How to make sand from the beach Safe for ur hermit Crabs

Questions about designing a terrarium.
Post Reply
User avatar
I_love_my_hermie23
Zoea I
Zoea I
Posts: 151
Joined: 28 Sep 2006, 03:45
Location: MI

How to make sand from the beach Safe for ur hermit Crabs

Post by I_love_my_hermie23 »

Go to the beach, it doesn?t matter what season it is, and scoop up a pail full of sand, don?t get sand that is wet, and don?t get sand that is too high to be reached by the tide. Sand near the water line is the best.


Take this sand, and bake it in the oven at 350 degrees F. You will need to bake it for 30 to 45 minutes, or until there is no moisture left in it. Stir periodically while it?s baking. Let the sand cool for 2 hours. You will need to change their sand about every 3 weeks.
\from ur friend
-b-
r.i.p.-*boo* 11/11/06
User avatar
Jedi_Sena
Zoea IV
Zoea IV
Posts: 359
Joined: 18 Aug 2006, 06:05
Gender: Female
Hermit crabs: 4
Total gallons: 55
Total tanks: 1
Location: Colorado, USA
Contact:

beach sand

Post by Jedi_Sena »

It is also good to sift beach sand through a plastic colander to remove large chunks of debris. Some crabbers are very against the use of beach sand because the oceans are so polluted and there is so much trash on the beach (even drug needles!).

Beach sand contains lots of natural fibers that are prone to mold, so I always remove the bits that I can see and use saltwater to wet my sand to keep down the mold.
User avatar
I_love_my_hermie23
Zoea I
Zoea I
Posts: 151
Joined: 28 Sep 2006, 03:45
Location: MI

Post by I_love_my_hermie23 »

Make Sure u Bake it TOo get out all the germs that good kill hermies OR u can GO to ur local Pet Store and get hermit Crab sand i have some on the WAY it well be here in about a Week! or if u dont want to Bake sand or Wait for sand to come in u can go to ur local Hardware store and get Playing sand that stuff that goes into sand boxes Its Safe! Its SHouldnt be more then 10 dollers!
\from ur friend
-b-
r.i.p.-*boo* 11/11/06
User avatar
Jedi_Sena
Zoea IV
Zoea IV
Posts: 359
Joined: 18 Aug 2006, 06:05
Gender: Female
Hermit crabs: 4
Total gallons: 55
Total tanks: 1
Location: Colorado, USA
Contact:

bake playsand

Post by Jedi_Sena »

hardware store sand is just as big a risk for mold as beach sand. It must be baked as well.
Jaci
Coenobita
Coenobita
Posts: 1563
Joined: 21 Jan 2006, 01:23
Location: Missouri

Post by Jaci »

hm, this could be bad...i don't bake the sand i get from lowes. i'll bake the rest of it before putting everyone in my new tank!
*** Lemi *** Bebe *** Wendy *** Ike *** Craig *** Aries*** Zeus ***

RIP:
Token 1/8/06 * Butters 1/31/06 * Tweek 3/16/06 * Shelley 4/14/06 * Timmy 8/5/06 * Athena 11/6/06 * Jimmy 1/22/08 * Apollo 2/4/08
Jaci
Coenobita
Coenobita
Posts: 1563
Joined: 21 Jan 2006, 01:23
Location: Missouri

Post by Jaci »

hm, this could be bad...i don't bake the sand i get from lowes. i'll bake the rest of it before putting everyone in my new tank!
*** Lemi *** Bebe *** Wendy *** Ike *** Craig *** Aries*** Zeus ***

RIP:
Token 1/8/06 * Butters 1/31/06 * Tweek 3/16/06 * Shelley 4/14/06 * Timmy 8/5/06 * Athena 11/6/06 * Jimmy 1/22/08 * Apollo 2/4/08
Jaci
Coenobita
Coenobita
Posts: 1563
Joined: 21 Jan 2006, 01:23
Location: Missouri

Post by Jaci »

hm, this could be bad...i don't bake the sand i get from lowes. i'll bake the rest of it before putting everyone in my new tank!
*** Lemi *** Bebe *** Wendy *** Ike *** Craig *** Aries*** Zeus ***

RIP:
Token 1/8/06 * Butters 1/31/06 * Tweek 3/16/06 * Shelley 4/14/06 * Timmy 8/5/06 * Athena 11/6/06 * Jimmy 1/22/08 * Apollo 2/4/08
User avatar
I_love_my_hermie23
Zoea I
Zoea I
Posts: 151
Joined: 28 Sep 2006, 03:45
Location: MI

Post by I_love_my_hermie23 »

i dont buy my sand from Hardware Stores or beaches i just thought it some1 took sand from beaches that they make sure they bake it The high heat from Baking it takes out all the germs and Things Like salt that can Kill or harm the Hermit Crabs I uses Hermit crab and The colored Stuff u can get it from internet or Local Petco or some pet store...for no more then5 dollars for 2 pounds Its great sand!
\from ur friend
-b-
r.i.p.-*boo* 11/11/06
Jaci
Coenobita
Coenobita
Posts: 1563
Joined: 21 Jan 2006, 01:23
Location: Missouri

Post by Jaci »

i usually mix the play sand with the calcisand. makes it better for them i heard
*** Lemi *** Bebe *** Wendy *** Ike *** Craig *** Aries*** Zeus ***

RIP:
Token 1/8/06 * Butters 1/31/06 * Tweek 3/16/06 * Shelley 4/14/06 * Timmy 8/5/06 * Athena 11/6/06 * Jimmy 1/22/08 * Apollo 2/4/08
User avatar
Jedi_Sena
Zoea IV
Zoea IV
Posts: 359
Joined: 18 Aug 2006, 06:05
Gender: Female
Hermit crabs: 4
Total gallons: 55
Total tanks: 1
Location: Colorado, USA
Contact:

sand

Post by Jedi_Sena »

calci sand is great, but tends to clump when wet, so as long as the sand stays soft enough for the crabs to dig in, then you'll be fine. Many crabbers only use calcisand as a food source and not substrate, but it's completely up to you.

Baking hardware sand is just to error on the safe side. I had a bacterial infection attack one of my molters which we think may have come from contaminated sand, so I am always extra careful and always bake.

The saltwater I was refering to is not harmful to crabs. I mean the aquarium stuff and it does retard molds.
Post Reply