HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hi! I've been trying to find live plants to put in the tat that won't immediatly fall victim to the crabs, but with no single thread dedicated to this, I've had to scroll through past threads looking.

So I've decided to make a list of all the live plants that Ive read can be kept in the crabitat, as well as weather or not they will immediatly get eaten.

Pothos {aka devils ivy} (durable)
Christmas cactus (flimsy)
All? air plants (will get eaten)
Chia (Eaten very quickly)
Wandering jew (will get eaten)

Thats all the ones I can think of at the moment.
Feel free to add to my list or correct any wrong information!

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I think grape vines would not appreciate the constant high heat and humidity.

Christmas cactus is rather flimsy,, so i think it get destroyed quickly.

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Thanks!

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Does anyone know if the purple leaf plum tree is safe? It doesn't actually produce plums. I have them in my yard and wanted to put a branch in my tank.

no clue. What is it related to?

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Da_Stos208 wrote:no clue. What is it related to?

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No clue. Lol. Here's what I found if it helps at all:
The scientific name for this species is Prunus cerasifera and it is a member of the Rosaceae family.

Send a close up pic of its branch and leaves. just a small twig will do, and make sure the leaf buds are visible.

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If you ID'd it correctly (I wouldn't blame you if you didn't, plant ID-ing is tricky), then the plant itself should be safe. Its in the plum family, and plums are safe, and i didnt find any mention of built-in insecticide. It also is susceptible to a lot of arthropod pests, so it probably isnt toxic to the crabs.

However. I would be cautious of any chemicals used on the plant. If you spray for mosquitos, use chemical fertiliser for the tree or the lawn around it, or use any other pesticide, fertiliser, etc. that comes into direct (fertilising the tree, using pesticides on it) or indirect (it absorbs any weed killer or fertiliser you put on your lawn through its roots, which reach very far. water that runs off your patio and gets absorbed into the soil could also wash anything in its path into its roots), i wouldnt use it.

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i plant sunflower seeds in mine and the crabs will munch the sprouts. definitely not something that lasts long but they are quick and easy to sprout. you can also plant them in your yard and grow them until they seed, leaving you with a constant sprout supply

You could get the stalk of lettuce or bok choy and it would grow (and the crabs would even eat it)!

Da_Stos208 wrote:Send a close up pic of its branch and leaves. just a small twig will do, and make sure the leaf buds are visible.

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Here they are

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Da_Stos208 wrote:If you ID'd it correctly (I wouldn't blame you if you didn't, plant ID-ing is tricky), then the plant itself should be safe. Its in the plum family, and plums are safe, and i didnt find any mention of built-in insecticide. It also is susceptible to a lot of arthropod pests, so it probably isnt toxic to the crabs.

However. I would be cautious of any chemicals used on the plant. If you spray for mosquitos, use chemical fertiliser for the tree or the lawn around it, or use any other pesticide, fertiliser, etc. that comes into direct (fertilising the tree, using pesticides on it) or indirect (it absorbs any weed killer or fertiliser you put on your lawn through its roots, which reach very far. water that runs off your patio and gets absorbed into the soil could also wash anything in its path into its roots), i wouldnt use it.

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We don't use any fertilizer or pesticides. Not because we are natural but because we are lazy. Lol. But if a neighbor uses on their plants, I guess it could run off to our property in the rain. Would that be an issue?

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Cherylco55 wrote:

Da_Stos208 wrote:If you ID'd it correctly (I wouldn't blame you if you didn't, plant ID-ing is tricky), then the plant itself should be safe. Its in the plum family, and plums are safe, and i didnt find any mention of built-in insecticide. It also is susceptible to a lot of arthropod pests, so it probably isnt toxic to the crabs.

However. I would be cautious of any chemicals used on the plant. If you spray for mosquitos, use chemical fertiliser for the tree or the lawn around it, or use any other pesticide, fertiliser, etc. that comes into direct (fertilising the tree, using pesticides on it) or indirect (it absorbs any weed killer or fertiliser you put on your lawn through its roots, which reach very far. water that runs off your patio and gets absorbed into the soil could also wash anything in its path into its roots), i wouldnt use it.

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We don't use any fertilizer or pesticides. Not because we are natural but because we are lazy. Lol. But if a neighbor uses on their plants, I guess it could run off to our property in the rain. Would that be an issue?

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We bought the trees. I id'd it right.

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I had no idea pothos was crab safe! I just got 4 large potted pothos from my mother in law a few weeks ago. They are very easy to cut and root. I'd like to take cuttings and try them in my tank but I have no idea what kind of soil they've been potted in. Does any one know How many generations of cuttings would have to do till I get one that is potentially chem/fert free?

Only if they are uphill from your property or the tree is right on the border between your two properties. I'd ask them either way. if your yard tends tp flood when it rains hard then I'll bet its the low point where all the water flows down to.

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