Flukers hermit crab beach sand

[isadoraisacat]

Hey guys i have been using this plus hermit crab patches mix for my sub with a little extra ee. In another group they say the salt is really bad for the crabs and basically this sand is horrible. I posted once before about info conflicts but i really want to get to the bottom of this. Is it actually safe and good to use what I'm currently using ? I've had 5 successful molts in this sub so far.... Supposedly hermits don't molt in sand in the wild ? And the salt in this sub (both mentioned ) can burn the molters i have been told. I just adopted a new crab who needed a home who was in bad conditions. Once again just trying to provide the best care for them everything i do i have learned from here... But once again I'm being told that what I'm doing sub wise is bad . Seriously need some advice. Thanks

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[LadyJinglyJones]

I'm going to guess that the volume of salt in the sand mix isn't great enough to do more than stave off a little unwanted bacteria... unless the people from your group have horror stories about the product... then, I 'd be changing it out, very fast. But I understand that many experienced keepers have added dilute quantities of salt water to their substrate because... beaches, man. I did. So I hope it's okay.

I suppose the calcium is supposed to mimic coral, or something..... seems, along with the probiotic claim, like a "feels good, does little" marketing thang.

Maybe try using it on one side, but not utilizing it on the other... see if a loose digging preference becomes apparent? Certainly you don't want harsh levels of salt down there, but they do keep brackish water in their own shells, so a little can't be damaging. You've had no problems, so that should tell you something.

Finally, try contacting the company to get a ratio of materials used. I couln't find that info on line.

[isadoraisacat]

This site recommends the sand actually thjs exact brand in their care guide. Aka this group approves it another doesn't. I already have been using it and i.have had 5 successful molts. The calcium in this mix is just oyster shell btw. I also mixed Marine salt water in my previous tanks sub t o fight off mold and had 2 healthy molts in that tank. They are trying to say in this group the crabs don't molt in sand by the beach that they travel miles to molt in the woods which isn't near salt and it can burn their soft molting bodies. I really don't buy it because they are around msw almost 100 % of the time especially since like you said they even carry it with them.

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[cap7]

I used salt water as suggested here and have had successful molts, so I don't feel the need to change anything.


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[isadoraisacat]

I used salt water as suggested here and have had successful molts, so I don't feel the need to change anything.


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Same here just want to know if the is documentation that crabs don't ever molt in the wild near.any salt.

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[StayLoki]

from what I've gathered, its best to offer the colored 'hermit crab' sands in small portions (a dish for them to crawl through and explore a new texture, or a mini beach dug shallowly into the playsand/cocofiber mixture). . it has less to do with whether or not hermies will molt in it all, but more with how hermit crab owners have noticed poor drainage or compacting when its used exclusively and under the humidity and temperatures that are appropriate for our little guys.. .
some out there believe it can unintentionally harden or encase them in a way that leads to changes in molting conditions different than when they dug in.. .and even lead to death.
on a less extreme level, some complain the reds or blue actually dye them a little, making a molt look bright and vibrant. .. when its really not. it would be possible to still have a sickly little guy and think "well he's bright blue, he's doing great" when really he's missing a cuttle bone to snack on lol

it can still be beneficial to offer as alternative calcium source since its certainly packed in there somehow (according to their advertising and labeling) for a hermy who just likes options but as a well-rounded problem free substrate, it's not!

hope this helps a little!!! keep krabbin!!

[StayLoki]

I used salt water as suggested here and have had successful molts, so I don't feel the need to change anything.


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Same here just want to know if the is documentation that crabs don't ever molt in the wild near.any salt.

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as far as the salt thing... just wanna say .. hermys are running away from water and tides that can flood them out when theyre underground- they're not running away from the salt! although I'm sure they choose a soil not saturated with salt so they don't scauld while stuck super sensitive underground for up to 30days.
they need salt. for all their life processes.
salt is all around them in the places they're native to.
in the water, in the soil, in the air!
and in capitivy, in our controlled environments, we need to provide it for them too!
yet not flood them out everyday and burn them with highly mixed concentrations.. .lol ahhhhh the delicate balance lol

[Rawrgeous]

As it's been stated in the previous post, all groups are going to have slightly different recommendations. Here at the HCA, we believe everyone has their own way of doing things, so we offer the best advice we can as far as the necessities, and what we find works best- and people can go from there. Obviously the opinion of this group is the flukers sand, and premixed hermit crab patch sand is okay. The only time salt can become an issue to crabs is if the concentration becomes too high, as loki stated, and can cause chemical burns. The only way I can see that happening is if you are constantly adding saltwater into the tank (why we always say spray with fresh). If you add the amount recommended there have been no negative effects recorded here at the HCA that I know of. Like Soilentgringa had mentioned before, sometimes you have to use your gut. The other groups have their own care recommendations, and are fully in their right to have them. If you feel your crabs are healthy, it doesn't really sound like you have much to worry about. There will never be a subject in any type of animal care that won't have a few debated subjects. Sometimes things just aren't cut and dry. Just keep an eye on your crabs, like you already do, as you know them best, and I'm sure all will be fine.
Edit: I also want to mention that all the hermitcrabpatch sub is, is oyster shell, eco earth, and sand...not really sure what in that mix could be considered potentially harmful.

