Supplies from Michaels?

[Da_Stos208]

I'm kind of paranoid about chemicals when it comes to the crabs. Should these be safe to use?

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[GotButterflies]

I wouldn’t use them. Stick with 100 % hemp or 100 % jute


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[LadyJinglyJones]

Sisal is often untreated too - though if you plan on crocheting a net, sisal is a beast to hook.


You can get legit fishnet off some etsy sites and maybe Richard's Shells (if I remember correctly.)

I wish I hadn't lost the organic jute brand link I found.

After emailing a few manufacturers I was told, by the only two who responded to me, that their jute twine could very well be unfit for pet use/consumption (due to oils used in the manufacturing process, or protective chemicals utilized for storage or shipping).

Just thought I'd fan the flames of paranoia.... :roll:

That said an awful lot of crabbers use nothin'-special run-of-the-mill hardware store jute, with no ill effects that we can register.

I encourage you to research jute production processes & deside for your self. Start with 'jute' in wikipedia, then investigate different brands available in stores you have access to. Email customer service.... though often they won't respond: it's a technical question that service reps don't seem equipped to answer.

Good luck!

[Da_Stos208]

Thanks! Know where I can get organic burlap, twine, jute, or similar? Michaels was my best guess

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[GotButterflies]

Maybe Hobby Lobby, or Online?

[LadyJinglyJones]

Probably online.

[DaJimmer]

I almost bought a woven burlap product but when I picked it up it smelled like Grease so perhaps the nose knows?? If it doesn't smell like anything perhaps hit it with soap and water?? Of course if anything makes you uneasy don't do anything you may regret later (disclaimer)

[Da_Stos208]

im gona ask you guys about thus one BEFORE i buy it haha. it doesn't say organic, but it looks, smells, and feels legit. anyone use this brand?

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[DaJimmer]

Boil it? Dry it? Call it good? Ive been debating too. I may find a parachord net first??? Clean poly.

[wodesorel]

LJJ, and if it's been imported, it has been sprayed against pests at the port as well. They do this with all fabrics to prevent crop damaging invasive species.

Short of finding small batch fabrics and yarns made here where you can talk with the owner and find out what they use, there will always be chemical contamination of some sort. The question then becomes if it is harmful to the hermits, and sometimes that will be no and sometimes it will be yes, and there is no good way to know ahead of time.

[LadyJinglyJones]

Yaaaay! The unknown is my fave!

The link I had was for some small batch hippy-esque UK yarn company. Buuuut.... I lost it. And the jute I've used since smells like old engine oil after I boil it. :roll:

I'm super hesitant to put it in my tat.

[DaJimmer]

I mentioned here a little earlier I might buy a spool of paracord you can make it a fun color or a natural looking color. And because I love keeping myself busy and obsessing and fidgeting over my little Crabby's I could probably spend a whole day weaving a net from paracord. I would imagine that the clean nylon fibers of the Paracord would be ultra durable and safe. There is instruction videos and templates how to weave Nets and that kind of thing. I actually got the idea from this person it looks like that's what they have in their tank.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=115593

[Da_Stos208]

Paracord is safe?!? well if I knew that Id have made stuff out of it ages ago i practicality have miles of the stuff

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[DaJimmer]

The way I have it in my head is that paracord should be basically pure plastic very clean? Nobody do anything stupid on my account yet I'm looking into paracord personally. I'll let you know what I find

[RyanScott81]

I recently picked up some burlap ribbon, I noticed the smell too. I took various pieces of advice from here and I washed it with soap and treated water, then I rinsed it in vinegar and more treated water, and let it dry overnight. The smell was gone and it seemed to be less stiff. My reasoning behind using the burlap ribbon over netting was a story I read where loose netting caused a crab to get caught in it and lose a limb. I worried that if I can get the netting taught or stretched enough, that this may happen to one of my guys.
I used a bit of the burlap ribbon to wrap the moss pit and then I rolled a length tightly to use as a sort of vine. I just finished my 37 gallon and moved one of my crabs in last night. In the few hours he has been in the new tank, he has not messed with it. After the lights came on, he retreated to a coconut hide so there wasn't much time for him to explore.
If I see something worth noting, I'll post about it.
Do any of you have observations regarding burlap in a tat?
Thanks