HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I got some Bed-A-Beast at PetSmart. It should be the same thing as Eco-Earth, right, or does it mold easier? I bought it for my 20 gallon, but I didn't get the 20gal, so I figure I'll just put this in the tank once all the crabs are up. The point is, is it just as good as Eco Earth or will it mold?

I don't think it'll mold any more than EE or FB but I did found the two bricks of BaB that I used to be a bit more coarse or gritty than the other two brands. It could have just been the batch though because I've since also gotten a few bricks of EE that don't feel as soft either. Even so, they do tent to soften up after a couple of days.

Hmm.. well it would be more like the wild that way.. I'll see the crabs reaction to it.

i tried the bed a beast and my crabs seems to enjoy it but i found mold so i don't use it anymore, i just stick with play sand now and i haven't had any mold problems since

How much is bed-a-beast or EE anyway?$$$

jennyhascrabs wrote:How much is bed-a-beast or EE anyway?$$$

I think I paid $4.99 for a brick of Forest bedding. Then I went to a different petstore and found 3 bricks of Eco Earth for like $6.99. Guess I'll be picking up the three pack

I've paid $4.99 a brick for Eco Earth (EE) at Petco. Then I saw this:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... 006+113531

Even with shipping, if you're getting other items, not so bad. So, shop around for the 3 packs!

There was a brand sold at PetSmart, it may have been Bed-a-Beast, but I didn't buy it because the label didn't say it was 100% coconut fiber. The EE says 100% coconut fiber on the package.

ckbythesea wrote:I've paid $4.99 a brick for Eco Earth (EE) at Petco. Then I saw this:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... 006+113531

Even with shipping, if you're getting other items, not so bad. So, shop around for the 3 packs!

There was a brand sold at PetSmart, it may have been Bed-a-Beast, but I didn't buy it because the label didn't say it was 100% coconut fiber. The EE says 100% coconut fiber on the package.

-BED-A-BEAST is made from 100% natural material.
-Easily prepared
-Odorless
-Non-toxic
-Non-abrasive to skin & eyes
-Highly Absorbent
-Harmless if ingested

I doubt it can mold if it's supposed to be absorbant.. I MIGHT try it.. but if it really did mold on you, I may just get another brick of EE

AlbyandSebsDad wrote: -BED-A-BEAST is made from 100% natural material.
-Easily prepared
-Odorless
-Non-toxic
-Non-abrasive to skin & eyes
-Highly Absorbent
-Harmless if ingested

I doubt it can mold if it's supposed to be absorbant.. I MIGHT try it.. but if it really did mold on you, I may just get another brick of EE

Any of these products can mold, but usually just if food gets in contact or buried. My point about the Bed-of- Beast is that there is no assurance that it does not contain coniferous species fiber like cedar, fir, pine, etc., which is not good for hermies. If anyone knows exactly what fibers it DOES contain, please post a source.

Thanks!

It looks just like Eco Earth.. it says its ok for iguanas, chameleons, turtles, tortoises, amphibians, snakes, lizards, and tarantulas. I don't know if that makes it good for hermies, but people think hermies need sand and gravel not this.

AlbyandSebsDad wrote:It looks just like Eco Earth.. it says its ok for iguanas, chameleons, turtles, tortoises, amphibians, snakes, lizards, and tarantulas. I don't know if that makes it good for hermies, but people think hermies need sand and gravel not this.

A&SD, MANY people use fiber bedding with great results. I never used it the first year I had crabs; sand was my main substrate. I now use both (separated, although some people mix them), and have had very good molting results in my ISOs with EE. But have also had many good molts in sand. My Indos have preferred the EE to sand for digging.

You can't tell what's in a product just by looking at it, which is why I have not purchased Bed-a-Beast, "all natural fibers" could include coniferous tree species.

Ok.

I currently have 1/2 of my 40 gallon tank with forest bedding and 1/2 with wet playsand. There are currently three crabs down molting and I know for sure that two of them are in the fb. One that just came up is covered with fb so I'm assuming that's where he was.

Daniel, one of my rugs, likes to sit in the sand corner of the tank. That's all he does is just sit there. The other crabs will walk on it, but they seem to prefer the fb.

All of these brands are basically the same thing; coconut fiber.

Sorry if you get annoyed trying to explain things to me. People seem to on here a lot. Remeber I'm only 14 and heck not too bright.