[isadoraisacat]

from what I've gathered, its best to offer the colored 'hermit crab' sands in small portions (a dish for them to crawl through and explore a new texture, or a mini beach dug shallowly into the playsand/cocofiber mixture). . it has less to do with whether or not hermies will molt in it all, but more with how hermit crab owners have noticed poor drainage or compacting when its used exclusively and under the humidity and temperatures that are appropriate for our little guys.. .
some out there believe it can unintentionally harden or encase them in a way that leads to changes in molting conditions different than when they dug in.. .and even lead to death.
on a less extreme level, some complain the reds or blue actually dye them a little, making a molt look bright and vibrant. .. when its really not. it would be possible to still have a sickly little guy and think "well he's bright blue, he's doing great" when really he's missing a cuttle bone to snack on lol

it can still be beneficial to offer as alternative calcium source since its certainly packed in there somehow (according to their advertising and labeling) for a hermy who just likes options but as a well-rounded problem free substrate, it's not!

hope this helps a little!!! keep krabbin!!

I'm not asking a color calcium sand which i want nothing to do with. I'm asking a about flukers hermit crab beach sand which is a mix of actual sand oyster shell sea salt and cocofiber mixture.

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[isadoraisacat]

As it's been stated in the previous post, all groups are going to have slightly different recommendations. Here at the HCA, we believe everyone has their own way of doing things, so we offer the best advice we can as far as the necessities, and what we find works best- and people can go from there. Obviously the opinion of this group is the flukers sand, and premixed hermit crab patch sand is okay. The only time salt can become an issue to crabs is if the concentration becomes too high, as loki stated, and can cause chemical burns. The only way I can see that happening is if you are constantly adding saltwater into the tank (why we always say spray with fresh). If you add the amount recommended there have been no negative effects recorded here at the HCA that I know of. Like Soilentgringa had mentioned before, sometimes you have to use your gut. The other groups have their own care recommendations, and are fully in their right to have them. If you feel your crabs are healthy, it doesn't really sound like you have much to worry about. There will never be a subject in any type of animal care that won't have a few debated subjects. Sometimes things just aren't cut and dry. Just keep an eye on your crabs, like you already do, as you know them best, and I'm sure all will be fine.
Edit: I also want to mention that all the hermitcrabpatch sub is, is oyster shell, eco earth, and sand...not really sure what in that mix could be considered potentially harmful.

The mix has msw added to it same with the flukers. That's why I'm asking just about salt in general.

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[soilentgringa]

Hey guys i have been using this plus hermit crab patches mix for my sub with a little extra ee. In another group they say the salt is really bad for the crabs and basically this sand is horrible. I posted once before about info conflicts but i really want to get to the bottom of this. Is it actually safe and good to use what I'm currently using ? I've had 5 successful molts in this sub so far.... Supposedly hermits don't molt in sand in the wild ? And the salt in this sub (both mentioned ) can burn the molters i have been told. I just adopted a new crab who needed a home who was in bad conditions. Once again just trying to provide the best care for them everything i do i have learned from here... But once again I'm being told that what I'm doing sub wise is bad . Seriously need some advice. Thanks

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I would trust Tammy at HCP with all my crabs lives. They have been doing this for decades.



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[isadoraisacat]

Hey guys i have been using this plus hermit crab patches mix for my sub with a little extra ee. In another group they say the salt is really bad for the crabs and basically this sand is horrible. I posted once before about info conflicts but i really want to get to the bottom of this. Is it actually safe and good to use what I'm currently using ? I've had 5 successful molts in this sub so far.... Supposedly hermits don't molt in sand in the wild ? And the salt in this sub (both mentioned ) can burn the molters i have been told. I just adopted a new crab who needed a home who was in bad conditions. Once again just trying to provide the best care for them everything i do i have learned from here... But once again I'm being told that what I'm doing sub wise is bad . Seriously need some advice. Thanks

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I would trust Tammy at HCP with all my crabs lives. They have been doing this for decades.



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totally i agree ! I just asking though so the crabs really travel for miles and miles away from the beach and into soil rather than sand ?

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[soilentgringa]

Depending on the species, they have been observed several miles inland, living on trees, and even at the bases of mountain ranges.

I lost all my links recently but will try to find the academic papers I read this info in. A group of people studied ceonobita clypeatus in the wild for a bit.

Indos and violas also spend a lot of time in the forested areas.

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[isadoraisacat]

Depending on the species, they have been observed several miles inland, living on trees, and even at the bases of mountain ranges.

I lost all my links recently but will try to find the academic papers I read this info in. A group of people studied ceonobita clypeatus in the wild for a bit.

Indos and violas also spend a lot of time in the forested areas.

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Thanks because the theory is they don't technically molt in msw sand according to things people say which may or may not make this sand bad for molters due to burns. I did 5 successful molts and healthy beefy colorful crab that are active eating swimming playing etc i haven't noticed Marine salt affecting them but if i can find scientific proof more than just words being said i may consider redoing my sub. I'm upgrading to a 75 gallon soon anyway so I'll need to anyway

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[LadyJinglyJones]

Like soilentgringa, I'm currently looking for a paper where I'm sure I read that she'll quality was a partial factor in inland movement. There are a variety of resources inland, for the crabs, but the gist of it was that high quality shells for storing water were a factor in this phenomenon, and that crabs with worse shells did, in fact remain closer to the beaches.

I am kicking myself for not taking notes.

Also, Soilentgringa, if you find the one you're looking for , would you share?