Hermit Crab Substrate Guide (Good and Bad Types)
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- čas přidán 15. 04. 2019
- This is the first video in a new series of hermit crab care videos!
Hermit crabs are one of the most neglected pets, simply because of improper pet store guides and misconceptions. They are exotic and fragile creatures that require just as much effort as any other pet. I have always wanted to make a series of care videos because of the general lack of proper care in pet stores and other CZcams channels. In making this series I am hoping to have one place (a playlist) where people can find all the info they need on hermit crab care. I will cover all the main topics and hopefully upload every other week.
Care Series Topics:
Substrate
Humidity
Temperature
Shells
Species
Spacing (crabs per gallon / second level)
Molting
Food
Water
Safe and Unsafe
Sterilizing
Quarantine
Calcium
Lighting
ISO
I’m getting hermit crabs soon and your vids have really helped me and my brother feel more confident about our crabs having healthy lives!
Thanks so much!
Yay! Glad I could help!
Love the channel, love the video and look forward to the new series and posts. 💖
Thank you!
I just found this channel today and I already love it! I’m thinking about getting some hermit crabs in a few months and these videos are very informative. I love seeing people actually take care of these animals like you’re doing rather than just observing them in a small cage so I wanted to make sure I was doing the same for mine whenever I get them. Thank you for this advice :)
Collie doggo same I’m getting one on the 30th of July I have been saving up a lot for them and I hope to give them a great life
Clicky That’s exiting! I hope you love your little crab(s) once they come in ^
Glad that I could help!
Thank you so much... my son is new to hermies so this was very informative for us both. 🌞
Glad to help!
Great video. Hope everything is going well with you. Canr wait till see the other video.
Thank you!
Hermits, Hounds, and Horses can I ask u an important question, you see I’m new to eco earth and I feel I’ve used to much water my hermit crabs are covered in eco earth and the floor is a little bit soggy but also a little cold can you please tell if it’s normal or not
Also my hermit crabs broke their food bowl
Is there a safe back up I can use
Never mind she died.......😥😢😭
Great info
This is random but your videos are super helpful also I'm your 800th subscriber:)
Thanks so much!
Oml this helped me alot!!! tysm!
I love your videos
Good to know I have the 2 best!
Good stuff
Good info
Doing research so i can hopefully get some crabs soon. I plan on using a mix of eco earth, play sand and some beach sand (after being cleaned) that ive had for years
TRUE story
The first time I held a hermit crab I was crying for the whole entire day because it was so cute and it did NOT pinch me !
I recommend a hermit crab for kids ages 10+ so they can feel like they are caring for something!!
13+ in my opinion, or a verry sensible 11 year old or older
snail house ok sorry I’m 10 but I think I’m pretty responsible
@@birbthebirb318 if you feel it is the right animal for you and you can care for it then that's good. I just get worried when kids are around animals lol
snail house yes me too
I’m 12 and I have mine. I a]have always been very responsible and I have two and they are thriving. But if you are getting one get at least two so they aren’t lonely and do slot of research
Lovely
Thanks for the great video! Can I use aquarium sand for fish mixed with play sand if I want to make my sand deeper? Also do I wait for ALL my crabs to be at the surface before adding more sand to the tank?
Excellent video! I have had my 8 hermit crabs for between 8-11 years and also use the same substrate as you...a mix of play sand and coconut fiber. You did mention you use water for the coconut fiber but did not specify if its tap water, salt water, spring water, etc. I only use spring water as tap water contains chlorine which I keep away from my hermit crabs as it is dangerous if they ingest it. Keep up the great job on the videos and bringing awareness to the specific needs of these beautiful creatures! 🙂
Wow! That's great that you have kept your crabs for that long! You are right, I should have specified the water in the video.
Billy Babee I have 15 crabs
I have found that the coconut fiber substrate is actually great for tunneling and burrow making , it holds moisture longer and has greater structural integrity than sand... great vid by the way =)
really? When I had coconut fibre substrate it dried out really easily and it went mouldy easily too.
