Is ANY of this stuff safe?

[emmac350]

Wow, thanks a bunch, Marie! I wasn't trying to be rude to anyone by trying to get you to post, I was just trying to get the info and have it in a public place so that others could find it. Also, that info on the stress coat and API is really strange, in my opinion - it isn't safe for US to consume, but it is for a crab? Come on! What, do they think we're a bunch of idiots? Also, even if you don't pour it down the drain but instead pour it in your yard or something, it'll end up in the water regardless - it may take a little while longer, but it'll get in there at some point. Silly people...

I figured it was all useless, but didn't want to get rid of it until I was absolutely sure (I mean, if it's safe, it was free!).

HermitOrCrabs - you shouldn't trust that something is safe just because it says so. Do some research - crabs in the wild eat all natural foods, so if a food for them has some chemical that you can't pronounce, they don't need it in their diet. Does that make sense?

[CrabbyJo]

Holy cow, great info Marie!

I'm especially intrigued by the fact that we can give this stuff to our captive crabs, but it's not fit for humans. I didn't realize that about the API stresscoat either - I bought a bottle of that nasty stuff!
I don't even use drano at my house - I'll take the pipes apart and use a snake or something before I'll use those nasty chemicals that are unsafe for life forms!

Is there ever a time that the stresscoat is actually needed for crabs (since it's been determined that they do NOT need it for regular bathing, quite the contrary, it's bad for them to be bathed in it on a regular basis)?

I love picking your brain, Marie!

[ladybug15057]

There is so much that only the surface has been picked so far CarbbyJo!
IMO Stresscoat is a waste of money that could be spent on something useful. I myself did use it our first couple of years bathing our hermies. To be honest, our hermies had no ill effects that were noted. We now haven't used it since about 2004? And still have not noted any ill effects since we stopped using it. IMO, one less chemical to subject the hermies too, and this cannot be a bad thing could it?
If one reads the bottle, it states not to use on fish intended for human consumption. When I called API, they stated they could not speak for the safety of using it on hermies due to they had never tested or research its use on hermies. But one note too, if one opts to use the stresscoat for bathing their hermies it should NOT be used in water that has already had dechlorinator used in it or in distilled/pure water because there is nothing for the chemicals in the stresscoat to 'bond' to.
Emma, I know about the posting and how you were really out for an answer that was factual. Without proper information unfortunately at times it could mean the difference between life and death.

"What, do they think we're a bunch of idiots?"

Ummm, they don't care really as long as they get your $$$ to stay in business. Why and where the saying is "Buyer Beware".
And good point Emma that has been awhile since I have read it "If you cannot pronounce it, it is best to avoid it"
I remember when a crabber name Abhay from Hermies Group posted about Ethoxyquin in the pet foods and hermie foods. OH MY how she was replied to at first!! Once others began their own researching... goodness how all of a sudden it was banned.