HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I noticed a strange smell in the crabitat recently....it's not strong or anything, it just smells "off". I haven't had a crab die (fingers crossed), so I don't know what that smells like--but I've heard it described as pretty bad, so I don't think it's that....

What other sorts of things can make your crabitat just smell bad?

Hidden spoiled food, mold, molting crabs can have a smell usually described as chemical-like though sometimes described as fishy, bacterial blooms smell like rotten eggs but are usually only noticed when digging.

Can you get bacterial bloom with a false bottom? What exactly is it?

I do have one molter right now, and it's my largest crab, so that might be it. I could also take a closer look inside the tank with the lids off and see if anything else shows up...

I'm not good at explaining things like this so I'll just quote Wodesorel.

wodesorel wrote:A bacterial bloom in the substrate is caused by anaerobic bacteria which can only grow in places that have a lack of oxygen, and are usually also dark, wet and moist. This bacteria creates a toxic gas (methane) and also acid, which will lower the pH of the surrounding substrate.

A false bottom will certainly help lower the risk I think, as will giving the substrate a good mix now and then when you can.

You really likely wouldn't smell one on the surface unless the substrate was recently disturbed.

In my tank if there is any smell it is always a piece of dried shrimp that has been stashed somewhere; I remove it, and smell goes away.