HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I have ALWAYS used play sand for my tat but I know alot of people do Half EE/Half Sand....So I was wondering what peoples thoughts were about EE....Humidity? Bug Issues? Pro's? Con's? I am due for a deep clean and would like to know if I should change what I have always done or Keep things the same!

The use seems to run the gambit, from Sand to Pure Coir. Which is best? Hard to say - there has been no real comparison aside from how people feel about how their personal animals do with whatever they have chosen. Human nature being what it is, people tend to re-enforce their own choices, so it can be hard to tell from the info you might see scattered about. Bob at ELHC has maintained some animals for decades and swears by a 5:1 mix of Sand:Coir. It seems logical since these animals often come from sandy areas where a small to moderate amount of organic material is incorporated in the sand. I have also read references where species like brevimanus are often found in piles of rotting coconut debris, thought they may be there for the food not the substrate.

I would consider the 5:1, only because it has been used successfully for long term management by one source I consider very trustworthy. But that is me. If that doesn't keep things humid enough, add more coir, if it is too humid for your area, cut it back, though I doubt you would need do do that if everything else is optimized.

Keith

My next deep clean I am moving to the 5 to 1.....I use half and half now. After visiting the HCP I believe the 5 to 1 is the way to go. Good luck and I will be watching this post!

I think I am out of the loop What exactly is the 5 to 1? I need GPS to get me out of rotaries

I am using the 5/1 playsand and coconut fibre, my only problem is I can't tell which is the poop and which is coco fibre to clean the tank.Does anyone have a solution for this one?

I am using the 5/1 playsand and coconut fibre, my only problem is I can't tell which is the poop and which is coco fibre to clean the tank.Does anyone have a solution for this one?

All you can do is scrap the top layer off on a regular basis. It's why I went from EE/sand to straight sand this last deep clean!

The 5 to 1 I am talking about is 5 parts white sand (quickrete brand) and 1 part EE. Mix together with crushed oyster shell. I am moving to this next deep clean and maybe new tank??? I have half of my guys molting so when they come up I need to be ready to start the process.

My crabs, and bugs [roly poly or sow bugs] seem to really like the 5:1 mix. Humidity is optimal pretty much constantly, does drop a bit when I have the top off to fix something though.

How do you guys keep the humidity up with the 5:1 mix?

I am waiting for some of mine to come up but I want to switch to a 5:1 mix. I have a 55g. Roughly how much of each will I need? I know It depends on how deep I need it but can anyone give me a general idea? Thanks

oo, i had 55g set up with 50/50 sand and coco mix, for 8" deep, I used two 50lb bag of sand with half of giant t-rex coco brick. but i went overboard.. i think 8" is a bit much!

I also use the 5 parts sand to one part Coco fiber. Ive been asked to make a remark in this thread, please forgive my laziness her is a copy and past from another thread i posted this info in:
to be basic, sand is what is in the natural environment. Coco fiber is great at biodegrading and would be perfect to start a mulch pile. The biodegrading is good to help get rid of waist and food bits. The coco fiber also holds moisture. I had problems in the past with coco fiber biodegrading my molting crabs. Ive talked to Tammy and Kirk from the hermit crab patch
http://www.hermitcrabpatch.com/default.asp
as well as Bob and Lori from ELHC http://www.exoticlandhermitcrabs.com/Default.asp
They both have studies of many mixes of substrate and feel that the 5 part sand to one part coconut fiber is safest.
Coco nut fiber can have sharp pieces or get stuck in a crabs shell, (they do tend to get substrate in the shell while molting) This will lead the crab to the salt water dish to try to get it out of the body. It can give a little splinter that can be the death of the crab.
Also crabs secret a liquid that they put on the feet to push sand, this liquid helps stick the sand in place to make proper tunnels, the coconut fiber tends to dry with the liquid on it and doesnt hold as well.
I also do not suggest a pit of EE. Crabs will like it due to the biodegrading and giving off heat. Warm moist places is where a crab wants to be. They do not have the option of this much EE (coco fiber) in the wild.
Again this is my opinion after talking with professional crab keepers that have been doing research for many years.
Personally I chose to go with the trial, error, and research of those who have been doing this for much longer then I have.
After talking to them , to me it just makes sense.

I also wanted to add that when i asked about arrogate sand I was told that is is actually to fine of a grain and can inter fear with the modified gills of the crab. So even though it comes in pretty white or black, I would forgo the pretty sand for safer more beach like sand.

Thanks, Suebee

Also, the humidity should stay pretty steady with a 5/1 mix. I have just sand and a moss pit and my humidity has been perfect for weeks now with no work. Anything that holds moisture and releases it over time (EE), coupled with a mostly sealed tank to hold the moisture in, will keep the humidity steady.

I agree EE helps with the moisture as well as the extra moisture. To much will however break down and can go bad in the bottom of a tank causing a nasty smell and rotting.