HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I have a dollar tree right near my house, pet store? No. Is it safe to put silk plants in the tat from dollar tree? I've seen some do it, would like expert advice, please.

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Im not a toxicologist but most stuff from China is pretty cheap. My crabs stripped my $20 silks and ate them. They will probably eat anything you put in there
And the chems in the plastic/fabrics.
I guess its up to the individual.


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CrabMater wrote:Im not a toxicologist but most stuff from China is pretty cheap. My crabs stripped my $20 silks and ate them. They will probably eat anything you put in there
And the chems in the plastic/fabrics.
I guess its up to the individual.


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Thanks. I'm still keeping eyes peeled on used sites, don't want to invest a fortune in plants.

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I used the flukers repta-vines off of Amazon. They are 6 ft vines and are bendable. I got a 3 pack of pothos for 15 and a 3 pack of red coleus for 25. So that's a total of $45 for 36 ft of vines. FYI: 1 6 ft vine covered the back of my 90 gal tank

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i dont use them because as mentioned the sourcing is questionable at best. and hermits put anything they can break of in there mouth. you can often other great hermit crab finds there tho.

im sure if you put them in after having cleaned them and checked them daily to make sure no hermits were munching you would be safer. my only worry would be what do you do once you find they have eaten the plastic? my four hermits love eating plants and pretty much everything i put in their tank so they only get live plants they can eat.

I had to take a 3M hook down and replace it because Cheerio was dangling from it and managed to get it partially away from the wall. And was pulling at the glue. I almost never pick up a crab, this time i did. I have no idea if any glue was eaten. But I really couldn't ignore it.
Live moss. Coconut fiber , wood leaves. That's all i provide in terms of tank edible decorations.

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CrabMater wrote:I had to take a 3M hook down and replace it because Cheerio was dangling from it and managed to get it partially away from the wall. And was pulling at the glue. I almost never pick up a crab, this time i did. I have no idea if any glue was eaten. But I really couldn't ignore it.
Live moss. Coconut fiber , wood leaves. That's all i provide in terms of tank edible decorations.

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I have a couple of air plants and another bromeliad, they show some interest in the air plants, not really the bromeliad, though. They're the only live plants, besides moss, that I've attempted, because of the humidity. I wonder how live orchids would fare?

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My crabs would shred live orchids. Lol
Take before and after pics

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People debate over plastic plants all the time. As far as I know many have used them with no ill effects. I've never personally seen any of my crabs eat plastic. I've seen them tear stuff up a bit, just because they can. (The foam from my bendable jungle branches.) But usually there is a pile of remains laying there. Idk. I don't personally think they are ingesting any plastic plants or I feel like there would be evidence in their poo as I doubt they can break down plastics.

MooneyFamily wrote:

CrabMater wrote:I had to take a 3M hook down and replace it because Cheerio was dangling from it and managed to get it partially away from the wall. And was pulling at the glue. I almost never pick up a crab, this time i did. I have no idea if any glue was eaten. But I really couldn't ignore it.
Live moss. Coconut fiber , wood leaves. That's all i provide in terms of tank edible decorations.

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I have a couple of air plants and another bromeliad, they show some interest in the air plants, not really the bromeliad, though. They're the only live plants, besides moss, that I've attempted, because of the humidity. I wonder how live orchids would fare?

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My hermies looove air plants so so much. Orchids wouldn't do well in a high humid and high heat environment sadly. I work for a pretty supply and garden store and our horticulturalist mentioned prickly pear cacti being possibly safe for a few reasons. Any in put?

I would be scared to put anything prickly in my crabitat. You wouldn't use shell or rocks as a sub because it's known to damamge their claws/legs. I imagine a cacti would do the same since they love to climb.

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Prickly pear cacti has soft spines. Humans can actually hold them and sort of brush the spines. I even tried it and can confirm they are soft to the touch snd bend when weight is applied

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Just Jay wrote:Prickly pear cacti has soft spines. Humans can actually hold them and sort of brush the spines. I even tried it and can confirm they are soft to the touch snd bend when weight is applied

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As long as the cactus can take high humidity and heat, then I see no problem with it. My tortoise loves to eat prickly pear and so do my hermits. Just watch out, the crabs might uproot them.


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Just Jay wrote:Prickly pear cacti has soft spines. Humans can actually hold them and sort of brush the spines. I even tried it and can confirm they are soft to the touch snd bend when weight is applied

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Didn't know that. Learn something new everyday!

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Just Jay wrote:Prickly pear cacti has soft spines. Humans can actually hold them and sort of brush the spines. I even tried it and can confirm they are soft to the touch snd bend when weight is applied

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I have a prickly pear cactus and let me just say I had one stuck in my thumb that got infected. They are small and soft and don't hurt to touch but can still get in your skin. Never thought to put one in my tank though

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