Blood worms? warning label? And another question!

Zooylew · Post by **Zooylew** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 5:55 pm

Well I have fish and so I thought I would soak a few freeze dried worms in some water to give to my sisters hermit crabs when I noticed a warning label on the back of my container. It said not to touch the worms directly themselves and not breath in the dust. People who use them often to use gloves when handling this product... now I have fed fish blood worms for years and hand feed my goldfish them... I have always touched them with my hands. I have never gotten sick. Do the ones you use have the same warning and I just never paid attention? If they are bad for us are they really that great for our pets?Does any one have a planted Hermit crab tank? I'm getting a 125 gallon for my two ball pythons and they are moving out of their 30 gallon tank... I was going to use it for gold fish but I have decided to build them a pond next spring so it's even bigger. So I will have an empty 30 and I was wondering about giving it to my sister if I could house my own hermit crab in it with her three once I got one. I was thinking that it would be cool too have a planted tank... they seem to like their fake plants better as a hiding place then their hut. I was also thinking about making to little ponds on each end one fresh and one salt... do you think that would be a good idea. Now it would be right away just because Kaleigh wood need to save up for some supplies but still. What do you think?

Geranium · Post by **Geranium** » Tue Dec 30, 2014 12:55 am

The label on mine says the same but goes on to explain that it is due to a possible allergic reaction.

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Tue Dec 30, 2014 9:10 am

Its because Blood Worms are essentially the larva of mosquitoes and as such contain irritants that can cause an allergic reaction in some people this is not to say this it is harmful or bad for our fish or hermitcrabs just that we need to take extra precautions when handling the product because it does have an inherent risk to humans.

Laurie LeAnn · Post by **Laurie LeAnn** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 4:10 am

Huh? I have dried types and never noticed any warning. I don't touch them much though ewwwww dried icky things.

Keg · Post by **Keg** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 2:19 am

ZooylewAs far as putting plants in the tank, I believe we've talked about that in the past and I don't recall that anyone here has had any success with it.The last time I searched for examples, I couldn't find any on the web of plants in a crabitat. But this time:http://www.plantedtank.net/for...wthrea ... 0169Here's a whole site devoted to it but something seems questionable about the example. The substrate looks too thin and it is a very coarse sand that doesn't look like it would work well for burrowing. The potted plant is interesting... But the types of plants she is using in there?She mentions Asparagus Fernhttp://crabbywiki.com/tiki-ind...oisonous+HouseplantsAsparagus Fern—(Asparagus setaceus plumosus) toxic-dermatitis.She also mentions plantation Ivy, which is not specifically listed, but I would research any Ivy before I put it in.My point is, the tank looks nice, but I would hesitate to use that as an example.Later on in that forum, someone says:"Everything I read indicates that crabs would dig up and destroy live plants and it may not be worth the hassle of having them. I do have some moss growing in my crab vivarium (on the waterfall), but that's it, the rest is fake and honestly it's more for my appeal than anything - I know the crabs honestly don't care."I'd say that is typical of what I've heard people say about plants in a crabitat.Also:http://www.hermit-crabs.com/FAQ.htmlIt is not advisable to grow live plants near a crab tank, since plants attract their own pests and it would be easy for the mites to travel from the plant to your crabitat.