Hey all,
I wasn't quite sure where to put this...but I am in a predicament. My hermit crab tanks really started smelling musty/mildewy these past few days, and I don't really know why. What can I do to get rid of the smell? If I can't get it to go away, I think my dad is going to make me get rid of my hermit crabs...
Thanks in advance!
Question about my tanks
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Gizaroo
- Zoea V
- Posts: 434
- Joined: 27 Jun 2010, 11:37
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 8
- Total gallons: 19
- Total tanks: 4
- Location: Virginia
Question about my tanks
"My chief concern is to try to be an humble, earnest Christian."- Robert E. Lee
"If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag."-author unknown
Owned by 2 Belgian malinois, 1 mixed breed, 3 parrots, 3 bettas and 6 hermies: Blu, Skip, Theo, Scuttles, Spudnut, and 3 new E's. Rip Blaze,Luka, and Banjo.
"If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag."-author unknown
Owned by 2 Belgian malinois, 1 mixed breed, 3 parrots, 3 bettas and 6 hermies: Blu, Skip, Theo, Scuttles, Spudnut, and 3 new E's. Rip Blaze,Luka, and Banjo.
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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: Question about my tanks
Sounds like stagnant air to me? Have you tried misting your hermies and letting them run outside of the tank and let the lid off for awhile to let some to the 'stagnant-ness' out? Sometimes a tank just needs a good airing too. How long has it been since you have done a deep clean?
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.
-
Gizaroo
- Zoea V
- Posts: 434
- Joined: 27 Jun 2010, 11:37
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 8
- Total gallons: 19
- Total tanks: 4
- Location: Virginia
Re: Question about my tanks
A few months. I'm probably due for one. I was thinking it was stagnant air but wasn't fully sure. I'll do what you suggested and air the tanks out for a bit tomorrow and do a clean in the next few days. Thanks! 
"My chief concern is to try to be an humble, earnest Christian."- Robert E. Lee
"If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag."-author unknown
Owned by 2 Belgian malinois, 1 mixed breed, 3 parrots, 3 bettas and 6 hermies: Blu, Skip, Theo, Scuttles, Spudnut, and 3 new E's. Rip Blaze,Luka, and Banjo.
"If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag."-author unknown
Owned by 2 Belgian malinois, 1 mixed breed, 3 parrots, 3 bettas and 6 hermies: Blu, Skip, Theo, Scuttles, Spudnut, and 3 new E's. Rip Blaze,Luka, and Banjo.
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Gizaroo
- Zoea V
- Posts: 434
- Joined: 27 Jun 2010, 11:37
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 8
- Total gallons: 19
- Total tanks: 4
- Location: Virginia
Re: Question about my tanks
I cleaned the tanks out and stirred the sand around-no food was buried. I let them air out for most of the day (just took the plexiglass off the screen) and they tanks still smell musty. 
Should I replace the sand? Or should I try cleaning the sand? Which is easier? lol
Should I replace the sand? Or should I try cleaning the sand? Which is easier? lol
"My chief concern is to try to be an humble, earnest Christian."- Robert E. Lee
"If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag."-author unknown
Owned by 2 Belgian malinois, 1 mixed breed, 3 parrots, 3 bettas and 6 hermies: Blu, Skip, Theo, Scuttles, Spudnut, and 3 new E's. Rip Blaze,Luka, and Banjo.
"If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag."-author unknown
Owned by 2 Belgian malinois, 1 mixed breed, 3 parrots, 3 bettas and 6 hermies: Blu, Skip, Theo, Scuttles, Spudnut, and 3 new E's. Rip Blaze,Luka, and Banjo.
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ZuZu
- Zoea I
- Posts: 119
- Joined: 15 Sep 2010, 09:10
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 5
- Total gallons: 29
- Total tanks: 1
Re: Question about my tanks
I would replace the sand with a different brand. this is because maybe it is the sand brand that just smells over time, or maybe there is something else that is making it foul? IDK but it might work 
I love my five hermies:
Bumper, the socialite leader
Sticky, The Devourer
Shy Guy, Name says all.