Adelaide an egg I use a mix of sand and fiber and a very small amount of dirt it may dry out near the surface but retains moisture under the surface
Thank you!
Eco earth is actually anti mold,it would only mold if you're drenching it
I have a question about sand because I use a sand called flukers hermit crab beach. Is this good because it says it does not stick and they seem to thrive in it.
So, I have been thinking of getting a couple of hermits and trying to get the best advice for taking care of them. I already have a 20 gallon tank when we had fish. Any help with bedding (substrate) and other things in the tank to keep them happy would be helpful.
Hey one question i have the coco one you show in the beginning as my first layer but I’m also useing crab
Sand as the second layer is this bad?
Play sand would be better.
Good Question
Mix it
I bought the cocofiber, but I can't seem to find that brand of play sand for mine, this is my first crabitat and I'm worried of messing things up, are there any other brands you pick from?
Also, how many parts per brick of cocofiber would you say is the right amount?
With the get moldy point for eco earth, could I add springtails as a cleanup crew?
Is using soilmixed with sand good for the hermit crab?
Hey, I’ve had my 3 hermit crabs for about a 3 months now and I’ve been using that calcium sand. I have enough of it for 3 inches in my 20gal long tank with 3.5 inches of coconut fiber on the other side. What should I do? Should I get rid of the sand or mix it with the coconut fiber?
Edit: I’ve been trying to get more sand and fiber for them but it’s to expensive at my local petco, should I get my products elsewhere?
I freaking love my hermit crabs
Is it okay to have part of the tank gravel? I have mine just around their water dishes instead of eco earth because they would just carry a lot of the soil into their water.
I have a hermit crab I’m keeping it in the travel container because I don’t have a tank or anything I need and I’m trying to get all the stuff I need for Christmas and once I get all that I’m going to set the tank up and put my crab in it with food and water
I use eco earth but I sprinkle some mulch on top
What brand of sand should I use?
So I've had my crabs for 2 years. I've always used the coconut fibre but I just added some calcium sand in with it today. Do you recommend I replace the whole substrate asap since the calci sand is so bad for them?
I think it depends on how much is calci sand. If it's more than 40% of the substrate I probably would, but if it's just a little mixed in with the eco earth it is probably okay temporarily.
Looking through the comments I did not find this question, so I hope I am not being redundant. What is your opinion of Fluker's Hermit Beach substrate? It is composed of Premium Sand, Coconut Fiber, and probiotics and is supposed to help in maintaining humidity.
Honestly, I don't know. It sounds good, but I would google it and look at a few different sources.
Good video! I have been using coco fiber for a long time, but I recently found some food/grain mites in my tank. Is it because of the substrate itself or just the humidity? And do you maybe know how to get rid of it? I have tried to bake or boil all the stuff but the mites just come back after only couple days.
I can't help much because I have never experienced mites before, sorry.
How often do you have to change the substrate?
Can you use fluker’s hermit beach sand?
How do I know when my crab is getting ready to molt?
Not an insult but you sound exactly like the sister in Solar opposites! Thanks for the videos we just brought back hermit crabs from Galveston for our son and want them to be ok
is it fine to use eco earth by itself?
Thank you so much for this. How do you combine the sand and coco fiber? 50 lb bag with those 3 bricks of coco fiber you showed? Thank you!
I would do a little more eco earth like 4 bricks for 50lbs of sand.
Wait is it ok i have only two craps in a 55 gallon tank
Hi! So I'm using coconut fiber and it comes with coconut bark is that ok to use?
Yes
Lấy mùn dừa trồng cây để làm nền được không bạn
hi, i am curious what other sand is ok? because when i am from, the cheapest for 50lb of play sand is like 51 usd and i cannot find any site that ships it to my country. not even amazon or ebay
camss I use a brand called hermit beach sand substrate (It has no calcium). It holds humility a bit better, it’s relatively cheep, and isn’t hugely expensive.
