HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I went to an animal expo today and had so much fun buying for my hermits! I got oak leaf litter, 2 small kritter keepers for deeper pools, a hanging coconut hide, and a cork round. Does any of this have to be boiled before putting it in the tank?

I think the keepers & coconut hide would be....
Perhaps someone else will chime in!


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Giner13 wrote:I think the keepers & coconut hide would be....
Perhaps someone else will chime in!


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Thanks!

Kritter keepers are plastic so I personally would advise against boiling them. Just clean them out using vinegar and water. The cork round and coconut hide I would just soak in MSW and then bake.

PinchersAndShells wrote:Kritter keepers are plastic so I personally would advise against boiling them. Just clean them out using vinegar and water. The cork round and coconut hide I would just soak in MSW and then bake.

Perfect, thank you! How long do you bake them for?

I baked my cork round and mopani together for about two hours.

PinchersAndShells wrote:I baked my cork round and mopani together for about two hours.

Great, thank you!

I wash my critter keepers with dishsoap, and bleach to sterilize when needed. They are a hard plastic to work with, they crack extremely easily.

Everything else you mention I personally just rinse off and use. It's up to you if you feel they need cleaned more. I've never baked anything before and only boil in the event of something I have to get rid of (bugs, or if an animal has been sick).

wodesorel wrote:I wash my critter keepers with dishsoap, and bleach to sterilize when needed. They are a hard plastic to work with, they crack extremely easily.

Everything else you mention I personally just rinse off and use. It's up to you if you feel they need cleaned more. I've never baked anything before and only boil in the event of something I have to get rid of (bugs, or if an animal has been sick).

Thanks!!

I agree with wodesorel. I honestly have never rinsed or baked any wood used in any of my crabitats. But, that's me! It's all been purchased new.


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GotButterflies wrote:I agree with wodesorel. I honestly have never rinsed or baked any wood used in any of my crabitats. But, that's me! It's all been purchased new.


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This stuff, to my knowledge, is all new! Thanks!

I have never baked cork or coconut hides before putting in the tank.

The cork will break down faster if you bake it.

Soaking in MSW and allowing to air dry or even freezing for a couple of days is sufficient as far as killing any tiny travellers on the wood.

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soilentgringa wrote:I have never baked cork or coconut hides before putting in the tank.

The cork will break down faster if you bake it.

Soaking in MSW and allowing to air dry or even freezing for a couple of days is sufficient as far as killing any tiny travellers on the wood.

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Thank you!!

Thanks for all of your advice everyone! Since the common consensus was that they don't need to be baked necessarily, I soaked them both in MSW, rinsed them in dechlorinated water, and then once they dried I threw them in! I can't wait to watch them explore tonight!

nwilk688 wrote:Thanks for all of your advice everyone! Since the common consensus was that they don't need to be baked necessarily, I soaked them both in MSW, rinsed them in dechlorinated water, and then once they dried I threw them in! I can't wait to watch them explore tonight!

There seems to have been some break in communication somewhere...

I don't do either of these, but this is what was being recommended: you would soak the wood in dechlorinated marine saltwater and then let it air dry. The dechlorinated msw helps prohibit mold growth.

If you had non wood items those items would be rinsed or washed with vinegar or mild dish detergent and then rinsed with dechlorinated freshwater.

I hope that helps clarify.


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