new crab

[NotaMallard]

After reading that article on iron filings in sand, I've decided to switch to Eco-Earth. Once there are none of my stupid crabs molting. It seems like if one comes up, another goes down. Arg!

[ladybug15057]

Would you happen to have an iso or another tank that they could be placed in as they come up? Knowing hermies it could be a cycle of 6 months or more before they are all up if yours like to burrow.

[hermione]

Hello, again.

I found it! CaribSea Argonite sand. They only had sugar size, so I'll need to bake it. I cannot find anything on baking it. How hot, how long? I am not finding a general section on "substrates" although the general care page says to check it out. So it must be somewhere. Hummm? Yes the Coco Husk looks chunky. So I won't use that. I found, "All Living Things, Tropical soil, expandable compressed coconut fiber bedding". Does that sound okay? It looks finer in texture from what I can see of it in the compressed form. I also got "Exo terra, Forest Moss" I read to never use "Spanish moss". It does not say if it is Spanish. So I'll wait to hear form you about that. I am anxious to switch out the bark, yet want to make sure it is changed to the optimum thing. THANKS SO MUCH!
Hope to hear from you soon.

P.S. I was unclear about the sand article. Sorry. It has seemed that nothing is okay. So I really appreciate hearing most directly what is. Should the coco stuff be baked to and/or forest moss? Hermione was just out and about, so she seems to be tolerating my bumbleage so far. The newly claw-shy one, Lola, has not moved for two days. It all smells okay, so I am going to try to remain hopeful. The other new one, Ginger, seemed to be okay last time I saw her, but she has been under for the last few days. She and Hermione seemed to be enjoying each others company. I don't want to dig her out or disturb her. I figure I just go super slow and gently and leave a little hill of her and stuff around her when I can sense it. Or do you feel the bark is toxic enough to risk trying to remove it around her if she is hunkered in? That seems so intrusive. Any thoughts?

[hermione]

Okay! Ginger came up this morning and had switched shells! She is bigger than I thought. Almost as big as Hermione. I was hoping to get someone similar sized. I baked the sand last night at 425 for two hours. This morning I put them all in the little carrier box and took the bark out of the 'tat and replaced it with the Argonite sand. Presently it is about half sand / half gravel. I like the gravel for the water and food dishes and Hermione has been on it for so long. I feel too uncertain about anything else right now, cocobark, moss? How do you know that they aren't grown with pesticides? . . . mites, mold, additives and all that. Did I write before about the brands I got, I'll have to check back . . . I have had this e-mail sort of going all day... lost all I wrote earlier. . . Hermione and Ginger were quite active in the carrier, clamoring all around. I put Lola in there too for the first few moments, but they were so crazy, I decided she'd fare better in a quiet corner of the 'tat. She has not come out of her shell. I thought that she may have moved a leg just a little, though so I am still hoping she is just hunkered in and healing. I have placed her where I hope she can feel a little hidden behind some plastic grass, but where I can keep an eye on her for now if she stays there. I got a new kind of thermometer/hygrometer, and I don't think my other ones were functioning properly. They were brand new, too. . . really hard to read. I got a new one that is digital and real easy to read, so I'll probably get another one of those to have a cross reference. . . . later in the day Hermione was hanging out up in her tree, can't see her right now, as I am trying to stay back. . .Ginger, has been checking out the shells again. She seems to be considering her old shell again. Her feelers are quite perky and twerky, so she seems to be doing okay. I boiled the shells all again when I had them all out. So it all looks so far so good. . . . I can also see Lola's little feet more out of the shell, so she is either more relaxed or has let go. . . I will think that she is healing. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks again.

[ladybug15057]

I got a new kind of thermometer/hygrometer, and I don't think my other ones were functioning properly.

All hydrometers should be tested/calibrated, especially the new ones to see how accurately they are reading. (and then tested about once a month after that too.

http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/modu ... storyid=54

I feel too uncertain about anything else right now, cocobark, moss? How do you know that they aren't grown with pesticides? . . . mites, mold, additives and all that.

