How should I clean my Crabitat?

[crabdad13]

I’m growing a little concerned that the sand of my crabitat is getting dirty. My crabs, for the most part, poop in the food dish so cleaning that is simple. But the sand is also getting covered with it and I don’t want it to build up and spread disease. I have roughly 7 inches of sand last time I measured so is there a specific way to clean the top half inch? Or is it a situation where I mix it in until I replace everything, or do I just scrape off the top layer/spot clean wherever I see clumps.

My concern with either cleaning option is my crabs are probably stressed with moving and everything so I don’t want to move them again unless I desperately need to. Maybe in a few days or a couple weeks they’ll be ok to be moved for a few minutes.

[Pumpkincrab]

You can easily spot clean your tank. Just carefully skim off debris, poop ect. off the surface, without disrupting the entirety of the sub (meaning, not digging).

[crabdad13]

You can easily spot clean your tank. Just carefully skim off debris, poop ect. off the surface, without disrupting the entirety of the sub (meaning, not digging).

Thank you, I was figuring that would be the best option. I just didn’t know if there’s any particular way of then sanitizing the sand.

[Pumpkincrab]

Sand doesn't need to be sanitized. My tank upgrade was set up in March 2022 and I haven't changed the substrate yet, and don't plan to. In actuality, it builds up good bacteria and makes it almost into a little ecosystem (I am definitely not explaining this correctly, lol). The only reason you'd need to change the substrate would be a bacteria bloom, fungi and/or certain pests.

[jst]

Can sand substrate be re-washed ? I think the organic matters will float if stirred then pour out the water with the moving organic/fecal matters since sand will stay submerged. Rinse and repeat until clean.

I'm still new in having hermit crab pet, I just started 2 weeks ago, my crabitat still has 6.5 kgs of sands and I just bought another 15kgs, I washed my new sand with boiling hot water from my shower, but then again my crabitat is only 60 litres or 15 gallons so the substrate is just 21.5kgs and easy to manage.

[curlysister]

Can sand substrate be re-washed ? I think the organic matters will float if stirred then pour out the water with the moving organic/fecal matters since sand will stay submerged. Rinse and repeat until clean.

I'm still new in having hermit crab pet, I just started 2 weeks ago, my crabitat still has 6.5 kgs of sands and I just bought another 15kgs, I washed my new sand with boiling hot water from my shower, but then again my crabitat is only 60 litres or 15 gallons so the substrate is just 21.5kgs and easy to manage.

If you are using play sand that you bought, it should be pre-washed. Not sure if that is how it is where you live, but here in North America all play sand bought at a store will be pre-washed and ready to use without any additional washing.

You don't need to take out all the poop. It won't contaminate the tank, or spread any disease among the crabs. Just take out what you can see on the surface, that's good enough.

[jst]

If you are using play sand that you bought, it should be pre-washed. Not sure if that is how it is where you live, but here in North America all play sand bought at a store will be pre-washed and ready to use without any additional washing.

You don't need to take out all the poop. It won't contaminate the tank, or spread any disease among the crabs. Just take out what you can see on the surface, that's good enough.

It is beach sand taken directly from a beach in Indonesia, Bali Beach. It's probably mass pre-washed but I don't think they'll be thorough as to use hot water to kill bacteria. I don't mind washing it though, it's easy.

Sorry for not making it clearer but my question is.. can I re-wash it after some time ? Maybe one or two years later when the hermit crabs has already pooped so much by then. It should be easy to rewash as well since sand is ofc heavier than the poops and stay submerged after stirred.

I don't think I can spot the hermit crab poop since they like to dig everywhere and the sand is mixed in color not pure white. I'm still less than a month keeping hermit crabs (three in 60 liter tank) so I haven't experienced what problems I may have in the future.