Rose, hyper, never sleeps
Sharky, micro version of ShyGuy
Celebrating 5 years of Crabisism
Bumper, the socialite leader
Sticky, The Devourer
Shy Guy, Name says all.
Rose, hyper, never sleeps
Sharky, micro version of ShyGuy
Celebrating 5 years of Crabisism
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Gizaroo
- Zoea V
- Posts: 434
- Joined: 27 Jun 2010, 11:37
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 8
- Total gallons: 19
- Total tanks: 4
- Location: Virginia
Re: Question about my tanks
I don't have another brand to use. It's aragonite sugar grain sized sand. Expensive stuff.
"My chief concern is to try to be an humble, earnest Christian."- Robert E. Lee
"If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag."-author unknown
Owned by 2 Belgian malinois, 1 mixed breed, 3 parrots, 3 bettas and 6 hermies: Blu, Skip, Theo, Scuttles, Spudnut, and 3 new E's. Rip Blaze,Luka, and Banjo.
"If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag."-author unknown
Owned by 2 Belgian malinois, 1 mixed breed, 3 parrots, 3 bettas and 6 hermies: Blu, Skip, Theo, Scuttles, Spudnut, and 3 new E's. Rip Blaze,Luka, and Banjo.
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Wai
- Administrator
- Posts: 2915
- Joined: 01 Nov 2004, 14:12
- Gender: Male
- Hermit crabs: 6
- Total gallons: 45
- Total tanks: 1
- Location: Victoria, Australia
- Contact:
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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: Question about my tanks
The caribsea can be washed, and baked many, many, many times and still be good. (my daughter has had hers for a few years now... and I have a batch too that long) It maybe time for the deep clean and do you have a smaller fan that could be put on osculate to keep the air moving in the tank after the deep clean? In the winter or when the houses are closed up it is hard to have air circulation.
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.
-
Gizaroo
- Zoea V
- Posts: 434
- Joined: 27 Jun 2010, 11:37
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 8
- Total gallons: 19
- Total tanks: 4
- Location: Virginia
Re: Question about my tanks
No deaths, and I sifted through everything and there was no buried food.Wai wrote:Assuming no deaths, perhaps they buried some food in the sand?
"My chief concern is to try to be an humble, earnest Christian."- Robert E. Lee
"If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag."-author unknown
Owned by 2 Belgian malinois, 1 mixed breed, 3 parrots, 3 bettas and 6 hermies: Blu, Skip, Theo, Scuttles, Spudnut, and 3 new E's. Rip Blaze,Luka, and Banjo.
"If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag."-author unknown
Owned by 2 Belgian malinois, 1 mixed breed, 3 parrots, 3 bettas and 6 hermies: Blu, Skip, Theo, Scuttles, Spudnut, and 3 new E's. Rip Blaze,Luka, and Banjo.
-
Gizaroo
- Zoea V
- Posts: 434
- Joined: 27 Jun 2010, 11:37
- Gender: Female
- Hermit crabs: 8
- Total gallons: 19
- Total tanks: 4
- Location: Virginia
Re: Question about my tanks
No, I don't have any small fans unfortunately. I'll try removing the plexiglass for an hour or so at a time each day and see if that will help.ladybug15057 wrote:The caribsea can be washed, and baked many, many, many times and still be good. (my daughter has had hers for a few years now... and I have a batch too that long) It maybe time for the deep clean and do you have a smaller fan that could be put on osculate to keep the air moving in the tank after the deep clean? In the winter or when the houses are closed up it is hard to have air circulation.
Good to know about the sand...how do you recommend going about doing that? I think that is what I need to do next.
"My chief concern is to try to be an humble, earnest Christian."- Robert E. Lee
"If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag."-author unknown
Owned by 2 Belgian malinois, 1 mixed breed, 3 parrots, 3 bettas and 6 hermies: Blu, Skip, Theo, Scuttles, Spudnut, and 3 new E's. Rip Blaze,Luka, and Banjo.
"If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag."-author unknown
Owned by 2 Belgian malinois, 1 mixed breed, 3 parrots, 3 bettas and 6 hermies: Blu, Skip, Theo, Scuttles, Spudnut, and 3 new E's. Rip Blaze,Luka, and Banjo.