I used a soft sand for a while but recently found out it’s calcium sand. My hermits have been living in it and digging just fine and molting. Should I keep using it?
No, get play sand
How do you clean a hermit crab tank? I don't have Hermit crabs, but I want some. I don't know anything about them though. Awesome video!
You clean the dirt/sand 3-5 times a year. Change the water each 2 days. And change the food every 2 days.
@@lolno1260 Sounds like a hermit crab is not for me.
Is the flukers farm safe?
I have two current crabs. I used to have four, but we believe the two alive ones ate the other two because we never found a body or even claws. I believe that’s normal.... also, my crabs don’t seem to be growing much bigger. One last thing, whenever I pick one of my hermit crabs up it always starts coming out of its shell. And I mean ALL the way out, like I can see it’s pale behind. That is my biggest question, is that normal?
Some crabs will abandon their shell if they get really stressed. Also crabs will not normally eat each other if they are fed a proper diet.
At my Walmart you can buy generic coconut fiber in a brick exactly like eco earth for six bucks pretty cheap
I'm about to remove the sand and use just the eco earth. I currently have it half and half just Coco fiber/ 5part sand to 1 part Coco fiber. My crabs seem to hate the sand. Tbh I don't think I've ever seen them go on the sand. It's like they avoid it as much as they can. I'm considering just leaving a deep dish of the sand but I may even take that out if they continue to not like it. I guess I'll see. But as it is now they only use half their cage and I feel bad for them. Especially since there is stuff for them to pay with I put on the sand. Idk if they even know it's there.
Same! I've been using only eco earth but notice it does dry out quickly I have to spray it often but mine too didn't like the sand when I had it in the cage. Did you end up removing the sand?
how do you maintain humidity? this is my first time having hermit crabs. My tank doesn't have a top to it. I accidentally got substrate that you use for fish the brand is imagitarium.
You really should have a lid to help with the humidity/prevent escapes. In the meantime you could use plastic wrap.
can someone please add subtitles to the vid? because lm deaf and I need the info for my 2 hermits
thanks
Can I give my crabs a fish of calci sand for added calcium?
Thanks; really enjoyed your video! The only thing I would add is that the commercial sand has one big advantage: its light color makes it easy to see droppings, used food, and other debris fouling the tank. This makes it easier to keep it clean. When I’m using coconut fiber, as I am now, I usually just scrape off the top 1/4” inch or so very few days, since I can’t see the debris, and change all of the substrate often. Also, if you buy commercial sand, you can get it a little cheaper if you buy the reptile packages of it, which are larger in volume and therefore a better deal. I haven’t tried play sand yet, but you and others have recommended it, and I am thinking about it.
You have a good point, I haven't thought of that before.
Hey! I just wanted to know your thoughts on something.
My hermit crab is very shy and never comes out of his shell. I’m very worried about him
Minnie Chan it’s very important that You give hermit crabs other hermit friends. If he is shy then leave it alone. Eventually it will come out of the shell. Hopefully.
Luke Metcalf in total I have three hermit crabs but two are very shy
Just give him some time to trust you. They are naturally timid and need to learn that you won't hurt them. Plus they are more active at night so you might not see him when he is active.
It could be too cold in your house or where he is living
Thats what happened to mine
I’m new to hermit crabs and trying to absorb all information possible to make my crabs as healthy and happy as possible. Yes, I am completely obsessed with my little cuties. I mixed my first substrate with sand and eco fiber with about a 5:1 ratio. I used bottled water to mix, but then I read I should use the sea salt water. Which should I use for the safety of my little guys?? Any advice is welcomed and appreciated. TIA.
Just wanted to add, I’m mixing this batch because I need to add a few more inches, as I only have roughly 3-3.5”.
i’m currently at obx in north carolina. i got 2 hermit crabs and i got sand off the beach and i’m not sure if i can use it
Beach sand is fine as long as you sterilize it first to make sure there are no bugs. I didn't mention it in the video because it is not legal to collect in all areas.
