Crabs Loving 'Live Sand'

Nicole · Post by **Nicole** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:05 pm

I just received my order from the Addiction of Live Sand. I was curious about it, and not seen anyone else posting yet about it so I wanted to see the crabs' reaction to it. I put a small dish in the tank this a.m. and by the time I got home from work half the dish was already consumed. To me it just looked like regular sand like the rest of the tank had in it, but obviously the crabs knew the difference. I even sniffed it but it smelled like sand to me. Anyone else try this yet? And have a similar experience?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:46 pm

I got a sample of it with my last order too. I put it in and it got some attention, but not quite the responce you discribe. It took them a day to notice it and it was almost half gone in a week. I might have gotten two samples, maybe I'll try it again and see if the responce is any different.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:34 am

I know the bag says not to use it as substrate, but I wonder what would happen if someone did? Would the crabs be able to eat it after they molt in addition to their exos? Would it even be proper substrate for molting at all? Hmmm... such interesting questions that I wish I knew the answer to... time for experimenting, perhaps?

Bubu · Post by **Bubu** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 9:24 am

I also got a sample of it from my last order and put just a small amount in their food dish and it was gone quite quickly. But my crabs are notorious for clearing out a FULL food dish in a matter of hours so I wasn't surprised lol.

Nicole · Post by **Nicole** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 2:35 pm

quote:Would it even be proper substrate for molting at all? I don't see why it wouldn't be, if the cost wasn't so high. $34.99 on this site for a 40 lb. bag. I imagine all sand after a while becomes 'live' or 'seeded', but probably not always in a beneficial way. I don't think this would substitute for all the other sources of calcium/chitin that we offer our crabs, but it seems to be a nice addition to the other extras we offer. I found my postmolter Bunny plopped shell and all in the live sand dish tonight, and unfortunately she was a little too 'portly' to fit in the dish and be able to eat at the same time. She had to get out to get a nibble!

lpshiner · Post by **lpshiner** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 3:20 pm

Interesting. My crabs seem to eat invisible stuff in their substrate (playsand and EE)- I've always wondered what they were up to. They especially like the sand that's been underneath the water bowls- when I take the bowls out to clean them I find a crab sitting in the little dirt holes... poking away at who knows what.... I bet they would love "live sand"....

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:26 pm

quote:Originally posted by lpshiner:Interesting. My crabs seem to eat invisible stuff in their substrate (playsand and EE)- I've always wondered what they were up to. I noticed my crabs doing the same thing and I was wondering why... heh, all sand being "live" after a while totally makes sense. If my playsand somehow becomes rotten and I need to replace it, maybe I'll think about investing in live sand. Hopefully the tank won't be substrate-less in a couple weeks because it's all been eaten!

hermitcrabaddiction · Post by **hermitcrabaddiction** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 6:53 pm

The reason why I mentioned it should be offered as food and not substrate was, and it's the same for the worm castings, is that it has bacteria in it. Our tanks don't have a drainage system like the ocean/beach does. I know I asked Sue(from Coenobita.org) when worm castings were mentioned a couple years ago for substrate. She had mentioned the bacteria/drainage issue. If someone does try it, that would be a good trial. Maybe not your whole tank, but say a section of it and see how the crabs react to it substrate wise.

Lynn T · Post by **Lynn T** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 12:18 am

I am starting to wonder now, if using beach sand as I have done now for more than 2 years could be a problem? We get the sand form remote sections of the beach and it has always been dry sand (not by design, but because the remote sections are farther away from the water and masses of people). The tank has always seemed healthy and smells clean. I use it half and half with EE and now I wonder if that has been a good idea? Any thoughts?

Nicole · Post by **Nicole** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:44 am

Lynn, have you been baking the beach sand before you've put it in the tank?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 11:10 am

I saw in my local reptile store a bag of live sand. I asked about it and she stted once opened unless you have a salt water tank it will go bad. I'm thinking that might be why. If the tiny living things die they could cause issues and smells in the tank! I was willing to spend the $25 they wanted just not if it was going to go bad with in a few weeks.

Nicole · Post by **Nicole** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:58 am

I've been keeping the dish in the tank and refilling it as it empties - should I not be? I don't want the sand to go bad. I haven't sniffed it since I put some in the tank the first time, and I'm keeping it out of the frig.Should I refrigerate the remaining sand so it doesn't spoil?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:34 am

I would refrigerate it so it doesn't go bad. hermit crabs won't die if they eat rotten food it's just not good for them( I highly doubt as a wild crab they didn't eat a few rotten items lol!)

Dramatic Hermiexx · Post by **Dramatic Hermiexx** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:39 am

My crabbies weren't too interested in the live sand. I'll wait a few weeks and try again. I'd say the most serious issues with spoiled food are decreased nutrition value and chance of mold growth(unless somebody knows more reasons and I'm not saying we should give our crabs rotten food).

Lynn T · Post by **Lynn T** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:41 am

quote:Lynn, have you been baking the beach sand before you've put it in the tank? Yes I have. Glad I went through the trouble.