Candles, Incense and the like

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 4:00 pm

I recently read a post that referred to candles being toxic to crabs. I burn candles all the time (and incense occasionally) and I haven't noticed any negative effects on my hermit crabs.

Does anyone know anything about this? I wouldn't want to burn candles if they can hurt my crabs.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 4:39 pm

I think so long as you aren't burning them IN the tank, or FEEDING them to your crabs, it shouldn't be a problem. ^^;

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 9:20 pm

i burn at least five sticks of insence a day, and what i do is i close the top of their tank totally (usually i leave it cracked for air circulation) and then after i burn them, i let the smoke settle and open the lids again.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 9:42 pm

That's what I thought.

Thanks to both of you!

NaRnAR · Post by **NaRnAR** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 10:35 am

I would think as long as you get the tank closed good it should be alright.

I burn candles...no more insence for me tho....I had an allergic reaction to one scent, I was SO congested and felt like crud for the longest time. My brother burns it and everytime I go home and hes been burning it I have allergy problems. Same with cigarettes.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 10:37 am

I burn insence all the time, and I smudge the house every so often. No problems with the crabs at all!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:57 pm

It's Fine I burn tons of incence, both cone and stick and they seem to be a little more active when I burn it. So yes it's okay but I always like to cover up 50 or 75% of the wire top with towel.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:07 am

Mine are picky about what I burn. They don't like the 'cheap' smelling ones at all. You know, the ones that smell like cheap soap, it makes them hide. They all seem to like Nag Champa though as they continue wandering round the tank without a care in the world.

I have amphibs, stick insects, mantids, geckos, cats..and none of them seem to be affected by burning incence so I keep using it. I'm not sure my house would be the same if I stopped

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 11:17 am

I was going to ask the same question, now I don't have to

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 12:02 am

Some candles have toxins in the wick, like lead. Crabs can detect a mango from at least 16 feet away, I would guess that is a very conservative estimate. I think we shouldn't smoke, burn things, spray things like perfumes (or especially household chemicals) anywhere near their tanks. If you're gonna do it, make it as far away from them as possible.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 1:53 am

I've never had a problem either, but just the same I was gonna ask, usually the candles are in the bath room when I'm in the tub, but I like incense, I just make sure the lid is on.