Hi! Just wondering if you could do a "getting rid of mites" I am having. A book lice problem. And feel it's some thing good to talk about as it could happen to any one 😛
I will try and add that to the series at some point!
I use just beach sand and my crabs seem to love it is this bad
Beach sand is great if it legal to collect in your area and you clean it before adding to the crabitat.
I consider myself pretty lucky since i have filtered well water, so i don’t have to deal with de-chlorinating my water.
I have a question can you tell me how using calcium for hermit crabs is very complicated for me, I tried to search but I didn't find how
Don't use calcium sand. It is unnatural and can kill crabs.
@@hermitshoundsandhorses9971 Well, I didn't mean that calcium. I meant the calcium supplement because I bought one, why they told me it would be necessary but I'm afraid that something happens to my crabs and thanks for the answer I didn't know that.
@@ronalneyra9123 You can go into any pet store and search in the Bird isles, look for Cuttle bone! It's tons of calcium for them and it's super soft, so if you wanted, you could shave it onto their food (I do that with my crabs, plus I leave a small piece of the bone in the tank with them, it helps with making it last longer, and I know if they aren't picking at the bone, they will eat it on their food!) You can also look for crushed oyster shells, I am unsure of where to get that at, but I'm positive you can find it online! That's perfect to just mix up into their substrate, or you can give them a little bowl of it to eat. (I plan on finding it for my crabs as well) There are quite a few sites that sell hermit crab foods (Natural food for them specifically!!) The 1 I am most familiar with is called "The Crab Street Journal ", they have a CZcams, and a FB, plus I believe an Instagram. They are very helpful and they have actually SUCCESSFULLY bred/hatched baby crabs!! They are soooo cute!!! Anywho, hopefully this helps you out!!
Hi, I recently thought about getting Hermit Crabs, would it be bad if I were mix coconut fiber and Calci sand?
Pls do not it'll still stick to them use playsand it's cheaper too
Calci sand should never be used with hermit crabs.
How often do you have to clean the tank after you give them the sand?
You only have to change the sand if there is a problem. Like if there is a bacteria bloom or bugs.
@@hermitshoundsandhorses9971 oh okay thank you so much!
I've been using Eco Earth the one that you said it's okay to use and I've been getting my sand from the beach itself I live in Florida I've been going to lake Worth Beach to get my sand is beach sand good or bad please let me know
Matthew Ritchie From what I have found u should boil the sand (I’m no professional but that’s just what I found from researching)
Beach sand works great if it is legal to collect in your area. It is important to sterilize everything that goes in your crabitat by baking or boiling it.
@@hermitshoundsandhorses9971 thank you so much for answering my questionI am currently designing an epic crabitat that involves to 10 gallon tanks as one being there freshwater and one being the salt water with freshwater and saltwater fishes and creatures along with the hermit crab it's going to be a big enclosure will send pictures will shoot video and give you updates let me know if you have any pointers for this project
Hello!
I can see that you take good care of your crabs and wish I could do so! I have a new hermit crab and I have trouble finding shells for him. I also cannot find play sand. The only sand I can use is beach sand or calcium sand.
Which one should I use?
Thank you 😄
Edit: by the way I really need to get an answer fast because I’ll go to a small pet-store that sells beach sand and calcium sand in 4 days, and it’s very very far! Please help, nobody has been able to answer this question 🤔
i use calcium sand and it seems to work just fine! :) good luck
I would use beach sand. It is more natural for them. I would also bake it to remove any bacteria if you can.
