Post by Angela on Jan 24, 2010 0:07:27 GMT -5
Fresh Water:
Hermit crabs cannot consume or breathe in chlorine; it burns their modified gills. The problem with consuming it is your hermit crab often bathes itself using the water inside its water dish.
There are at least two safe options you have for choosing water for your hermit crabs. They include spring water or conditioned water.
De-chlorinators:
De-chlorinators are usually sold for fish and can be bought at pet supply stores, both on the Internet and in real life. They can also be sold for hermit crabs, but most of these are in the tiniest quantities. It's usually much cheaper to buy de-chlorinator sold for fish.
Spring Water
Spring water can be bought at just about anywhere for typically $50-90 per gallon. They are typically free from chlorine.
Well water may be safe but can easily contain many unwanted elements like iodine. It may also be polluted, depending on the source.
Salt water
All hermit crabs require salt water, and C. Perlatus, aka "strawberry" hermit crabs require a bowl deep enough to fully submerge itself in.
NEVER use table salt; it can easily kill your hermit crabs. Instead, use one of the aquarium salts mentioned below.
Mixing salt water
Amounts taken from www.hermitcrabassociation.com/pages/saltwater.html
Cystal Sea Marinemix Bioassy Formula - 1 1/2 tsp per 8 oz (1 cup) water
Doc Wellfish's Aquarium Salt - 1 1/2 tsp per 8 oz (1 cup) water
Instant Ocean - 1 1/2 tsp per 8 oz (1 cup) water
Oceanic Natural Sea Salt Mix - 1 1/2 tsp per 8 oz (1 cup) water
Red Sea Salt - 1 1/2 tsp per 8 oz (1 cup) water
Tropic Marin Sea Salt - 2 tsp per 8 oz (1 cup) water
ZooMed Hermit Crab Salt Water Conditioner Part II ***not recommended*** - 1 tsp per 8 oz (1 cup) water
Hermit crabs cannot consume or breathe in chlorine; it burns their modified gills. The problem with consuming it is your hermit crab often bathes itself using the water inside its water dish.
There are at least two safe options you have for choosing water for your hermit crabs. They include spring water or conditioned water.
De-chlorinators:
De-chlorinators are usually sold for fish and can be bought at pet supply stores, both on the Internet and in real life. They can also be sold for hermit crabs, but most of these are in the tiniest quantities. It's usually much cheaper to buy de-chlorinator sold for fish.
Spring Water
Spring water can be bought at just about anywhere for typically $50-90 per gallon. They are typically free from chlorine.
Well water may be safe but can easily contain many unwanted elements like iodine. It may also be polluted, depending on the source.
Salt water
All hermit crabs require salt water, and C. Perlatus, aka "strawberry" hermit crabs require a bowl deep enough to fully submerge itself in.
NEVER use table salt; it can easily kill your hermit crabs. Instead, use one of the aquarium salts mentioned below.
Mixing salt water
Amounts taken from www.hermitcrabassociation.com/pages/saltwater.html
Cystal Sea Marinemix Bioassy Formula - 1 1/2 tsp per 8 oz (1 cup) water
Doc Wellfish's Aquarium Salt - 1 1/2 tsp per 8 oz (1 cup) water
Instant Ocean - 1 1/2 tsp per 8 oz (1 cup) water
Oceanic Natural Sea Salt Mix - 1 1/2 tsp per 8 oz (1 cup) water
Red Sea Salt - 1 1/2 tsp per 8 oz (1 cup) water
Tropic Marin Sea Salt - 2 tsp per 8 oz (1 cup) water
ZooMed Hermit Crab Salt Water Conditioner Part II ***not recommended*** - 1 tsp per 8 oz (1 cup) water