New tank!

Geranium · Post by **Geranium** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 12:26 am

Aside from the six I picked up over the weekend and a couple others, I've had mine for 1-4.5 years so they have become accustomed to me in that time. The E's are a little more skittish than the others.

Shelbykay246 · Post by **Shelbykay246** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 12:29 am

The Es are more active too, good luck! Also how big is your tank?

Kirrie · Post by **Kirrie** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 3:52 am

@Shelby Ive just got my 2 purple pinchers in a 10 gallon currently. They are moving to a 20 gallon soon

jenok · Post by **jenok** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 9:08 am

I agree with the 4-6 weeks to molt. That's about what mine have done. Good luck on your new setup. I'm sure they'll love it.

Kirrie · Post by **Kirrie** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 10:46 am

Thanks!

Kirrie · Post by **Kirrie** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 7:49 am

Because I asked for hermit crab supplies for Christmas, I got a bag of Petco reptile sand. It says it is ideal for desert reptiles and arachnids, stimulates natural digging behavior, and calcium carbonate is an excellent heat conductor. Will this sand work mixed with eco earth or should I look for something else before I buy enough of it to fill the tank?

Crabber85 · Post by **Crabber85** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 10:07 am

@Kirrie, reptile is essentially the same thing as calci sand and as such is not suitable as a substrate for hermitcrabs.This kind of sand is actually made from ground up calcium carbonate which does not act like regular playsand when water is introduced to it it clumps and then hardens and because it is not real sand it allows excess moisture to readily migrate to the bottom of the enclosure where it will pool up and stagnate becoming the focal point for bacteria and mold growth.This kind of sand does not reatin shape easily so hermitcrabs have a much harder time digging through it. creating tunnels and molt pockets and often times the hermitcrab will become immobilized either because it has had its limbs bonded together or because it has litterally beem cemented into its shell because the shell openig became cached with the harden sand either way the crab doesn't have much of a chance at survival if its underground and this happens.So to sum up no this kind of sand is not suitable/useable for hermitcrabs and even mixing it in with other types of sub is generally avoided due to the inherent risks envolved.

Kirrie · Post by **Kirrie** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 11:37 am

I'm glad I asked before using it then! It was given to me for Christmas because everyone knows Im trying to upgrade my tank. Apparently the brand of play sand that was recommended to me could not be found. Would another be fine as long as there is nothing added to it that shouldnt be there? I might make a stop and see if kmart has any because I really want to get them in the new tank tonight if I can.

Kirrie · Post by **Kirrie** » Fri Dec 27, 2013 12:19 pm

Nevermind, I found the quickrete brand playsand. Ill post pictures tomorrow probably

Shawn · Post by **Shawn** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 6:00 pm

A good mix that several crab keepers on another forum are using is 5 parts sand to 1 part expanded EE. They observe this mixture allows a good damp sand-castle consistency for digging tunnels and making molting "caves". It also seems to maintain moisture more consistently. Just figured I'd pass it along.