What to Grow Plants in?

[PinchersAndShells]

Yes, yes, yes. I know, I know, putting real plants in the crabitat isn't prefered, but something has got me kinda curious. I have had a spider plant since I was in preschool, of course, it being an indoor plant, we don't use pesticides on it. Spider plants produce a lot of babies, and an idea popped into my head. What if I took a shower caddy like people keep moss pits in - and grow a baby in it. It would take some time to grow down to where the crabs can reach it. I'm thinking if I try to pull this off, I could use a mixture of EE and worm castings to plant it in. What do you think? Should I add sand?

[KDK241]

I would add some sand to give it some drainage and stability. I have planted in just EE in my reptile tanks and the plants never do very well, even with nutrients.

[PinchersAndShells]

Ahh alright, I'm actually wondering if I should let it grow out some and then put it in the tank, pretty much just something for the crabs to munch on, which I'm okay with because it's free.

[aussieJJDude]

Be prepared for the crabs to destroy them! But yes, its fine to add plants. In fact, I would say that it has the added benefits of adding humidity as well as the usual "oxygen production".

[Giner13]

Along this line, what would be other good indoor live plants to use in the tat??


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[aussieJJDude]

I would reccomend anything that reptile safe is crabby safe... Honestly, not many people have planted crabitats, so the plants that was "raised" in our crabitats are from others experiences.

[PinchersAndShells]

Along this line, what would be other good indoor live plants to use in the tat??


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Most of them you'd have to grow outside of the tank before and transplant into the tank. Most of the time the crabs will eat them pretty fast, so I don't recommend spending a TON of money on them. But as for planting directly into it, I've heard chia seeds work well growing straight out of the sand, but from my own experience make sure you have your humidity under control or they will mold. I've heard of air plants from the bromeliad family work well, and other kinds of bromeliads too. Spider plants work well, and so do certain kinds of flowers and plants that say the whole plant is safe on the food lists would be fine too, but I'm not sure how well they'd hold up in the humidity. A good forum in the archives to look at would be this one, as they originally used live plants in their enclosure and I am pretty sure that they named most of them. http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/ph ... 54&t=74449

[Brian_T]

For a container you can try one of the smaller soap dishes that you stick to the side with suction cups. The kind that hold a bar of soap. For a medium they sell clay pellets/balls made from terracotta, I think. They are used in hydroponics.

I was looking into doing the same with some ferns. I was looking for species that grow in the Caribbean, but I'm having trouble finding particular species for sale.

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[Giner13]

Thanks all!!


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[PinchersAndShells]

For a container you can try one of the smaller soap dishes that you stick to the side with suction cups. The kind that hold a bar of soap. For a medium they sell clay pellets/balls made from terracotta, I think. They are used in hydroponics.

I was looking into doing the same with some ferns. I was looking for species that grow in the Caribbean, but I'm having trouble finding particular species for sale.

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Thank you!

[Just Jay]

i have two air plants in my tank to help raise oxygen and a third growing in my bathroom to grow clippings off of. i just recently got some sphagnum moss because it will retain water along with being good for growing plants. (havent tried it yet so i will have to let you know how it does) im also looking into getting maybe carnivorous plants too.

[soilentgringa]

i have two air plants in my tank to help raise oxygen and a third growing in my bathroom to grow clippings off of. i just recently got some sphagnum moss because it will retain water along with being good for growing plants. (havent tried it yet so i will have to let you know how it does) im also looking into getting maybe carnivorous plants too.

Hermit crabs do not get oxygen from the air like we do. They get it from water, through their gills, which is why they have to have such high humidity.

Bromeliads are fine in the tank, and will probably get shredded by the crabs if they can get to them, though.



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[Just Jay]

true. lots of common information says to keep humidity between 80-95% it raising too high can suffocate the crabs modified gills. then they offer a list of plants the crabs can eat and will add oxygen and air flow. is that not correct?

[TyCoz]

i have two air plants in my tank to help raise oxygen and a third growing in my bathroom to grow clippings off of. i just recently got some sphagnum moss because it will retain water along with being good for growing plants. (havent tried it yet so i will have to let you know how it does) im also looking into getting maybe carnivorous plants too.

How do you grow clippings off an air Plant? I have a few and would love more


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[Just Jay]

i havent tried it yet just got a third slightly bigger plant that was already flowering to do it with. what was explained was just taking a section from the out side of the plant and you can even use a moss bed to start it since moss retains water so well. i was told its a bit easier on the plant if you can keep it warm and humid. so when i try i might put a small tuppy in my tank with a clear wrap top so the crabies cant get to the new ones. ill see if i can get more instructions from our garden center. i wasnt ready to try growing any clippings so i only asked if i could and got a quick over view. ill let you know what im told!