Inexpensive and great remedy for sandy feet by for placing around the water dish. These other substrates are safe to use in your tank but should not be your primary substrate as they do not allow for proper burrowing and molt cave building. Straight coco fiber is NOT recommended as it can causing molting deaths or abnormalities-likely due to the increased rate of decay. This is the most common approach but some use straight play sand. The coco fiber can help with aeration in the sand as well as add humidity. The ideal primary substrate in your tank should be a good quality play sand with some coco fiber mixed in. This product is safe but far more expensive that creating your own substrate from play sand and coco fiber. Another alternative is to add isopods to your tank to keep the substrate clean. Many use a kitty litter scoop or sieve to pick through the sand on a regular basis to remove uneaten food or refuse. This leads to a weakened condition, stress to the hermit crabs and can mean possible death. If there is standing water or food items in damp sand you may develop mold (mould) or bacteria. Hermit crabs love tunneling down in sand but you must be careful that you keep an eye on the level of dampness. The positives of sand include that it is attractive to look at, especially after some heavy hermit crab traffic, with their little marks in the sand. If you find metal shavings in the sand do not use it. Poor quality sand may also have metal shavings, test with a magnet. To drain the sand, place the sand into a pillow case so that your drains are not blocked up. Another alternative is to take the sand outside and place it in a bucket, use a hose to rinse the sand until the water runs out of the bucket and is clear. Most rinse their sand and then dry it before returning it to a cleaned crabarium. Make sure you cover the drains or use a plug when rinsing. However, not all impurities can be washed, boiled, or baked out of a substrate. If in doubt as to the quality wash and bake your sand the first time you use it. Choose bags from inside the store that have been kept dry. Choose a play sand intended for a children’s sand box this is good quality sand and has been cleaned and sanitized. Some play sands are low-grade sand made from crushed rocks and have impurities since they are used for the building industry. If in doubt ask other hermit crab owners what they use and ask how it works when damp. Please take note of the quality when purchasing play sand. Most owners use play sand found at their local hardware store. In many areas of the world the beach sand is heavily contaminated from polluted waters. In most areas it is illegal to take sand from the beach. Sand Beach sandĬollecting sand from the beach is not advised. Hermit crabs require deep, moist sand to burrow and molt properly. The other sands or stones listed here are safe for using in your crabitat in select areas but not as the primary substrate. The commonly used and recommended substrate is 5 parts play sand to 1 part coco fiber.
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