The salt mix made by API is not the proper salt mix to buy for hermies. The API salt mix is a fresh water salt mix. Hermies need the ocean/sea mix sold specifically for salt water fish tanks. (Please see the crab care section for recommended ocean/sea mixes)plus they also make aquarium salt
Hermit crab newbie, help?
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ladybug15057
- Coenobita
- Posts: 3098
- Joined: 03 Mar 2008, 04:12
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 82
- Total gallons: 305
- Total tanks: 7
- Location: Southwestern Pa., U.S.
Re: Hermit crab newbie, help?
Marie (aka ladybug15057)
If you are contacted privately (via pm or e-mail) and enticed to join another forum, please contact a Crab Crew member. This is an unethical practice.
If you are contacted privately (via pm or e-mail) and enticed to join another forum, please contact a Crab Crew member. This is an unethical practice.
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beepboop
- Zygote
- Posts: 49
- Joined: 27 Sep 2010, 09:12
- Gender: Female
Re: Hermit crab newbie, help?
I was at Petco yesterday, and got API Tap Water Conditioner, but couldn't find sea salt at all, even though they claimed to have saltwater in the tank. So, that was the only thing different from PetSupermarket. I also went to PetSmart today (I wanted to go ahead and check all of them out) and they're by far the worst, they actually use wood chips as substrate! Like, not wood shavings but actually wood chips! But I did find Instant Ocean Sea Salt 
Then, because my sister wanted to get some pot-holder making stuff, we went to a craft store, where I actually found some awesome Cholla wood, some Jute twine, and some seashells. I think I've got everything set up! My little sister wants to make a net, so that's why we got the Jute twine. That, and, using it, a tupperware lid, and duct tape I have set up a second story with the seashells on it, and I set up the Cholla as a ramp type thing! I'm a little disappointed, though, that of all the pet store I visited not one has Ecuadorians. I can wait till next May to order a pair from the Crabbage Patch, though
I've decided that Petco is the best, they have salt water, at least, and I'm going to get four PPs on Saturday! I'll take pictures tomorrow
Then, because my sister wanted to get some pot-holder making stuff, we went to a craft store, where I actually found some awesome Cholla wood, some Jute twine, and some seashells. I think I've got everything set up! My little sister wants to make a net, so that's why we got the Jute twine. That, and, using it, a tupperware lid, and duct tape I have set up a second story with the seashells on it, and I set up the Cholla as a ramp type thing! I'm a little disappointed, though, that of all the pet store I visited not one has Ecuadorians. I can wait till next May to order a pair from the Crabbage Patch, though
I've decided that Petco is the best, they have salt water, at least, and I'm going to get four PPs on Saturday! I'll take pictures tomorrow
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ladybug15057
- Coenobita
- Posts: 3098
- Joined: 03 Mar 2008, 04:12
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 82
- Total gallons: 305
- Total tanks: 7
- Location: Southwestern Pa., U.S.
Re: Hermit crab newbie, help?
PetSmart carries ocean/sea salt too. It is in the isle where they have the food for salt water fish tanks. (and the Julia sprungs sea veggies) On the lower shelf is the CaribSea sand. But if Petco is better for you, that is fine too. E hermies do require a properly mixed ocean/sea water mix, not freshwater to remain healthy.
Marie (aka ladybug15057)
If you are contacted privately (via pm or e-mail) and enticed to join another forum, please contact a Crab Crew member. This is an unethical practice.
If you are contacted privately (via pm or e-mail) and enticed to join another forum, please contact a Crab Crew member. This is an unethical practice.
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beepboop
- Zygote
- Posts: 49
- Joined: 27 Sep 2010, 09:12
- Gender: Female
Re: Hermit crab newbie, help?
Yay! I got three PPs at Petco today! But first I'll describe the tank, as I don't know where my camera is 
They have a little ceramic log with plastic plants on it (I think it was originally for fish...), two of those fake rock bowls for water, a small glass bowl for food, coconut fiber bedding, and I've rigged up a shell basket, which is a tupperware lid hung with the Jute twine, and the cholla log as a ramp. Currently in the food bowl is some strawberry, cucumber, oats, peanuts, and honey comb. No meat currently, because the boar we'll be feeding them is in the freezer, but we're going to thaw it tomorrow. So, on to the hermies! The biggest is Captain Hammer, in a shell about the size of my palm. Thor is a bit smaller, but not a whole lot, but he's missing the tips of three legs, and Panic!, the smallest. Captain Hammer is fairly active, but a bit shy. He will come out of his shell when I hold him, but not as easily as the others. Thor will come out, too, and is pretty active in the tank and comes out of his shell when I breathe warm air on him. Panic! is by far the most active, has claimed a corner of the tank as his own and was buried for a while earlier, comes out willingly on his own when I hold him and moves constantly, and digs when he's in the tank. So far they seem to be doing pretty well, though Panic!'s shell seems a bit small. I do have plenty of extra shells he can use, though.
They have a little ceramic log with plastic plants on it (I think it was originally for fish...), two of those fake rock bowls for water, a small glass bowl for food, coconut fiber bedding, and I've rigged up a shell basket, which is a tupperware lid hung with the Jute twine, and the cholla log as a ramp. Currently in the food bowl is some strawberry, cucumber, oats, peanuts, and honey comb. No meat currently, because the boar we'll be feeding them is in the freezer, but we're going to thaw it tomorrow. So, on to the hermies! The biggest is Captain Hammer, in a shell about the size of my palm. Thor is a bit smaller, but not a whole lot, but he's missing the tips of three legs, and Panic!, the smallest. Captain Hammer is fairly active, but a bit shy. He will come out of his shell when I hold him, but not as easily as the others. Thor will come out, too, and is pretty active in the tank and comes out of his shell when I breathe warm air on him. Panic! is by far the most active, has claimed a corner of the tank as his own and was buried for a while earlier, comes out willingly on his own when I hold him and moves constantly, and digs when he's in the tank. So far they seem to be doing pretty well, though Panic!'s shell seems a bit small. I do have plenty of extra shells he can use, though.