HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Has any one ever tried monkey grass ( dwarf lilyturf) in there tank? Wikipedia says it is from "native to China, India, Japan, and Vietnam." And "It is often sold as a decorative plant for freshwater aquaria, but because it is not a true aquatic plant, it can live for a few months underwater before it dies." And "is an evergreen, sod-forming perennial plant." I have 3 small pp. I am starting a 40 gallon tank. I'm going to start with 4 inches of substrate (play sand) then add more my next deep clean or remodel . I'm so excited. I've been reading this forum for a while.

What do y'all think?

Brooke
Texas

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophiopogon_japonicus


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It's on the "do not feed" list for tortoises. Reason: high in saponins. No idea if it affects hermit crabs, though.

Thank you. In going to read more. Maybe chives and flowers

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I guess being high in saponins would come in handy! Less likely for the hermit crabs to come to the conclusion to eat it!
Mondo grass (as I use to calling them ) are sold in freshwater aqua like you mentioned, so it could conclude that it's safe and doesn't "leach" anything into the water column. That means that the plant should be ok with crabs, as long as they don't get their claws on it. Not to mention, frog keepers have used them in their terrariums without apparent problems.

So I would say a hesitant yes. After all, a lot of the plants crabbers have tried out with their crabs aren't exactly safe (pothos for example) and the hermies seem to do ok.

I was thinking of planting it along the back of my tank.

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