HCA: Hermit Crab Association®

[fireve]

Today my neighbor friend gave me a bigger glass tank for my crabs along with some shells and fake plants all used. They all kind of have a strange smell like fishy or something. I know for a fact that all her crabs died (her kids were taking care of them) years and years ago. I have thrown away anything that stank too bad, all sponges, and painted items.
I know I can boil the shells in water but is there anything else I can do to eliminate anything that might harm them?
Also with the tank I can clean it with vinegar and water. Anything else I should do? It has a wood lid, I think I will get rid of that and get a plexi-glass sheet at a hardware store.

On a side note I am way excited to have a larger crabitat for my 4 PPs. I am up-scaling from 11 g to 17g. Although that surprised me because it looks twice as big as my current one. (I thought it was a 20 g) I want to add one of those shower suction level things in addition to my current leaf climber.

[fireve]

OH I forgot to add that it also had some coral in it. Is that safe to use??

[tlivs]

yep just give the tank a good clean with vinegar and water and then let it dry and wash it out with water well. if that doesn't work you can always use bleach and do the same thing
as for the toys, you can either boil them, soak them in extra strength salt water or bake them, depending on what they are

coral is safe. i would soak it in salt water
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arthur, charlie, ralph, hunter and oliver
rip. benjamin

[fireve]

salt water? can I use table salt?

[Glouey]

No, you must use crab-safe salt water. The same kind that is used to make saltwater fish tanks. Some brands are Oceanic, Real Ocean, etc. Table salt is not good for them. If you are not already providing them with bowl of the same crab-safe saltwater, you must do that too (along with your fresh water). Both bowls must be deep enough that the crabs can wade in them and fill their shells with water.

[fireve]

I do have the fresh water and salt water (crab safe) dishes but my salt supply is so small I don't think it would be enough to soak stuff.

[tlivs]

to make your salt water for your pools you should be using a marine salt such as instant ocean,, oceanic or red sea. hermit crab salt is not as strong nor does it have essential minerals that marine salt has. it is also a lot cheaper and you get soooo much more, i get the 10 gal box of instant ocean (its not make 10 gallons of water) and i have already done a deep clean with my 29 gal and soaked the substrate in salt water as well as soak all my climby things and hideys in it and have been making salt water for the pool since christmas and i still have so much more left

it costs about 6$ i believe
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arthur, charlie, ralph, hunter and oliver
rip. benjamin

[fireve]

Thanks! I will get some today on my way to the gym. I appreciate the input from everyone.

[fireve]

How much salt mix and how much water do you use?? It says on the Oceanic bag I just bought to mix 1/2 C with 1 gallon. That works for cleaning toys and hidies but for my pool I only keep a bottle made at a time. So about 2 Cups. How much of the Oceanic salt mix should I use??

[wodesorel]

About 1 1/2 teaspoons per cup. If you're not sure exactly how much water your dishes hold, use a measuring cup (preferably for liquids) and then write it down somewhere so you can remember it. I worked it out for my bowls and then wrote down how much salt I needed for both tanks right on the salt bag. I have a bad memory, though!
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Proud mama to 33 cats, 1 tubby hammie, 3 betta, 1 gourami, 3 clown pleco, and my 13 kuhli loaches!
26 PP (the ones with names) and 10 E (The Children of the Corn)

[fireve]

Thanks! That works for me.

[fireve]

OH NO! I am getting discouraged. After a LONG soak all day in strong salt water solution (Oceanic) the stuff still smells. I decided to throw out the coral because that stank the worst. I am going to soak the super cool tree over night because that thing is awesome and I cant afford anything like it. If an overnight and all day tomorrow soak doesn't do it I don't know what will. I am not going the bleach route, that's too hardcore chemical for me.
I am really hoping that I can get the smell out of the tank too. I am worried now that I am going to have to get rid of the whole thing.
I don't know what to do.

[SebbyCrab]

Vinegar soak, follow by a baking soda paste, and then rinse with vinegar, then air dry.
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PP's, E's, Straws, Violas

[meldamiriel]

I would take bleach to the tank. You can do it outside or in a room that's ventilated (ie. open windows, open doors). Let it air dry. That should get rid of any smell in the tank and it will kill anything that might be in the tank.

As for everything else, soak in vinegar water. I usually decide on the amount of vinegar to water depending on how bad something is. I would let it soak for at least an hour. Let it air dry. The vinegar smell will go away after it dries.

If they still stink after that, I would put them in the dishwasher (if that'd be safe to do so, if not, just wash in the sink). Let them air dry. Soak in extra strength salt water and let air dry again.

Now, after all of that, if they still stink - I'm not sure what else you could try.


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Straws coming soon ♥
C. Clypeatus Dr. Jones ☆ Steve McQueen ☆ My Girl ☆ Gus ☆ Henry

[wodesorel]

You might want to consider just letting them sit out in the sun for a few days after you clean them again. A good hot sun-baking does wonders for getting rid of lingering odors!
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Proud mama to 33 cats, 1 tubby hammie, 3 betta, 1 gourami, 3 clown pleco, and my 13 kuhli loaches!
26 PP (the ones with names) and 10 E (The Children of the Corn)