Honest answer from me, I don't know, you just sort of need to hope and think that they are not.
In the U.S. towards Georgia and Florida ocean shores they do treat for mosquito's and other pests..
On Jekyll Island in Georgia it was even posted as such when we went on vacation there a couple years ago...

[hermione]

Do you think they could be happy with just the Argonite sand and gravel, if it is staying humid enough? I also remember that when Hermione first came to us, again 2 1/2 years ago, I gave her a coconut house and a tree thing that came glued to a piece of driftwood. They both molded. So she has a nice ceramic fish decoration house and plants glued to rocks or lately stuck to the wall. Since then I have been more reluctant to incorporate as much organic matter. I would love for them to live 30 years and be as happy as possible. She's in a bigger 'tat now. Maybe that would discourage mold growth? Oh, I did put a coconut pad on the side where the heater is, just to keep her from getting too hot right where it is. We're at 79 degrees and about 80% now. Did I mention it was a bit dry. She eats really well. Organic fruits and veggies, whole grains, nuts, legumes. Pretty much all people food, except for some krill, and some other frozen fish foods that I feed my goldfish. We're vegetarian so we don't have the animal foods that they need. What do I do with the cuttle bone? Remove the metal thing and just put it in there? Thanks!

[ladybug15057]

No metals in the tank, so remove it.
Any type of wood even cork bark will mold on a damp substrate. If your CaribSea is dry... you should be able to use wood again with no problems just keep them away from the water dishes where the hermies take a chance of dumping the water and getting them wet. Larger tank, at times can mean more mold. Air circulation helps to keep mold/bacteria down.
You put up a coco mat where the UTH is? Is the UTH on the side of the tank?
Have you considered investing in an electronic temp controller to help maintain the warmth in the tank? Sometimes a stable temp also helps with a more stable humidity level. (the temp controller is considered a 'thermostat' not a rheostat') The thermostat one sets it to a certain temp and if it drops below that temp it turns the warming device on, if it goes above it turns it off.
And I have all CaribSea in my tanks, no other substrate. Our home due to burning in our wood burning stove is very dry, but with my plexiglas lids and votive candle holders with distilled water in them over the UTH... my humidity is good... between 75-78%.

[emmac350]

I have had good luck with the Argonite sand - my two original crabs loved it and would stay buried in it whenever they could. Then again, they love digging, so that could be part of it.

[hermione]

Well, Hermione, my old crabbie, seems to be dug in for the last two days. Ginger, one of the new ones, has been up and exploring, climbing and digging and sitting by the glass visiting with us. They clearly seem to enjoy the Argonite. Ginger seems so much like Hermione to us now. Yesterday, I set up an isolation box for Lola, the new one who dropped a claw. I think that she may have passed on, but I don't want to be wrong so I'll just keep the box going for awhile. She wasn't really tucked in and was not really moving. I wanted to be able to put some honey right by her and I didn't want Ginger or Hermione to disturb her. The tiny tat seems to be pretty stable. I need to watch the humidity more closely. I used their little carrier and the little UTH with a piece of slate tile stuck to it to buffer the heat, and set that up against the side. Just enough room for the two waters and a little food and a wee-biddie plant and a little patch of space for her. I put a cloth over the top. I may try some plastic wrap to keep in more moisture. I haven't seen any sign of movement. It smells a little fishy today, but I did put in a little krill in with her. I still have their 10 gallon tank but I couldn't find a really good place to put it. The new big tank is where it was and that is the best quiet safe place. The tiny box 'tat fits on the shelf above that. I have a West Highland white terrier. So I have to be really careful, as westies are bred to "rid the earth of vermin". So far she seems to sense that we are quite fond of these funny little scratchy creatures in the glass box. . . but still. Well, guess that's all for now. I sure appreciate all of you people out there who are loving these little creatures and putting so much effort into giving them safe havens. I just keep reading your "threads" (is that the right term?) You're beautiful.

[NotaMallard]

Would you happen to have an iso or another tank that they could be placed in as they come up? Knowing hermies it could be a cycle of 6 months or more before they are all up if yours like to burrow.

I only have an extra ten-gallon, and I have a jumbo. I don't think that would be ideal. I've been browsing on Freecycle for 20-gallons, and I might get one soon, so if I do I'll try that. Thanks!