Conflicted About What Sand to Use

[itsmellllly]

I was researching about substrates and sand and what not and I learned that the sand I have in my substrate mix isn’t very good. So now I’m trying to figure out what sand to use instead but everything I’m finding contradicts each other. For example, I read in multiple places that Quickrete play sand is great for hermit crabs, but then read in other places that it’s not. I checked the reviews for the sand and they were not great. Apparently a lot of people are finding a bunch of rocks in the sand. Others were complaining about how dusty it is. And also that it smells like concrete. So, deciding to switch to that sand seems very unlikely.

Unsatisfied with anything I was finding, I started looking to see if the Quickrete all-purpose sand would be better. And yet again, I’m getting very conflicting answers. Many say it’s great, others say it’s not. Actual facts about the sand aren’t even clear, such as whether it’s already been washed or not. Although that’s not anything serious since I’ll just wash the sand anyway, the fact that there’s different answers over these kinda things sorta bothers me.

The actual reviews for the all-purpose sand are far better than the ones for the play sand. I’m definitely leaning towards using the all-purpose sand but some things I read about it being used for hermit crabs still concern me. I found a topic on Quickrete all-purpose sand and saw that someone said it’s “strictly for using as an aggregate with actual Quickrete” and that play sand should be used instead. So yeah… I’m super conflicted. What am I supposed to use? I’m probably gonna go for the all-purpose sand but I want some clarification on what to do.

[CrabbyLover77]

The best sand is play sand because it is screened, washed, and the particles are pretty fine. I get whatever brand Lowe's or Home Depot has and all has been good so far. I wouldn't get all purpose sand. All purpose sand is dustier and more course than play sand.

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[CrabbyLover77]

This is what I usually get:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/QUIKRETE-50-lb ... nd/3006085

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[JTKermie]

There's no need to stress over it. Like CL77 said above, play sand is safe for kids and pets. It may not be perfect, but nor is what is found in nature. I used the sakrete brand Lowes sells.

[curlysister]

What do you have in your tank right now, that you think needs replaced?

The reviews you are reading won't likely be from crabbers LOL. I have used Quikrete, as well as another brand I can't recall the name of. Like has already been said, any brand of play sand will be fine.

[wodesorel]

What you want is an inert silica / quartz sand. Playsand comes ready to use straight from the bag and is what 95% of crabbers end up using. All-purpose also works but has a greater range of grain sizes and some people don't like that. Pool filter sand is a possibility but can be kind of sharp. There are uncoated natural aquarium sands (like Caribsea naturals) that cost an arm and a leg and are basically just fancy playsand.

[Hello123]

What do you have in your tank right now, that you think needs replaced?

The reviews you are reading won't likely be from crabbers LOL. I have used Quikrete, as well as another brand I can't recall the name of. Like has already been said, any brand of play sand will be fine.

Hi there. I just bought some of the quikrete premium playsand to try tonight ( in a bind after an ant invasion) and it has a horrible chemical smell. I'm afraid to put my crabs in it. It also notices it has the California prop 65 warning on the bag. Anyone else have concerns about using it? I have yet to find anything I'm confortable with using other than the Flukers Crab sand, but I need to find something since am on a budget. About to drop 60 dollars at least tomorrow morning for the Flukers if I can find enough in town. Thanks in advance for any advice for sand.

[aussieJJDude]

The warning is simply due to silica dust when inhaled can lead to respiration issues, such as silicosis and is a cause of lung cancer to name a few. So California being California with their warnings, have it on the bag. But keep in mind, when moist (like we have for our crabs) inhaling dust is not an issue unless you're breathing in the sand.

However, the chemical smell is a concern and can be a sign of contamination somewhere along the 'assembly line' before you purchased the sand. It may be worth going to another hardware store if possible, as its likely the entire batch has been contaminated to some degree.

[Hello123]

I had a friend of mine smelled the sand, apparently she said it's just a sand smell that she noticed, not a chemical smell. I do have a messed up sense of smell so that makes sense. But apparently the crabs do not like the sand either. Typically with a sand change, they go into hiding right away and I don't see them for a couple of weeks. They have literally been hanging on their temperature gauge since yesterday morsince yesterday morning like they refused to go even walk on the sand anymore. They explored walking around the tank for about an hour, and then climbed up on top of it and have been hanging on it ever since together. Which is very strange for them to do something for that long like that. Not sure what to do now it's Christmas, have no way to get anything other than waiting for the flukers to come in the mail. So I'm trying to decide if I should leave them in there and see if they will come down eventually, comma or put them back in their super small (and unheated) emergency tank until new sand arrives. Looks like some stanggler ants are back too so going to give them a salt water bath in case they maybe have some in their shell causing weird behavior.

Hoping to find an good, knowledgeable and caring adopter for them soon . I put a posting up , I'm in Eastern NC willing to drive to transport for someone with good vet references etc. who would like two healthy PP. Have had 8 years - but I'm having some life circumstances where is becoming too much with them and need to find them a good home

[Hello123]

Update, changed from the playsand back to Flukers beachsand mix, They seem much happier and are crawling around in in it, taking baths. Finally got their color back since they don't look all dirty from the playsand. Seemed like it was a dirt-mixed sand. I like this one much better for them. They also have already dug holes, they would not with the playsand and was a couple days - which is strange for them. I ended up also ordering eco Earth, so I guess I will put a little bit in there somewhere extra for them to play in.

[aussieJJDude]

Sounds like you got it all sorted, and sounds like they are enjoying their new digs!

[Hello123]

They are, thank you. There was definitely something not right with that sand even though my friend said she couldn't smell the chemical smell... And had another person get a second opinion and said it smelt like sand. The crabs did not dig in it and they were hanging all over everything thanks for the couple of days it was in there. As soon as I put the flukers in when I got it, Within a couple hours one of them already went under and we and within 2 days they had trashed the tank like they normally do after I set it all up. Silly crab kids.

I'm so worried about anything I put in there because they are basically trapped in there with it and if anything talks it gets in there and now will not be good for them. One of them has recently started to grow grow really fast, which is surprising because I'm not doing anything different and I've had them for 8 years. lol