HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I just noticed these things today. They look like roots but they climb up the glass in little, light veins too. I've never had live plants or substrate in there. I only have playground sand & calcium hermit crab sand. What are they? Are they dangerous? How do I get rid of them? I'm creeped out, to be honest. They must've grown quickly or I'm extremely unobservant.

i cant help you with that

I LOVE WEIRD STUFF!!!! I seriously live for posts like this.


Do you feed ANYTHING that has seeds or whole nuts in it? I really does look like roots, and it may just be that. Things will sprout in a tank, and roots will grow well before any sprouts come up.

Although, I'm thinking that what you're seeing is a type of crystallization of minerals. You said calci-sand, which means there are a lot of extra minerals in the substrate that when given the right conditions can start doing really weird things. Heat, moisture, wetness, and dryness (especially repeating over time) can cause certain substances to revert to their natural forms, and you end up with mineral concentrations that can form crystals, growths, and patterns. I have to talk to my mother later today anyway (she's a geologist) and I'll see if she knows what will take on a root-like appearance. I think gypsum can, and it's really common in most people's tap water even.

One more thing that comes to mind is mycellum, but I've never seen it in brown before. It's usually white or yellow. These are the 'roots' (not really) of mushrooms and fungus, and they grow in similar structures. It could be they died off, or it could be a different species then what I see here. I only have them in cocofiber or soil tanks, so I don't know what they look like in sand. It would smell musty if it was. Not harmful, just annoying.

Wode, you're the best. Your response made me laugh out loud.

This is both rather creepy & really interesting! Looking forward to hearing what the most likely possibilities are. Nature is seriously weird and cool.

I would just dig them up. Lol But that's just me.

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