HCA: Hermit Crab Association

We had a big storm yesterday so today I went out to harvest fallen oak branches for climbing and eating. Our crabs love hanging out on these branches and strip them clean of bark to boot! Usually I put these in a 200F oven for two hours to sterilize. But today I'm noticing more moss/growth/mold (I'm not sure which!) on the branches than usual and am wondering if it's safe for the crabs? Should I scrub it off before baking it, or will baking take care of anything harmful?

Here's what I would consider typical and "normal" for our oak branches (click any photo for larger images):


Here are examples of what I'm seeing today. First branch is nearly all WHITE, which seems odd so it bothers me more than the green stuff.


What do you think? Thanks!

I would find a cleaner stick to be safe but i might be wrong.

Maybe you could bake it for 2 hrs in the oven at a low temp like 250 to sterilize it. I can't imagine a hermie's never seen a moss covered piece of wood.

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It's actually lichen. I've used it in terrarium tanks and it dies quickly due to lack of strong sunlight. I'd recommend wearing a sturdy pair of thick gardening gloves and rubbing it off. A tight twisting motion will pop it off easy. Then rinse well and use a plastic scrubby pad to finish up the cleaning.

wodesorel wrote:It's actually lichen. I've used it in terrarium tanks and it dies quickly due to lack of strong sunlight. I'd recommend wearing a sturdy pair of thick gardening gloves and rubbing it off. A tight twisting motion will pop it off easy. Then rinse well and use a plastic scrubby pad to finish up the cleaning.

Yay for identification! Is the white stuff due to lichen, too? I gotta try a different store for gardening gloves, Lowe's only carries the kind that are dipped in nitrile(?), the rubber like coating. Can't believe how hard it is to find plain canvas gloves anymore!

Yes, it can be grey, green, or white. Lichen is flat, circular and a little flakey, like paper.

Try looking where they have the work gloves - my last few pairs of garden gloves have been for welding and construction and have been wonderful.

that is good to know about lichen!

Should I clean these?

Back of package



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I've never seen those; interesting! Does it say anywhere what type of branches they are?

Nope, just what's in the pic. I got them at Petco. It says Imagitarium which I think is the brand. Then it says Creature Comforts and Mossy Branches. I think they are meant for terrariums. I wasn't sure about the "moss" so I soaked the branches in SW made from Instant Ocean and dechlorinated water overnight. Then I baked them in the oven. The moss had dried and started to flake off so I just rubbed the rest off and wrapped each branch with some of the same moss I use for the hermies moss pitt, also purchased at petco, with fish net and now each (there are 6) retains moisture and boosts my humidity. It's spagnum moss. Awesome. They look like mini mossy logs lol.



Is there a way to identify branches? Maybe I'll check petco.com

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It does not say online sigh.

https://m.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/ ... d-branches

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