Live plants

Doron · Post by **Doron** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:50 pm

Hey guys, I'm new here on this forum and with the hermit crabs hobbies, I hope to learn as much as I can and put my little friend in the best home I can I don't know if it is the right forum...Well, i've got new crab few days ago, I think it's Coenobita Compressus Ecuadorian*I'll post pictures soon*My question is- Can I put with him live plants? Right now i've got young sweet pepper plant.The second question, on the left side of the tank can I put soil from the garden (within it i've got natural compost and cow manure)?

Miko · Post by **Miko** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 1:08 am

the crabs will eat the plant and they normally dont live long in the tank due to the salt water that would be use in the sub, as for soil from the garden i would not not use it as there may be chemicals in it that would not be good for the crabs, i have been using play sand and it works grate!!!

Doron · Post by **Doron** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 1:14 am

Thanks for the comment Eco earth, can be used on the tank I know but it'll be good for a live plants? By the way, I don't really care if the crab gonna eat the plant, it is for him ><I just need to know if it'll be safe plant for him

jenok · Post by **jenok** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:49 am

Hot/spicy peppers plants or peppers are not good for the crabs, but mild peppers are good for them like bell peppers. The plants of these peppers are also ok just make sure that the plant has not been around any pesticides or other chemicals. The crabs body is like that of an insect anything designed to kill or repel them/insects (except citrus fruits) can harm/kill them.I agree not to use the garden/outside soil. Even if it doesn't have pesticides there could be a lot of heavy metals present which can build up in their system eventually harming them.You can use the eco earth (EE)for your sub and plant the plant in it, but most of us that use the EE hydrate it with salt water so it doesn't mold/mildew as much. However that being said I have had seeds sprout and grow roots in my sand sub so you could use that and I don't use salt in it but some do. OR you could put the plant in a small crab safe container with the EE and plant then put the container w/ the plant in the tank. Hope you understand what I just said and maybe that will help you out.Welcome!

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 8:56 am

Its never recommended to use soil/dirt from outside as there as so many things that come into contact with the soil through rain runoff, leeching from the water table and manual application which leads to a lot of contaminant build up in the soil which mostly consists of heavy metals and all manner of chemicals from run off and leeching.Hermitcrabs are very sensitive to heavy metals and after a period of time these levels will build up until in the crabs until they begin to inhibit molts and eventually cause death.After doing a bit of research on the sweet pepper plant I'm going to go no on planting it in the enclosure with the crab as there is a lot of mixed information on its safety apparently the leaves, seeds, stems and stalks are potentially toxic to humans and livestock.In addition I was unable to locate this plant on any of our safe foods lists which raises additional concern over its safety.

jenok · Post by **jenok** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 6:37 am

Glad you replied crabber. I thought sweet pepper was the same as bell pepper.