HCA: Hermit Crab Association

So, when I left the salt water gallon jug for my hermit crabs out for two weeks (with the cap on) I realized that there was a horrible smell coming from it. I looked inside, and it looked like a bunch of little pieces of tissue were floating around in it. I took out my hermit crabs' salt water, and I tried to rinse out the salt water jug with warm water. I did this about 4 to 5 times but the smell was still there. So, I pitched the jug and I'm getting a new gallon container. I smelled the freshwater, and it smelled fine. I use both stress coat(by API) and ammonia remover (by Top Fin) to treat freshwater and saltwater. For Marine salt, I use instant ocean (after treating it with the solutions mentioned previously). Does anyone know how to prevent this?

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hi, I always keep my waters in the fridge or they will go rancid.

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I keep my water at room temperature.

If you decide to refrigerate you waters, you need to bring them to room temp before placing in the crabitat. If you put it into the crabitat really cold, the hermit crab(s) can get shock.

I'm thinking it has something to do with the stress coat water conditioner that you use. I personally use a product called Prime. It's great!


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It personally sounds like bacteria to me. Keeping it refrigerated would be a good idea or make it as you go


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aussieJJDude wrote:It personally sounds like bacteria to me. Keeping it refrigerated would be a good idea or make it as you go


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Good idea!

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GotButterflies wrote:I keep my water at room temperature.

If you decide to refrigerate you waters, you need to bring them to room temp before placing in the crabitat. If you put it into the crabitat really cold, the hermit crab(s) can get shock.

I'm thinking it has something to do with the stress coat water conditioner that you use. I personally use a product called Prime. It's great!


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I just saw prime on Amazon, and I was planning on getting a new dechlorinator soon anyway so that's great!

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CrabMater wrote:hi, I always keep my waters in the fridge or they will go rancid.

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That's also a good idea, I'll probably end up doing that from now on

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I should clarify, the gal jugs stay in the fridge. my spritzer is room temp. when i change the drinking water its always cold. They never go for water right after i put it out. My guys are shy and all 3 are not swimmers. If they do go for midnight dips the water will have been out for hours.

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Bacterial growth - anytime water is left in its natural state with no chlorine to inhibit bacteria it will start growing immediately. Some people do get lucky and can leave jugs sit out without trouble, but I always recommend keeping it in the fridge for exactly the reason you ran into!

I have been changing the water in my jugs once a week to keep them fresh. There's no room in my fridge, I hope once a week is enough!

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C_fiesta wrote:I have been changing the water in my jugs once a week to keep them fresh. There's no room in my fridge, I hope once a week is enough!

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I have always kept my containers out. My water also gets changed once a week in all of my crabitats. I haven't had any problems storing it at room temperature.

I've known crabbers who went over a month with no issues. I think it has a lot to do with the composition of your water, coupled with what bacteria are in the area. Some people get really lucky, others not so much. Given that crabs are scavengers it shouldn't hurt them.