Hermits, Hounds, and Horses Thank you so much for telling me! Many people told me beach sand is bad for them and others say calcium sand isn’t any better either, so thank you for replying back 🤩
I got 2 crabs today and I got them gravel and my dad wanted to put sand in it but the lady said it will get stuck in there shells and it is bad for them
Yes the sand sold in most pet stores will get stuck in their shells. It is usually called calci sand or hermit crab sand. Gravel is also a really bad option because crabs cannot molt in it. I highly recommend you get play sand (sold for kids sandbox). You can usually find it at Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, or any similar store. Plus it's only $4 to $6.
I have two crabs! I would not recommend gravel because it will break your crabs legs. I use eco earth. It is very cheap at your local pet store
My hermit crabs pincher fell off what do I do
Feed it lots of fresh and nutritious food. The claw should grow back on the next molt.
Are you allowed to use natural sand?
Yes! If it is legal to collect in your area, and you sterilize it before giving it to your crabs.
Well I just used the sand were they were just standing on
What about coco husk?
Yes, the eco earth is a form of coconut, although their are other types that can work as well.
At the end you crab was walking on the wall that looms like some sort of husk?
Coconut climbing background
@@hermitshoundsandhorses9971 thank you! I was looking for something natural instead of wire for my upgraded crabitat.
I checked the sand that you order of Amazon and it wasn't 2 dollars. It was 22 FYI :/
You did your homework
U don’t specify if we should wet play sand? And also what ratio should I do for play sand and eco earth with how much water? Somebody pleassssseee HELP!
Yes add water if needed (if not already sandcastle consistency). The best ratio is 5 parts sand to 1 part eco earth, but it honestly doesn't matter that much. Do whatever looks best.
Hermits, Hounds, and Horses Thanks so much,
lots of help! Also what heat mats do you,recommend because I’m having trouble finding a good brand
I personally like ultratherm the most.
Praise the LORD for creating substrates!
I wish my tank had eco earth o sand. Or a nice tank. My tank is a critter keeper. My mom will not let me get stuff for my crabs. :(
Daisy Fireford SSO well why would you get a hermit crab if you are doing that to it that is mean if you can’t give it proper care show your this and you need more then one crab but if you are having it in a critter keeper then don’t even bother and if going to die in a mouth that is no way to treat a crab
@@keiralaurice3713 Actually, I did get a new tank abd good substrate! I have three crabs as well. i just got a new one.
Daisy Fireford SSO oh ok thank goodness 😅
Can you use sand fresh from the beach?
Yes, if it is legal in your area, and you bake it first to kill any bacteria.
How do you bake it sorry for questions I was at the beach yesterday and people were buying the hermit crabs and the food powder I got so sad and upset at the end of the day the whole cage was empty 😢 💔💔 without any indication on how to take care of them butttttttt I am rescuing some maybe from the beach!
Put the sand on a baking pan and stick in the oven for a while. I'm not sure specifically on temperature, but the idea is just to kill any bugs and bacteria.
what about quartz though?
secksy oktoberfest please no. It can be extremely sharp and can scrape, cut, or even KILL them.
0:25 I had one that lived for 3 years and he had that shell
Play sand hardens in they're shells
No it doesn't. Calci sand/"hermit crab sand" hardens in their shells when it dries, it can also trap them under the sand.
sand can harden in the shells and kill them cuz their gills can be blocked.
So you think in the wild they never live on sand?
Hi
Hi
Feel bad for the crabs who have this rocky substrate 😢 their legs are being chipped
Ở Việt Nam hướng dẫn nuôi ốc mượn hồn còn sơ sài quá. Mình muốn học hỏi ở nước ngoài nhưng video toàn là tiếng Anh nên không hiểu. :((
I heard ecoearth has killed some people's hermit crabs...
I just compress my coconut fiber
I use eco earth and calcium sand mixed together for my hermit crabs
I honestly don't understand why you would do that when play sand is proven to be much safer and far less expensive.
Calcium sand is deadly for hermit crabs.
Omg I hate this I have calcium sand just got rid of the coconut stuff omg I’m so stupid I can’t go buying this though 😩 why the hell do they even sell this f ing stuff 😤😞😒