks

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